The Museum of Liverpool is an unmissable attraction for anyone wanting to delve into the fascinating history of this unique and cultural city in England’s northwest. It’s one of the UK’s biggest modern national museums and also the first in the world to be devoted entirely to the history of a regional city. Having opened in July 2011, the purpose-built museum replaced the former Museum of Liverpool Life in order to accommodate visitor numbers consistently exceeding 300,000 per year.
With its insightful displays, interactive exhibits and hands-on learning, the museum showcases the significance of Liverpool to the rest of the UK and beyond, as well as showing what life was – and is currently – like for locals. An incredible day out for couples, families, school groups and friends alike, it’s really not hard to see why the Museum of Liverpool is one of the city’s top things to do.
Museum of Liverpool - one of the highlights of 5 Places to Learn Something New in Liverpool and 10 Best Things to Do in Liverpool in Winter (Read all about Liverpool here)
What are the highlights of the Museum of Liverpool?
The Museum of Liverpool provides an unparalleled insight into every aspect of the city’s rich and cultural history, from Mesolithic artefacts in the archaeological collection to spectacular pop culture memorabilia in The Beatles collections. There are galleries to browse, screenings to watch, exhibits to interact with and over 6,000 objects to see.
With so much to see and do, you might worry you won’t get to see it all. If that’s the case, be sure to prioritise visiting the Land Transport Collection. This impressive section displays more than 200 vehicles, including the famous Liverpool Overhead Railway.
Other highlights include the museum’s own life-size Liver bird, the breathtaking Ben Johnson’s Liverpool Cityscape, plus the Skylight Gallery on the top floor. This is where you’ll find the People’s Republic gallery and the huge window with a spectacular view of the city’s 3 Graces – once crowned the UK ‘Best Window with a View’.
foto door Takashi Hososhima (CC BY-SA 2.0) bewerkt
What is there for kids and families to do at the Museum of Liverpool?
The Museum of Liverpool is a fantastic place to head for a fun-filled family day out. There’s plenty to keep kids (and adults) of all ages amused, thanks to the museum’s captivating displays and interactive exhibits that are both entertaining, educational and accessible for all who visit – not to mention the specific child-friendly areas.
The Little Liverpool gallery is a brilliant, hands-on fantasy world for children under the age of 6, where they can create their own little city, make a splash at Liverpuddles and experience the multi-sensory Liver bird’s nest. ‘When I was little’ is a special activity for children aged 3 to 7 to enjoy with their grandparents or older family member, where they can explore the museum, complete activities and share memories together. There’s also a downloadable PDF of the Liver bird trail for little ones to follow around the museum in search of the iconic birds.
Good to know about the Museum of Liverpool
The Museum of Liverpool is easily accessible to anyone visiting Liverpool as it’s right in the heart of the city, on the famous UNESCO World Heritage site waterfront. If you’re driving from outside of the city, then you leave the M6 and take either the M56 or M62 to Liverpool, following signs to the city centre and Royal Albert Dock. If you’re travelling on public transport or on foot, the museum is just a 15-minute walk from Liverpool Central train station.
When you’re done exploring the exhibitions, you can make the most of your visit by grabbing a bite to eat at the onsite Waterfront Café, which is open Tuesday–Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Entry into the Museum of Liverpool is free, although donations are welcomed. You should book ahead to avoid disappointment and bear in mind that the last admissions each day are 1 hour before closing.
Museum of Liverpool
Locatie: Pier Head, Liverpool Waterfront, Liverpool L3 1DG, UK
Openingstijden: Tuesday–Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays)
Telefoonnummer: +44 (0)151 478 4545