In this section
Transport information
Further information
Open 10am-5pm daily.
FREE ADMISSION to the gallery and all exhibitions and events.
Closed from 2pm on 24 December, all day 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
Note: Please call the gallery if there is a particular painting you are coming to see to check it is on show.
Map of the area around Walker Art Gallery showing local railway stations or you can download a map [.pdf 145k]
The Walker is in Liverpool city centre, close to the entrance to the Queensway Tunnel and Lime Street Station. You may want to use AA Route Planner to plan your journey.
The Walker is a short walk from Liverpool Lime Street station - Liverpool's mainline
train station. Simply 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 right along Lime Street, past the Empire
Theatre. Cross Lime Street at the pedestrian crossing near the theatre (going towards
the fountain), and walk onto William Brown Street. The Walker is the second building
along, directly behind the fountain.
The nearest local line train station is Liverpool Lime Street lower level, however
this is only served by Wirral Line trains.
Moorfields station, just off Dale Street is a 5-10 min 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 left along Dale Street, passing under a flyover,
over a main road and onto William Brown Street. The Walker is at the top of the
road on the left.
Liverpool Central is served by the same services as Moorfields. Leave the station by the main entrance, coming out onto Ranelagh Street. Go right, past McDonalds and then left onto Lime Street. Go along Lime Street, passing the main railway station and St George's Hall (large neo-classical building) until you reach a fountain. The Walker is directly behind this fountain on William Brown Street.
The Walker is within walking distance of the bus stations at Queen Square and the
Paradise Street Interchange.
From Queen Square: keep the Queen Square Centre and The Royal Court
Theatre on your right and walk towards St George's Hall and the adjoining gardens.
Cross at the pedestrian lights, turn left and walk through the gardens, keeping
the back of St George's Hall to your right. As you leave the gardens you will see
a fountain across to your right. The fountain is directly in front of the gallery.
From Paradise Street: leave the bus station by the eastern exit (the end furthest from the river and the Albert Dock) and before you reach the traffic lights go left through a pedestrianised shopping area (by John Lewis). Pass several shops, cross the junction with Lord/Church Street and progress along Whitechapel. Take the pavement on the right side of the road, passing a taxi rank, bus station and several pubs. Cross the road towards St Johns Gardens, and keeping the gardens on your right follow the path round to the right. Go past World Museum Liverpool and the gallery is at the top of the road on the left.
The National Express coach station at Norton Street is within walking distance of the Walker. Go right out of the coach station and onto London Road. Go right, down London Road, cross over at the traffic lights towards the fountain on the corner of William Brown Street. The Walker is just there on the right.
Local travel information is available on the Merseytravel website or by calling 0871 200 2233. All of this information, including the map, can be printed off - see the link in the 'transport information' box.
There is limited pay and display parking just down the hill from the Walker on William Brown Street. The nearest car park is at Queen Square.
There are two designated spaces available for wheelchair users in the rear car park on a pre-booked basis. Contact the information desk on 0151 478 4178. There is also parking on William Brown Street with a limited number of blue badge spaces. These are owned by Liverpool City Council and we cannot reserve them for visitors.
William Brown Street is designated a drop off and pick up point for coaches, with a maximum stay of 15 minutes. Group bookers travelling by coach can visit the Liverpool Travel Trade website for more information on suitable long stay coach parks.
Admission to the Walker Art Gallery and all the National Museums Liverpool venues is FREE. All events and exhibitions are also FREE.
There is a shop at the Walker selling jewellery, postcards, prints, books and gifts. There is a lowered service point.
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. You can download gallery talks before your visit.
There is a staffed cloakroom on the ground floor where visitors can also leave prams. Large bags and umbrellas are not permitted on the gallery. Please note that your bag may be searched on entry.
We do not have a prayer room.
Visitors can use the free wi-fi connection at the Walker café on the ground floor. Simply log on and and the wireless provider is Café.
Visitors wishing to access our archives or to make use of our opinion service should contact the information desk at the Walker Art Gallery (tel 0151 478 4199) or contact us through this website.
If you are visiting to see a particular work 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 4199.
St Johns Garden's are opposite the Walker, approximately 100 metres further down William Brown Street. You can picnic here on a nice day.
We have an online room guide to help you plan your visit. It features a map of the building, with highlights for each of the rooms.
Most rooms have large print room guides to borrow.
You can also download artwork and gallery audio tours before your visit (see the 'useful downloads' section of this page). These audio tours are not available on the gallery.
You may like to join one of our popular talks or lectures. Check out this website or register to receive regular information.
The café is located on the ground floor and is open 10am-4.30pm daily. We serve hot and cold meals, snacks and drinks, including a children's selection. Last hot food orders are taken at 4pm. It is a self-service facility but waitress service is available for visitors who require assistance.
More information about menus can be found on our Shopping & Eating page.
Visitors can use the free wi-fi connection at the café. Simply log on and and the wireless provider is Café.
Reservations and group bookings are welcome,
please call 0151 478 4178 (this goes through to our Learning department).
Other cafe enquiries can be directed via our 'contact us' system.
Visitors are not permitted to photograph the artworks. General shots of the galleries are acceptable but must be for non-commercial use only. 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 the National Museums Liverpool venues should consult
our guidelines for artists working in the venues
There are baby changing facilities on the first floor.
Prams can be stored in the ground floor cloakroom.
There is a children's menu available in the cafe, you can see the example menus on our Shopping & Eating page . Tearoom staff are happy to warm bottles. There
are highchairs available on request.
The Big Art for Little Artists gallery on the ground floor has been designed specially for children and is very popular. There are games, dressing-up and all sorts of art activities. There is also a gallery trail that you can pick up at the information desk which starts in Big Art and then follows a trail around the main galleries, looking at artworks of particular interest to children. We ask that visitors supervise their children at all times.
If your children are aged 5-9, our new book, 'Something Wild...at the Walker Art Gallery' is an ideal way to introduce them to the paintings and sculptures in the main gallery.
Visit our 'Something Wild...' pages for more information.
We have occassional on-gallery activities and workshops for children - check the
what's on section of this website for details.
We also produce a quarterly events guide (also available in large print) aimed specifically at our family audience.
You can register to receive a copy here.
St John's Gardens opposite the Walker provides plenty of space for running around and a picnic.
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 designated spaces available in the rear car park on a pre-booked basis. Contact the information desk on 0151 478 4178. There is also parking on William Brown Street with a limited number of blue badge spaces which are owned by Liverpool City Council and which we cannot reserve.
The building is accessed via a ramp to the right of the main entrance.
Group leaders wanting to organise sessions for visitors with special needs should contact our learning department on 0151 478 4178.
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 lift between the two floors.
There are two wheelchairs available to borrow on request at the information desk.
There are wheelchair accessible toilets on the ground floor.
The shop/information desk has a lowered service point.
The cafe is accessible by wheelchair. Neither tables nor chairs are fixed to the floor. Waitress service is available. There are large print menus.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
Large print guides are available on most galleries. Any other documents can be requested in large print.
Craft & Design gallery (ground floor): there are four computers; three with sound and induction loops. Videos have subtitles.
Big Art (ground floor): one computer without sound. Three touch screen interactives, all with removable stools. One is at a lower height for smaller wheelchair users.
Temporary exhibition gallery (first floor): There is a tall kiosk giving access to websites. This is unsuitable for wheelchair users. It is operated via a mouse.
The Rex Makin lecture theatre next door to the Walker (the venue for some talks) is accessed via a ramp. There are designated spaces for wheelchairs within the theatre. There is also an induction loop system.
More in depth information on accessibility at the Walker Art Gallery can be found on the Disabled Go website.
This information is available in a printable version in the 'useful downloads' section of this page.
There is a programme of regular events for the whole family at the Walker Art Gallery, including lectures, gallery talks, workshops etc. Please check our website or call 0151 478 4178 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.
If you are a primary school teacher and or work with groups of children are aged 5-9, our new book, 'Something Wild...at the Walker Art Gallery' is an ideal way to introduce them to the paintings and sculptures in the main gallery. Free copies are available for Liverpool-based schools and groups. Visit our 'Something Wild...' pages for more information.
There is a space in the Rex Makin lecture theatre, adjacent to the Walker, which can be booked for lunches during school visits. Contact the learning team for more details.
We ask all groups, including schools, to book by calling us on 0151 478 4178.
You may also be interested in visiting our two other galleries, Sudley House in South Liverpool and Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight. Both are easily reached by public transport.
Language support
© 2009 National Museums Liverpool