With a brief stint as the European Capital of Culture in 2008 and a rich history of nurturing many poets, playwrights and musicians (such as world-famous band The Beatles), it's no wonder Liverpool has maintained a booming arts scene. It's home to the most museums in the UK, after London of course, spanning from contemporary art spots by Mann Island to buildings that deep dive into maritime history. Whether you're looking to learn or catch a glimpse of George Harrison's first guitar, discover some of the best Liverpool galleries and museums in our guide and curate your very own inspiring day out.
The Best Galleries And Museums In Liverpool
The Beatles Story
A Liverpool museum that's worth the hype, The Beatles Story is an award-winning attraction perched on Royal Albert Dock, paying homage to the acclaimed band born in the city. It offers a one-of-a-kind immersive experience that takes you through rooms recreating the likes of The Caveman Club and Abbey Road Studios in the 60s, plus a chance to lay your eyes on George Harrison's first guitar and John Lennon's last piano. Whether you're a fan of the quartet or not, this spot is perfect for music and pop culture lovers - it even has two Fab4 cafés serving up traditional Scouse dishes and toasted tea cakes.
Say Hello, Goodbye to The Beatles Museum in Liverpool.
Tate Liverpool
Spread across two locations at RIBA North, Mann Island and Royal
Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool brings British
and contemporary art to the city, as well as exhibitions, short
films and creative workshops. The original gallery was built in
1988 when a converted warehouse was transformed into a space that
would then hold famous works, like Mountain Lake by Salvador Dali.
Best of all, it's free to enter from 10am 'til 5.50pm from Monday
to Sunday, making it the perfect pick for an affordable day out.
Make your way to Mann Island to check out some unique collections at the Tate gallery in Liverpool.
Walker Art Gallery
If you're looking to find one of the largest art collections in the UK outside of its capital, head to Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. The grand building was designed by local architects Cornelius Sherlock and H.H. Vale and opened in 1877; you'll notice it today oozing neo-classical elegance on William Brown Street. Pay a visit to marvel at European Renaissance paintings, and pieces by Rembrandt, Turner and Impressionist works by Monet. There's also an outstanding selection of sculptures, and decorative art from 1300 to the present day.
The gallery is part of the National Museums Liverpool group.
Museum Of Liverpool
Learn everything there is to know about this city's diverse history at the Museum of Liverpool, located right on the waterfront. Open 10am 'til 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday, the fascinating spot is home to an array of exhibitions covering everything from music to the story behind the first electric elevated railway in the world. A cosy and cute café can be found on the ground floor, overlooking the docks, and makes for a perfect cake and biscuit-fuelled stop off after you've finished wandering around the museum's various rooms.
Everything you need to know about this city's social and community history is right here.
Maritime Museum
Sat on the waterfront at the Albert Dock, opposite the Pier Head, is the Maritime Museum in Liverpool, where you can uncover facts about the city's sea-centric past. It spans incredible emigration stories to the tragic tales of the Titanic and Lusitania, as well as the Battle of the Atlantic, and even features a Maritime Archives centre where you can research your Liverpudlian family tree. Free exhibitions include exploring Liverpool's docks over 300 years and mid-19th century to the early 1990s shipping posters.
There's plenty to sea by Albert Dock.
Open Eye Gallery
Open Eye Gallery in Mann Island is an independent, not-for-profit modern photo gallery that's free to visit. It runs a jam-packed events programme featuring poetry readings or alternative discussion groups focussing on the likes of trees. The space produces festivals and university courses, welcoming over 85,000 visitors every year into its diverse and collaborative space. You can visit the space from Tuesday to Sunday to catch a glimpse at a thought-provoking photo series from all walks of life.
One of the best independent art galleries in Liverpool.
World Museum
Dig deep into all things archaeology, ethnology and natural and physical sciences with free tickets to the World Museum in Liverpool. Prepare to be stunned as you enter the planetarium and gaze at the stars, or if you're more of a hermit (crab), venture over to the aquarium where you'll discover rare species and immersive projections. The large museum is also home to around 80,000 artefacts from ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece, and boasts a room dedicated to world cultures with approximately 40,000 objects.
The World Museum's planetarium is a star attraction.
The Bluecoat
We couldn't complete our guide without mentioning
The Bluecoat. Housed in a Grade I-listed,
300-year-old building, it offers a year-round visual arts,
literature, music and dance programme, as well as heaps of family
activities. You can enjoy homemade meals from its lively café
or take a wander around its famous garden before checking out some
of the rotating exhibits on display. There's even a selection of
independent retailers on site selling everything from hand-tied
bouquets to vintage records.
Visit for exhibitions, meditation, crafting workshops and more.
Victoria Gallery And Museum
If you're into fine art, sculpture and ceramics, then you'll be
excited to know that the Victoria Gallery and
Museum in Liverpool has a collection featuring more than
6,500 items spanning the 16th to the 21st century. The Brownlow
Hill spot is adjacent to and part of the University of Liverpool,
and housed in a gorgeous red-brick, Gothic Victorian building. Some
items on display include X-rays from the beginning of the
technology's conception, or an early 20th-century dental surgery,
and birds and mammals from wildlife artist John James
Audubon. 
The Gothic building is a work of art itself.
Lady Lever Art Gallery
One of the finest museums in Europe, Lady Lever Art Gallery was commissioned in 1913, built in the Beaux-Arts style and opened in 1922 by Princess Beatrice. It was founded by William Hesketh Lever who dedicated it to his wife, Elizabeth Lady Lever. You'll find it located in model village Port Sunlight in Wirral, sporting the best collection of Wedgwood jasperware in the world, as well as Pre-Raphaelite painting collections featuring works by Millais, Rossetti and Holman Hunt. Free to enter, this absolute gem is a must-see when visiting the city - you may even catch a cool, fashion-focused exhibition while you're there too.
Lady Lever Art Gallery in Liverpool is internationally recognised, with one of the best collections in the UK.
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