Royal Albert Dock

Stephanie Heneghan
Albert Dock Liverpool
Image courtesy of Visit Britain

The largest group of Grade I-listed buildings in the UK; the red-brick former warehouses that comprise Royal Albert Dock Liverpool were built in the 1840s by Jesse Hartley, an engineer with architectural flair. Designed to store “high value bonded goods”, they fell into disuse in the 1950s and by the 1970s were earmarked for demolition. Luckily, instead, they were brought back to life, with the first phase of development completed by 1984. The subsequent move here by the Tate – it opened Tate Liverpool in 1988 as celebrated architect James Stirling converted the warehouse into a gallery – cemented an altogether brighter future not only for the Albert Dock but the until-then disused waterfront as a whole.

There’s plenty to do here. The star attraction is undoubtedly the Tate’s northern outpost but alongside that gallery there is the award-winning Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum. There are several shops offering souvenir gifts, and a selection of cafes and restaurants suiting varying budgets and tastes along the waterfront.

 

Albert DockLiverpoolL3 4AF View map
Telephone: 0151 707 0729 Visit Now

Admission Charges

Free

Services and Facilities

Galleries, museums, shops, bars, cafe's, restaurants, hotels, tours

Opening Hours

  • MondayOpen 24 hours
  • TuesdayOpen 24 hours
  • WednesdayOpen 24 hours
  • ThursdayOpen 24 hours
  • FridayOpen 24 hours
  • SaturdayOpen 24 hours
  • SundayOpen 24 hours

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on near Royal Albert Dock

Until
ActivityLiverpool
Old Dock Tours, Liverpool

The Old Dock tour is a treat for younger and older visitors alike, fans of Liverpool’s maritime past, and anybody curious about local history.

£8.50 with concessions
An image captured from overhead of two men embracing. One is seated, and the other is kneeling.
Until
ExhibitionsLiverpool
On the other side at FACT

‘On the other side’ at FACT presents the work of three artists, thoroughly examining themes of authority, power and control.

free entry

Where to go near Royal Albert Dock

Tate Liverpool from across the docks
Waterfront
Gallery
Tate Liverpool

Liverpool’s flagship art gallery, housed in a converted Victorian warehouse on the waterfront.

Rosa's Thai Cafe
Liverpool
Restaurant
Rosa’s Thai Cafe

Rosa’s Thai Cafe is another great addition to Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock, serving up delicious and authentic Thai food in stylish surroundings, with wonderfully charming staff.

Liverpool
Restaurant
Madre Liverpool

A smart, modern Mexican restaurant in Liverpool’s Albert Dock, with an extensive menu featuring showstopping dishes such as half a pig’s head and butterflied sea bass.

The open kitchen at Lerpwl
Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
Restaurant
Lerpwl

The 80-cover restaurant is split across two levels with the main restaurant downstairs boasting an open kitchen; the best seat in the house is at the benches where you are almost nose to nose with the chefs as they prepare the food. 

Waterfront
Café or Coffee Shop
Royal Liver Building

An iconic landmark, the Royal Liver Building was one of the first multi-storey buildings made using a steel-reinforced concrete structure.

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