| LIVERPOOL | City of north-west England named European Capital of Culture in 2008 (9) |
| MARSEILLE | City in southern France, named European Capital of Culture in 2018 (9) |
| WROCLAW | Polish city named European Capital of Culture in 2016 along with Spain's San Sebastin (7) |
| VILNIUS | East European capital city (pop about 575,000), a European capital of culture in 2009 (7) |
| AARHUS | Denmark's second largest city, European Capital of Culture in 2017, along with Paphos in Cyprus |
| WEIMAR | City in Thuringia, Germany; European Capital of Culture in 1999(6) |
| MARIBOR | City in Slovenia chosen as a European Capital of Culture in 2012 (7) |
| VALLETTA | Malta's capital, chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2018 (8) |
| OSNABRUCK | City of north-west Germany, which, at one point, was the largest British military base outside the UK (9) |
| KRAKOW | European Capital of Culture in 2000 (6) |
| OULU | City of northern Finland chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2026 in June 2021 (4) |
| EVORA | City in south central Portugal, site of a European Capital of Culture for 2027 (5) |
| PLZEN | City in the Czech Republic also known as Pilsen; a 2015 European Capital of Culture |
| LINZ | Austrian city on the River Danube, former European Capital of Culture (4) |
| ESSEN | City designated a European Capital of Culture for 2010 |
| GALWAY | Irish city, 2020 European Capital of Culture (6) |
| NOVISAD | One of the three European Capitals of Culture for 2021, in NE Serbia on the Danube river (4,3) |
| ESTONIA | Baltic country whose capital was European City of Culture in 2011 (7) |
| COVENTRY | City that was named the UK's third City of Culture in 2017 (8) |
| LSLOWRY | Artist famous for painting scenes of life in the industrial districts of North West England (1,1,5) |
