Royal Albert Dock at a glance
Royal Albert Dock is a group of historic dock buildings with riverside walkways, shops and places to eat. The Beatles Story is here, and so are the starting points of the city's main bus tours. Shops and restaurants keep their own opening hours.
Plan around one fact first: Tate Liverpool, the Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum are not open as normal galleries. The sections below explain each one. The Museum of Liverpool is not in the dock. It stands on the waterfront at Pier Head.
What is open and what is closed
Status for autumn 2026. Reopening dates are plans, not promises.
| Place | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Beatles Story | Open | Adult £20, timed entry, audio guide in 12 languages including German |
| Tate Liverpool | Closed for refurbishment | Reopening planned for 2027 |
| Merseyside Maritime Museum | Closed | Reopening planned for 2028 |
| International Slavery Museum | Closed | Reopening planned for 2028 |
| Museum of Liverpool | Open, at Pier Head | Free basic entry, charges possible for special exhibitions |
Tate has said it shows collection displays at RIBA North and runs a programme away from the dock during the works. That is a different place, so check what is on before you go. Our Liverpool museums guide covers the museums that are open.
The Beatles Story
The Beatles Story is the main indoor attraction in the dock. Adults pay £20 in 2026. Seniors and students pay £16, and children aged 5 to 15 pay £11. Young children are free, but the operator's pages disagree on the age limit: one table says 0 to 4, while a line of text says 5 and under. Ask when you book if your child is 5.
Buy a timed ticket online for the slot you want. Card-payment kiosks also let you book the next free slot when you arrive without a ticket. Cash is not accepted.
- Winter hours from 5 October 2026 to 1 March 2027: Sunday to Friday 09:00 to 17:30, last entry 16:15.
- Saturdays and Liverpool school holidays: 09:00 to 18:30, last entry 17:15.
- Closed on 25 and 26 December. On 24 December entry is 10:00 to 15:00, and on 31 December 10:00 to 16:00.
- The entrance lift was reported out of service at the time of writing, so ask about step-free access before you travel.
Read our full guide to The Beatles Story for more detail.
Tours and tickets at Royal Albert Dock
Bus tours, Beatles experiences and river trips that start at or near the dock, with live prices and availability.
Tours that start at the dock
Both of the best-known bus tours leave from Gower Street, next to the dock.
City Explorer hop-on hop-off bus
The bus starts at Gower Street. Adults pay £15 and children aged 5 to 15 pay £11, with a ticket valid for 24 hours. In the 2026/27 timetable the first bus leaves at 10:00 and the last at 15:00 from 28 September to 29 November 2026. There are no tours from 30 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.
Magical Mystery Tour
This two-hour Beatles bus tour meets in Anchor Courtyard at 32 Gower Street. Check in 30 minutes before departure. Adults pay £21.95. Our Beatles tours guide compares it with the walking tours.
Mersey river cruise
Boats leave from Pier Head, not from the dock. Read the notes on service disruption in our Mersey Ferry guide before you plan the trip.
Walking the waterfront
The dock sits on the Mersey, and Pier Head lies further along the same waterfront, where the Royal Liver Building and the Cunard Building stand beside the Beatles statue. Look at the map and pick your route, because walking times from your hotel to the dock or the ferry depend on where you start.
The Museum of Liverpool is at Pier Head, near the Port of Liverpool Building.
Liverpool's waterfront is no longer a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was inscribed in 2004 and removed from the list in 2021, after UNESCO decided that harbour developments had caused irreversible losses to its qualifying features. The buildings and the river are still there, but the title is gone.
Where to stay near the dock
The waterfront suits visitors who want the dock, The Beatles Story and Pier Head close at hand. It is a different base from the Cavern Quarter, where the Cavern Club stays open until midnight or later, or the Georgian Quarter near the cathedrals. Our where to stay guide compares the areas.
Royal Albert Dock: frequently asked questions
Is Tate Liverpool open?
No. Tate Liverpool is being refurbished, and the planned reopening is in 2027. The exact day and new ticket prices are still open.
Is the Maritime Museum open?
No. The Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum are both closed, with reopening planned for 2028. Old guides that list them as open are out of date.
Is Liverpool a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Not any more. The waterfront was inscribed in 2004 and removed from the World Heritage List in 2021.
Where does the hop-on hop-off bus start?
On Gower Street at Royal Albert Dock. In October and November 2026 the first bus leaves at 10:00 and the last at 15:00, and tours pause from 30 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.
Is the Museum of Liverpool in the dock?
No. It is on the waterfront at Pier Head, so you can plan it as a separate stop.
Do I need a separate ticket for each attraction?
Yes. Attractions such as The Beatles Story charge their own admission, and shops and restaurants set their own hours.