Why every Scouser should visit the Museum of Liverpool

The Museum of Liverpool reflects the city’s global significance through its unique geography, history and culture. You can can explore how the port, its people, their creative and sporting history have shaped the city. 

The exhibitions such as Wondrous Place shows off just how amazing us Scousers are. So if you’ve never been, or even if you haven’t visited in a while, here is why EVERY Scouser should be visiting this amazing museum:

The Stage where John and Paul met 

Picture – Museum of Liverpool

History was made on a small church stage in Woolton on 6 July 1957. That meeting didn’t just change the lives of John and Paul, it was the spark that lit a cultural revolution that would reverberate around the world and change popular music forever. 

The stage is part of the museum’s free immersive Beatles show, In the town where I was born, a heady mix of evocative visuals, music and interviews, that takes you right back and explores just how much the band’s music and character was inspired by the amazing city they grew up in.

For more info click here. 

The Hillsborough Quilt 

Credit: Museum of Liverpool

A patchwork quilt, made to honour the memory of all those who died at Hillsborough, by Merseyside woman, Linda Whitfield for the 25th anniversary of the tragedy in 2014. On display in the Wondrous Place gallery, Linda presented the quilt as a gift to the Hillsborough Family Support Group, who kindly donated it to the Museum in 2016. 

In April 2022 Linda added the name of the 97th victim, Andrew Devine.

For more info click here. 

History Detectives

Did you know the museum can trace the history of the area back to the Ice Age? The Museum of Liverpool’s History Detectives is a huge timeline that poses the questions ‘what was here? and how do we know?’ 

Packed with objects, the timeline explores 10,000 years of history and is the perfect place to start your visit and store knowledge up for your next pub quiz. 

For more info click here. 

Lion

Credit: Pete Carr

The glorious 1838 steam locomotive, Lion, is at the heart of the museum’s Great Port gallery where you can discover how Liverpool transformed from a small tidal inlet into one of the world’s greatest ports. Explore how the city was the centre of many pioneering developments which ensured Liverpool was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. 

From the world’s first commercial wet dock in 1715, to early canals, the first timetabled passenger railway and the world’s first elevated electrified railway line, the list of Liverpool’s ‘firsts’ is impressive. Lion gleams among all of this incredible history of like the super star she is.

For more info click here. 

Overhead Railway Carriage

There can’t be many left who can boast memories of the views from the Overhead Railway. Built in 1893 to ease congestion along seven miles of Liverpool’s docks. It was also marketed as a tourist attraction as it provided amazing panoramic views across the docks along with shipping and transatlantic liners on the River Mersey. It was fondly known as the ‘dockers’ umbrella’ as it also provided shelter from the rain. 

The Museum of Liverpool tells its remarkable story, as the first electric elevated railway in the world. The coach is one of a batch built between 1892-1899 which served on the Overhead Railway from when it opened until its closure in 1956. It is the only example of a motor-coach to survive. 

For more info click here. 

Jodie Comer’s Killing Eve costume and Katarina Johnson-Thompson’s running spikes. 

Credit: Pete Carr

There was something very special happening at Woolton school, St Julie’s, the years that Hollywood star, Jodie Comer, and World & Commonwealth champion, Katarina Johnson-Thompson attended. The best friends both feature in Wondrous Place a gallery bursting with the massive successes of Scousers in stage and screen, music, literature and, of course, sport. 

Don’t miss the iconic Villanelle costume, worn by Jodie in Killing Eve, and the actual running spikes KJT wore when she picked up Gold at World Championships, Doha, 2019.

For more info click here. 

Little Liverpool

Picture by Gareth Jones

Even the youngest scousers have their very own gallery at Museum of Liverpool. Little Liverpool is open Tuesday – Sunday for kids ages 0-6 and their parents to play, dance and explore Liverpool’s exciting history. From the cosy Liver Bird nest where babies can relax and enjoy the sounds and colours all around, to Liverpuddles, a water-based interactive for splashing and moving sail boats through docks and around the river, the gallery is a great springboard for kids to the stories and themes around the museum.  

Keep an eye out for regular stay and play sessions at the museum on the website here.

THE VIEW!

Credit: Ant Clausen

Is there any better? The people of the UK didn’t think so when it won ‘UK’s best window with a view’ in 2016. Even if you see nothing else in Museum of Liverpool (which given the above list would be criminal) head straight to the top floor and drink in this spectacular scene. 

Reaching out across the River Mersey and to the Irish Sea you can also gaze over to the breath-taking Three Graces or just people watch as they come and go on the Mersey Ferries or walk around our beautiful waterfront.

Shopping

Museum of Liverpool stocks a specially curated selection of locally made, unique handcrafted goods including a range of gifts for any proud (or honorary) Scouser. From jigsaws and board games to prints and greeting cards, coasters and key-rings to books and bags, there is something for everyone. 

Local artists include Tula Moon, known for her patchwork and knitted look designs inspired by Liverpool landmarks; Rebecca Christian, who makes gifts such as prints and jewellery as well as greeting cards inspired by the Liver Birds; and Dominic Hinchliffe, who creates beautiful images using Indian ink on paper. 

Products include Liverpool’s iconic purple wheelie bin, Iron Men metal statues, ceramic Lambananas and mounted prints of Anfield or Goodison. You can even pick up a Scouse passport!

Cafe

No visit to Museum of Liverpool would be complete without a bowl of our city’s traditional dish Scouse, served with pickled red cabbage and a roll.

There you have it… If that isn’t enough reasons to get down there and be proud of your Scouse heritage, we’re not sure what is! 

For more information on the Museum of Liverpool you can click here.