RIBA North

Sara Jaspan, Exhibitions Editor
©Paul McMullin

RIBA North is The Royal Institute of British Architect’s new national architecture centre on the Liverpool Waterfront, which opened in June 2017. Designed by award-winning architecture firm Broadway Malyan, RIBA North is a place for anyone to discover more about architecture through its collections and rotating programme of temporary exhibitions, talks, tours and events.

At the heart of RIBA North is the City Gallery, which houses a permanent display about Liverpool’s architectural past, present and future, and the processes involved in urban development and the evolution of the built environment. The gallery includes the Digital City Model, an interactive 3D model which recounts stories about Liverpool and the surrounding area, and which is used by professionals in the field to host public consultations, anticipate the impact of future development, and encourage the best design approaches.

Younger visitors are invited to become architects themselves in the centre’s Lego city; RIBA North’s own in-house, child-friendly construction site.

The RIBA North shop is curated by stylist Katie Patrick and offers a range of home, fashion and office products, with a special focus on Northern designers. These include ceramics by Sam Andrew and Joe Hartley; wooden kitchen accessories by Alex Devol from Wooden & Woven; bowls and beakers by designer Sue Pryke; blankets by textile design by Heather Shields; children cutlery by David Mellor; and leather bags by Ruth Pullan.

Upon the opening of RIBA North, RIBA’s President, Jane Duncan, remarked: “We are particularly proud to strengthen our cultural and creative offering in the north of England, and to enable many more people to explore and understand the enormous impact that architecture and design has on all our lives.”

21 Mann IslandLiverpoolL3 1BP View map
Telephone: 0151 703 0107 Visit Now

Opening Hours

  • Tuesday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wednesday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Thursday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Friday10:00am - 5:00pm
  • Saturday10:00am - 5:00pm

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

What's on near RIBA North

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
Open Air Theatre at Grosvenor Park
Until
FestivalsChester
Open Air Theatre at Grosvenor Park

Expect another fabulous season of open-air theatre when The Gangs of New York, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and The Importance of Being Earnest play Grosvenor Park this summer.

from £6.75

Where to go near RIBA North

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Silk Rd Tapas serves up delicious Mediterranean small plates, named after the Silk Route, an ancient network of trade routes, bringing spices and silks.

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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.

Afternoon tea at Oh Me Oh My
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Oh Me Oh My

A secret space and tea room, Oh Me Oh My lives in the stunning surrounds of Liverpool’s West Africa House. We take a look.

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Jenny’s Bar

Jenny’s Bar is hidden away on Fenwick Street in Liverpool. Descend a staircase from what looks like a fish restaurant, and you’ll find a bar in two parts.

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The British Music Experience

It’s a discotheque for the senses, an incredible collection of artefacts and memorabilia, audio guides, music and stories. There are iconic costumes worn by David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Dusty Springfield, the Spice Girls and Adam Ant, and musical instruments played by some of the world’s most renowned artists from Noel Gallagher to the Sex Pistols.

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