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Arts and culture

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The arts are thriving like never before in England's cities. As Liverpool enjoys its role as European Capital of Culture 2008, the spotlight falls on the country's diverse range of cultural offerings, from world-beating museums and galleries, to old industrial spaces reborn as centres for the arts.

There's plenty to cheer about in Liverpool this year. Join the party and choose from a string of festivals, celebrations and cultural events in 2008.

Tate Liverpool is one of a growing number of arts-based regeneration projects across England's cities, from the iconic Tate Modern in London, to the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead – the biggest gallery of its kind in the world, housed in a landmark industrial building on the banks of the Tyne.

Other worthy waterfront developments worth exploring are the Quays at Salford (a futuristic arts and museums complex on the edge of Manchester); the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard (home to the Mary Rose and HMS Victory); and Hull's new Museums Quarter, its skyline dominated by the startling architecture of 'The Deep', a vast aquarium populated by sharks and dedicated to marine conservation.

Art beneath the skies

Art can crop up in the most unusual places, and Antony Gormley's inspirational sculptures – many of which interact directly with their environment – have placed him in the ranks of the world's greatest living sculptors. Track down his creations in five different cities, from London (where 31 life-size bronze figures are displayed on prominent buildings), to Crosby Beach outside Liverpool, where 100 cast iron figures stand forlornly in the sands facing out to sea. Outdoor sculptures by Gormley can also be seen in Leeds (the Yorkshire Sculpture Park), Birmingham and Gateshead, home to the iconic Angel of the North. For more details on tracking down Gormley's works, visit www.24hourmuseum.org.uk.

As far as outdoor arts extravaganzas go, they don't come much better than Artsfest in Birmingham, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It's the largest free arts festival in the UK, with a line-up of live performances across the disciplines, from world-class ballet and opera, to poetry recitals and stand-up comedy. The finale will include a spectacular fireworks display choreographed to music.

For more fresh air and culture, head to the award-winning Black Country Living Museum, just west of Birmingham. The museum is a painstaking reconstruction of an earlier age – a century-old village inhabited by real-life characters in costume. Catch a silent movie at the Limelight Cinema, or sit down to a lesson at St James's School (the year is 1912, the seats are hard and the teachers stern).

Back to the Bard

It goes without saying that England's theatrical tradition is a big part of the national identity, and the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) remains one of our key insights into the greatest playwright of them all. This year sees the culmination of the 'Histories Cycle' in Stratford-upon-Avon, a two-year project performed by the same ensemble of actors. As the cycle comes to its close, aficionados will get the chance to watch all eight plays in sequence over the course of four days – a marathon feat for actors and audience alike.

For the authentic Shakespeare experience, nothing beats a performance at the theatre for which Shakespeare's plays were written – the Globe Theatre in Southwark, London. This remarkable piece of architecture is a faithful replica of the 17th-century original, right down to its Norfolk thatch and walls, which are plastered with a mixture of sand, slaked lime and animal hair. Stand, heckle and enjoy – as they did in Shakespeare's day.