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Transport information
Further information
Open daily 10am-5pm.
The Piermaster's House open daily 10am-4.30pm.
Closed from 2pm on 24 December and all day on 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
Maritime Archives and Library open Tuesday-Thursday, 10.30am-4.30pm.
Please note that the Maritime Archives and Library will close to the public for annual stocktaking from 12.30pm on Thursday 17 December, reopening on Tuesday 26 January 2011. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Please note that the former pilot boat, which you can usually see in the dry dock outside the museum, is currently closed to the public while major construction work in the dockside area is carried out. It will open again in 2011. During the closure you can still see inside the ship in our Edmund Gardner feature and online tour.
You can download a printer-friendly information sheet with details of how to get to the Merseyside Maritime Museum including a map here:
Local travel information is available on the Merseytravel website or by calling 0871 200 2233.
Please note that the riverside walkway between Pier Head and the Albert Dock will be closed until late 2009 while construction takes place in the area. Visitors are advised to use the Dock Road route until the riverside walkway is open again.
The Albert Dock is on the waterfront close to Liverpool city centre and the Liverpool One complex. It is clearly signposted from the motorway and other main routes into the city centre. You may want to use AA Route Planner to plan your journey.
Major roadworks are currently taking place in the Albert Dock area of Liverpool which may affect Strand Street and other routes to the museum.
For the latest news about all developments affecting roads, streets and public spaces in the city centre please check Liverpool City Council's Big Dig website, which is updated regularly.
Merseyside Maritime Museum is about a 20 minute walk from Liverpool Lime Street station - Liverpool's mainline train station. Leave the concourse via the exit closest to the ticket office (this route is also suitable for those requiring level access). You come out on Lord Nelson Street, facing the side of the Empire Theatre. Turn left out onto Lime Street (St George's Hall is opposite). Go left along Lime Street until you reach the pedestrian crossing. Cross Lime Street to St George's Hall, then cross the road again on the left, heading towards the Royal Court Theatre. Walk past the theatre towards the Queen Square Travel Centre (a large circular building with a clock on top) then head to the left of this, under an overhead walkway and across Williamson Square to the opposite corner. Walk down the street on the right between Sayers bakers and the Queen's Head pub and turn left at the end onto Whitechapel. Walk past the Met Quarter on your right and 08 Place on your left, cross the main street of shops (Church Street) and walk straight ahead through the Liverpool One shopping complex, towards John Lewis. At John Lewis turn right and walk past the amphitheatre steps towards Strand Street. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and go straight ahead into the Albert Dock. The Maritime Museum is straight ahead, just past the Pumphouse pub and Dock Traffic Office.
James Street station is about a 5 minute walk away. This station is served by the Wirral Line trains only. Leave the station by the James Street entrance, turn right and walk down James Street, then turn left at the end onto Strand Street and walk down Strand Street, with the docks and river on your right, until you reach the entrance to the Albert Dock. There is a pedestrian crossing across Strand Street at the junction with James Street and another at the Albert Dock entrance. When you enter the Albert Dock by the main entrance the Maritime Museum is straight ahead, just past the Pumphouse pub and Dock Traffic Office.
Moorfields station, just off Dale Street, is about a 15 minute walk away. This station is served by the Southport-Hunts Cross, Ormskirk, Kirkby, West Kirby, New Brighton, Chester and Ellesmere Port line trains. Leave the station by the Moorfields entrance, coming out onto Dale Street. Go right along Dale Street until you get to North John Street on the left. Walk down North John Street, which takes you into the Liverpool One shopping complex, until you get to John Lewis. Here turn right and walk past the ampitheatre steps towards Strand Street. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and go straight ahead into the Albert Dock. The Maritime Museum is straight ahead, just past the Pumphouse pub and Dock Traffic Office.
Liverpool Central station is served by the same services as Moorfields. Leave the station by the main entrance, coming out onto Ranelagh Street. Turn left and walk down Hanover Street, which takes you to the Liverpool One shopping complex and the back of John Lewis. Walk round John Lewis to the amphitheatre steps, then past these towards the docks. Cross Strand Street at the pedestrian crossing and go straight ahead into the Albert Dock. The Maritime Museum is straight ahead, just past the Pumphouse pub and Dock Traffic Office.
The Paradise Street interchange is the closest bus station, just across the road from the entrance to the Albert Dock.
The C4 city centre bus goes from Queen Square to the Albert Dock.
From Queen Square walk down Whitechapel, past the Met Quarter on your right and 08 Place on your left, cross the main street of shops (Church Street) and walk straight ahead through the Liverpool One shopping complex, towards John Lewis. At John Lewis turn right and walk past the amphitheatre steps towards Strand Street. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and go straight ahead into the Albert Dock. The Maritime Museum is straight ahead, just past the Pumphouse pub and Dock Traffic Office.
Leave the National Express coach station by the main entrance and go right to London Road. Turn right, go down London Road, and turn left at the Empire Theatre onto Lime Street. Cross Lime Street to St George's Hall, then cross the road again on the left, heading towards the Royal Court Theatre. Walk past the theatre towards the Queen Square Travel Centre (a large circular building with a clock on top) then head to the left of this, under an overhead walkway and across Williamson Square to the opposite corner. Walk down the street on the right between Sayers bakers and the Queen's Head pub and turn left at the end onto Whitechapel. Walk past the Met Quarter on your right and 08 Place on your left, cross the main street of shops (Church Street) and walk straight ahead through the Liverpool One shopping complex, towards John Lewis. At John Lewis turn right and walk past the amphitheatre steps towards Strand Street. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and go straight ahead into the Albert Dock. The Maritime Museum is straight ahead, just past the Pumphouse pub and Dock Traffic Office.
The nearest car parks are located in the Liverpool ONE complex opposite the entrance to the Albert Dock. Q-Park Strand Street has 2000 underground spaces, Q-Park Gradwell Street has 560 multi-storey spaces and Q-Park John Lewis has 580 multi-storey spaces. The entrance to the Strand Street car park is opposite the Albert Dock and is accessible from the centre of the road in both directions. The Gradwell Street car park is opposite BBC Radio Merseyside and the John Lewis car park is located opposite the Paradise Street bus interchange and the police station.
Charged car and coach parking is also available at the adjacent King's Dock. Please note that the car park at Mann Island is now closed.
There are 3 blue badge parking spaces in the car park on the right hand side of the road leading into the Albert Dock, opposite the Dock Traffic Office building (the former Granada Television building). Another 4 designated blue badge spaces are available in the on-street parking on the right hand side of the approach road, which are slightly further away from the museum building. Charges apply for parking in both these areas.
Admission to Merseyside Maritime Museum and all the National Museums Liverpool venues is FREE.
All exhibitions, events and activities at National Museums Liverpool are also FREE.
There is an information desk in the entrance foyer of the museum.
The museum shop on the ground floor has a wide range of souvenirs, books, postcards and fair trade gifts.
There are benches overlooking the docks outside the museum, but no tables, where visitors can eat a picnic on a nice day. Please dispose of rubbish responsibly.
Feel free to bring your mp3 player or mobile phone with you but please turn phones to 'vibrate only' and please consider other visitors when adjusting your volume levels.
Free wi-fi access is available in the quayside café on the ground floor.
Sorry, we do not have a designated, staffed cloakroom, although there are a small number of lockers available on the ground floor (please bring a £1 coin to operate, which will be returned after use). We also ask that visitors avoid bringing bags into the museum.
We do not have a prayer room.
Admission to the Maritime Archive and Library is by free ticket, available in person from the enquiry desk. The tickets available are either an annual reader's ticket, (for which proof of identity will be required), or a temporary daily ticket valid only on day of issue.
If you are visiting to see a particular object we suggest you contact us in advance to ensure it is on gallery (we sometimes loan objects to other galleries or remove them for conservation). Call the information desk on 0151 478 4499.
This newly refurbished space on the fourth floor can accommodate 120 people in the restaurant and 200 in the conference space. The menu offers food that is regional, modern and affordable and there are facilities for receptions and events with drinks and canapés.
More on the Maritime Dining Rooms including the current main menu, the comprehensive wine list, a tempting afternoon tea menu, a children's menu, an excellent value family meal deal and other special offers.
Bookings can be made by calling 0151 478 4056.
Information on hiring the space including menus and conference facilties.
Serving a selection of hot and cold drinks, snacks and filled baguettes.
Free wi-fi access is available in the café.
For café enquiries call 0151 478 4446. Other café enquiries can be directed via our 'contact us' system.
Non-commercial photography is permitted but neither flash nor tripods can be used.
Visitors wanting to use the venue for location shooting of any kind should contact our press department. More information on location shooting can be found here.
Artists wanting to work in any of our venues should consult our guidelines for artists working in the venues.
There are baby changing facilities on several floors.
The Sea Urchins play area on the first floor is aimed at 8-years and under. There are free maritime-themed activities on offer include costumes, activity sheets and story books.
Our quarterly Family Guide describes our free family exhibitions, events and activities. It can be requested through our register with us page. A large print version is also available.
There is access for visitors with disabilities to all National Museums Liverpool, although limited restrictions apply.
A complete access guide for Merseyside Maritime Museum is available on the Disabled Go website (please note that this does not yet cover the International Slavery Museum).
All sites have adapted toilet facilities, with the exception of the Piermaster's House. Wheelchair access is not possible to the Piermaster's House.
Guide and hearing dogs welcome.
Table service, braille and large print menus are available in the café.
We regularly feature events supported by British Sign Language. They can generally be found on this BSL supported events page or can be searched for in our 'what's on' section.
We produce large print versions of both of our quarterly what's on publications. Our Family Guide describes our free family exhibitions, events and activities, while our Exhibitions and Events Guide has more on our wide-ranging temporary exhibitions, talks and workshops. They can be requested through our register with us page.
There are two ramped accesses (gradients 1:12 and 1:15) and a lift to upper floors. Unfortunately the following areas are inaccessible to wheelchair users:
You can learn about 19th century emigration in our fascinating online interactive, Leaving From Liverpool.
Magical History Tour (temporary exhibition gallery, 2nd floor)
Permanent galleries
Visitors with mobility probelms may like to make use of Liverpool's Shopmobility service. You can hire equipment including manual and electric wheelchairs and electric scooters. The shop is on the third floor of Liverpool One shopping centre, close to the accessible parking bays in the Strand Street Q-Park. Equipment must be booked in advance and there is a charge. More information can be found on the Liverpool One website or by calling 0151 707 0877.
The Merseylink Service is a dial-a-ride service for Merseyside people with mobility problems or difficulties, who cannot use or have difficulty using public transport. The service runs from 8am to 11pm daily and can be used by members for travel anywhere in Merseyside. The service is free for members and one essential travel companion. For further information contact Merseylink on 0151 709 1929.
There is a programme of learning events available at Merseyside Maritime Museum. Please check the learning pages on this website or call 0151 478 4441 for more information.
If you would like to register to receive a regular events guide you can do so here.
There is also a programme of sessions for schools, including teachers' sessions. You can search a database of these events, and also access information on making your visit a successful one.
We ask all groups to book by calling us on 0151 478 4441.
You may also be interested in visiting World Museum Liverpool and the National Conservation Centre in Liverpool city centre. Both are approximately 20 minutes walk away.
The International Slavery Museum, which is housed within the same building, could form part of the same visit.
Language support
© 2009 National Museums Liverpool
