Liverpool museums at a glance in 2026
Liverpool has more museums than most cities of its size, and the best known are free to walk into. The catch in 2026 is that some of the names on older lists are shut. The Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum are closed for rebuilding, and Tate Liverpool at the Royal Albert Dock is closed too. A guide written before the closures will send you to a locked door.
The open museums fall into two groups. The World Museum and the Walker Art Gallery stand together on William Brown Street, a short walk from Lime Street station. The Museum of Liverpool sits on the waterfront at Pier Head. This guide is independent and has no link to the museums or their operator, so always check the current opening days on the day you plan to go.
Open, free or closed: the museums compared
Status as of October 2026. Opening days and times change with the season, so confirm before you travel.
| Museum | Status | Entry | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Liverpool | Open | Free basic entry; some temporary exhibitions may charge | Pier Head waterfront |
| World Museum | Open | Free basic entry | William Brown Street |
| Walker Art Gallery | Open | Free basic entry | William Brown Street |
| The Beatles Story | Open | £20 adult (16 and over), 2026 | Royal Albert Dock |
| Merseyside Maritime Museum | Closed for rebuilding | – | Royal Albert Dock |
| International Slavery Museum | Closed for rebuilding | – | Royal Albert Dock |
| Tate Liverpool | Closed for refurbishment | – | Royal Albert Dock |
Our picks: museums
Two Beatles museums and the LFC Museum at Anfield.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Anfield stadium tour with the LFC Museum
Stadium entry and tour, an audio guide with headphones, guides and the LFC Museum. Access to the pitch is not included.
Check availability →
The Beatles Story museum ticket
Museum entry with a multimedia audio guide, plus the Discovery Zone during its opening hours and access to the café and store.
Check availability →
Beatles museum entry ticket
Museum entry only. Food and drinks are not included.
Check availability →Museum and sightseeing tours in Liverpool
Guided visits, bus tours and tickets that combine the museums with the rest of the city, with live prices and availability.
Museum of Liverpool
The Museum of Liverpool tells the story of the city and its people, and it stands on the waterfront next to the Port of Liverpool Building. Basic entry is free. The museum itself warns that temporary exhibitions can carry a charge, so free entry does not mean every gallery is free.
It is the easiest museum to fit in with a walk along the river. Pier Head, the Mersey ferry terminal and the Three Graces are all within a few minutes, and the Royal Albert Dock is a pleasant walk along the water. Do not confuse it with the closed Maritime Museum at the dock.
World Museum and Walker Art Gallery
These two sit on William Brown Street in the St George's Quarter, the area around Lime Street station. The Walker Art Gallery is about three minutes on foot from the station, which makes it a good first stop if you arrive by train.
The World Museum covers natural history and the ancient world and also offers planetarium programmes. The Walker holds paintings, sculpture and craft objects. Basic entry to both is free. Special exhibitions may be charged separately, so check at the desk or online before you queue.
Older museum leaflets show winter hours that no longer have to apply. Opening days and hours differ between summer and winter, so look up the current week rather than relying on an old figure.
Closed museums: what to know
Do not plan a visit to these buildings until the operators announce a firm reopening.
Merseyside Maritime Museum
Closed for rebuilding at the Royal Albert Dock. The operator has named 2028 as the planned reopening. That is a target, not a promise, and older websites that say "open daily" are out of date.
International Slavery Museum
Also closed, with the same planned reopening of 2028. It is in the same dock complex as the Maritime Museum, so treat both as unavailable for now.
Tate Liverpool
The gallery at the Royal Albert Dock is closed for refurbishment. The Tate is preparing to reopen in 2027, without an exact day or new ticket prices. During the works it has shown parts of its collection at RIBA North, which is a different site, so check what is on before you go.
The Beatles Story and other paid museums
Not every museum in Liverpool is free. The Beatles Story at the Royal Albert Dock charges £20 for adults aged 16 and over in 2026, £16 for seniors and students and £11 for children aged 5 to 15. The audioguide is included and comes in 12 languages, German among them. From 5 October 2026 to 1 March 2027 it opens from 09:00, closing at 17:30 Sunday to Friday and at 18:30 on Saturdays and during Liverpool school holidays. The entrance lift has been reported out of order, so do not count on step-free access without checking first.
Details of tickets, slots and the winter timetable are on the Beatles Story page. For the music itself, see the Cavern Club guide.
A museum day that suits the weather
Museums are the obvious answer to a wet day. Rain falls in every month, so build in a plan B.
Arrive by train
From Lime Street, walk to William Brown Street for the Walker Art Gallery and the World Museum. Both are free, so you can leave after an hour if the weather clears.
Add the waterfront
The City Explorer hop-on bus stops at William Brown Street and both cathedrals. In 2026 it costs £15 for adults, £11 for children aged 5 to 15 and £13 for concessions with proof, and the ticket lasts 24 hours. In the winter schedule it does not run from 30 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.
Finish at Pier Head
Spend the afternoon at the Museum of Liverpool, then look at the river. The Mersey ferry sails from the same area, subject to current service notices.
If you want more than museums, the 15 best things to do in Liverpool put them in context, and the weather page shows which months are driest.
More to plan
Pages that pair well with a museum visit.
Liverpool museums: frequently asked questions
Which Liverpool museums are free?
Basic entry to the Museum of Liverpool, the World Museum and the Walker Art Gallery is free. Temporary exhibitions and guided options can still charge, so check before you buy or queue.
Is the Merseyside Maritime Museum open?
No. It is closed for rebuilding and the operator has named 2028 as the planned reopening. The International Slavery Museum in the same complex is closed as well.
Is Tate Liverpool open in 2026?
No. The gallery is closed for refurbishment and is preparing to reopen in 2027. No exact reopening day has been given. Some Tate displays have been shown at RIBA North during the works.
Where is the Museum of Liverpool?
On the waterfront at Pier Head, next to the Port of Liverpool Building. It is not in the Maritime Museum building at the Royal Albert Dock.
How do I get from the station to the Walker Art Gallery?
The gallery is on William Brown Street, roughly three minutes on foot from Lime Street station.
Is the Beatles Story a museum?
Yes, it is a paid museum at the Royal Albert Dock. In 2026 adult tickets cost £20, and winter hours apply from 5 October 2026 to 1 March 2027. See the Beatles Story guide for details.