Museums & Galleries
Modern & Contemporary
If modern and contemporary art is your thing, you'll find frequent exhibitions at a number of independent galleries in the city centre, including the Open Eye Gallery and View Two. FACT is Liverpool's award-winning multimedia centre, housing a cinema and galleries showing digital and film-based exhibitions.
Tate Liverpool
The most visited art gallery in the UK outside London. Home to the National Collection of Modern Art in the North. Stunning galleries in a unique converted warehouse. The only place in the UK to see these exhibitions. They don't tour!
National Museums Liverpool
National Museums Liverpool is England's only national museums group based entirely outside London. Our unique museums and galleries are home to amazingly varied collections covering everything from social history to space travel, entomology to ethnology, dinosaurs to docks, arts to archaeology.
Our origins go back to 1851 and the founding of what is now World Museum Liverpool. Today we have eight venues, together attracting over 1.6 million visitors annually. In the past 10 years, we have won 18 national and international awards for education, tourism, architecture and scholarship.
Our mission is to help all our visitors experience a greater understanding and enjoyment of art, history and science.
National Museums Liverpool is responsible for the classic collection and special exhibitions at the Walker Art Gallery, which is also home to the bi-annual John Moores 24 painting competition and the Lady Lever Gallery at Port Sunlight, home to a collection of 18th and 19th century paintings, furniture and ceramics.
The Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art features highly on the international arts calendar, and returns to us this Autumn, and again in 2008, Liverpool's Capital of Culture year.
Merseyside Maritime Museum
The Merseyside Maritime Museum tells the history of one of the world's greatest ports. Discover Liverpool's central role in centuries at sea as the gateway to the new world.
Walker Art Gallery
One of the finest art galleries in Europe, the Walker holds an outstanding collection of fine and decorative art in Europe from 1300 to present. See famous works by Poussin, Rossetti, Millais and Hockney.
World Museum Liverpool
Combines historic treasures from across the globe with the latest interactive technology to make an unbeatable family day out. Our internationally important collections include archaeology, ethnology and the natural and physical sciences as well as Britain's only free planetarium.
International Slavery Museum
This brand new museum opened in August 2007 and is based in the Maritime Museum. It explores both the historical and contemporary aspects of slavery and addresses the many legacies of the slave trade.
Sudley House
Sudley House contains fabulous works by Gainsborough, Reynolds, Landseer and Turner, all displayed in its original setting. The house itself is surrounded by pleasant gardens and parkland.
National Conservation Centre
Conservators based in this unique venue look after National Museums Liverpool's diverse collections. Visitors can get the inside track on how conservators reveal hidden stories behind objects like Roman sculptures and Egyptian mummies.
Customs & Excise Museum
Located within the Maritime Museum, the HM Customs & Excise National Museum holds many fascinating and unique objects. Each one helps tell the tale of the Customs & Excise officers' efforts to protect society and raise funds for the government.
The Atkinson Art Gallery - Southport
Founded in 1878, the Atkinson Art Gallery is home to many important artworks, including paintings and sculptures by Jacob Epstein, Celia Baillie, John Piper, Henry Moore and Carel Weight. The Friends of the Atkinson Art Gallery is a thriving body which is responsible for purchasing at least nineteen of the works and ensures its continuing relevance.
The Lady Lever Art Gallery - Wirral
The Lady Lever Art Gallery holds one of the most beautiful collections of fine and decorative arts in the country. It was founded in 1922 by William Hesketh Lever, the first Lord Leverhulme, in memory of his wife. The gallery displays works collected by Leverhulme throughout his life. British 18th and 19th century painting, 18th century furniture and outstanding collections of Wedgwood and Chinese porcelain are among the treasures on show.
Liverpool & Merseyside Museums
Liverpool has more museums and galleries than any other city bar London. We're convinced that you'll find plenty to entertain, delight you and provoke debate, from first rate classic art collections to contemporary art and sculpture, world class museums and award-winning theatres.
National Museums Liverpool boasts an extensive range of collections, which it houses at the newly refurbished World Museum Liverpool, Merseyside Maritime Museum and Customs and Excise Museum.
Liverpool's Albert Dock, home to the Merseyside Maritime Museum and Customs and Excise Museum, also houses the northern branch of the Tate gallery, with an impressive permanent collection, retrospective shows and special exhibitions by the world's most famous living artists.
The National Trust looks after a range of historical properties in the city, from photographer E. Chambre Hardman's home & studio on Rodney Street; Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road, the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney respectively; and the Tudor Speke Hall, near Liverpool Airport
Beyond Liverpool
Over on Wirral, you can follow Birkenhead's Heritage Trail for a taste of the impact of industrialisation and maritime heritage on the peninsula, or head for the enlightening Wirral Museum in beautiful Hamilton Square. Charming Port Sunlight village and Sunlight Vision Museum - the philanthropic vision of Viscount Leverhulme - is also well worth a visit.