Guides

Things to do in Liverpool: waterfront, museums and the Mersey

Things to do in Liverpool: landmark buildings, museum collections and the River Mersey, with official visitor links.

Liverpool makes more sense when you give the Mersey a place in your day. Walk the waterfront, take a sightseeing ferry if you fancy it, then head inside for city history, art or one of the landmark buildings. These six stops give you a mix of all three, without needing to fit them into a single visit.

1. Royal Albert Dock and the waterfront

Start with a walk rather than a ticket. The route south from Pier Head takes you past the Three Graces and Museum of Liverpool to Royal Albert Dock, with the river beside you. It’s a useful first look at the waterfront before you choose a museum, a boat trip or somewhere to eat.

Good to know

  • The dock’s official directions allow about ten minutes on foot from Pier Head; leave longer if you want to stop along the way.
  • James Street is the nearby Merseyrail stop, and Liverpool ONE bus station is opposite the dock.
  • Bring a layer for the riverside and make the outdoor walk the flexible part of your day.

2. Museum of Liverpool

If you want to understand the city behind the skyline, come here. Three floors of galleries explore Liverpool’s history in a waterfront building at Pier Head. It makes a good partner to a ferry ride: you can see the city from the water, then spend time with its stories indoors.

Good to know

  • General admission is free; some special exhibitions and events cost extra.
  • It normally opens Tuesday to Sunday, with some school-holiday Monday openings. Check the museum page for seasonal closing times.
  • If there’s a particular room or object you want to see, ask ahead: galleries can close for maintenance or events.

3. A Mersey sightseeing cruise

The ferry gives you a different view of Liverpool, with the buildings gathered into a skyline rather than passing one at a time. Choose a sightseeing sailing if you want the river to be part of the visit, not just the backdrop. The optional audio guide adds the stories behind what you’re looking at.

Good to know

  • Check the sightseeing timetable before setting your day around a departure; sailing times change by season.
  • The operator encourages online booking and offers flexible tickets. Check current fares and ticket conditions on Mersey Ferries.
  • For the digital audio guide, bring headphones, a charged phone and mobile data. A printed route fact sheet is available from terminal staff.
  • Children under five travel free on the sightseeing cruise.

4. St George’s Hall

This is an interesting building to explore from the inside. A guided tour links the prison cells and courtrooms with the Great Hall and Concert Room, so you see both the working and ceremonial sides of Liverpool’s civic life. It’s worth choosing a tour date before building the rest of your plans around it.

Good to know

  • Tours are ticketed and run on selected dates, not as a guaranteed daily walk-in visit.
  • Book through Liverpool City Halls and arrive ten minutes before your tour starts.
  • Most City Halls tours take 60–90 minutes; check the duration and spaces included in your chosen listing.

5. Walker Art Gallery

Come here when you’d like to slow down and look at art. The collection spans paintings, sculpture and decorative art from the 13th century to the present day, so you can follow one period or simply see what catches your eye. It’s a different kind of afternoon from the waterfront museums.

Good to know

  • The gallery is on William Brown Street, near Lime Street station.
  • General entry is free, although some exhibitions and events have a charge.
  • It normally opens Tuesday to Sunday; check seasonal hours and school-holiday exceptions before visiting.
  • There’s a café on the ground floor if you want a break without leaving the gallery.

6. Liverpool Cathedral

The cathedral is a place to pause and take in a building on a much larger scale. You can keep the visit simple and explore the main interior, or add the paid tower experience for a view across the city. Choose the tower because you want the climb as well as the outlook: it isn’t a lift-only viewpoint.

Good to know

  • Visiting the building is usually free and doesn’t require booking; special events can have different arrangements.
  • Check this week’s visiting hours, as services and events can change access. On Sundays the cathedral recommends sightseeing from noon.
  • The tower is separately ticketed and involves two lifts followed by 108 stairs. Check availability and current prices before going up.

Quick tips

  • A simple waterfront day: Museum of Liverpool, a sightseeing sailing and a walk to Royal Albert Dock. Check the ferry timetable first.
  • Keep St George’s Hall for a day when you can book a tour, and give Walker Art Gallery its own unhurried slot.
  • Museum Mondays need checking: the usual Tuesday-to-Sunday pattern has school-holiday exceptions.
  • Want company? Check upcoming events in Liverpool on Socroo below and find someone to go with.

Upcoming events

Things to do in Liverpool by season Royal Albert Dock: getting here Museum of Liverpool Walker Art Gallery Mersey Ferries: sightseeing cruises Liverpool Cathedral: visitor hours St George’s Hall: guided tours