The British Music Experience (BME) is a permanent museum dedicated to the history of British popular music from 1945 to the present day, located in the Grade II listed Cunard Building on Liverpool‘s Pier Head waterfront. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, how to get there, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips.
To skip entry queues and secure your preferred time, book your British Music Experience tickets online in advance.
Last updated: May 2026.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours (summer season) | Daily 10am–5pm (30 March–6 September 2026, and school holidays) |
| Last entry | 4pm |
| Adult ticket (pre-booked online) | £20.00 |
| Child ticket, aged 5–15 (pre-booked) | £12.50 |
| Concession ticket (pre-booked) | £19.00 |
| Family ticket, 2 adults + 2 children (pre-booked) | £52.50 |
| Under 5s | Free |
| Address | Cunard Building, Pier Head, Liverpool, L3 1DS |
| Telephone | 0151 519 0915 |
| Typical visit duration | 75 minutes to 2 hours |
British Music Experience opening hours
The museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm.
The BME closes on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
British Music Experience ticket prices
Pre-booking online gives an automatic discount and guarantees entry at your chosen time slot. Tickets are sold in 15-minute time slots; arrive promptly at your slot. Walk-up tickets at the museum entrance are available but cost more than the online pre-booked rate.
Prices for online bookings are as follows:
| Ticket type | Pre-booked online price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £20.00 |
| Child (5–15 years) | £12.50 |
| Concession | £19.00 |
| Family (2 adults + 2 children) | £52.50 |
| Under 5s | Free |
Tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, allowing return visits within the year at no extra cost. This is a significant benefit that many other guides do not mention.
One complimentary carer’s ticket is available for each eligible visitor. Carer tickets are not bookable online — present the purchased ticket, proof of your companion’s disability, and your carer’s ID at the entrance on arrival.
The BME is included in the Liverpool Pass (a city attractions pass covering multiple Liverpool venues). Pass holders do not require advance booking and can visit during any opening hours. Other Liverpool Pass inclusions include the Beatles Story, Strawberry Field, and Mersey Ferries.
Why book the Liverpool Pass?
- 🎸 Ultimate Beatles Experience: Gain entry to both “The Beatles Story” exhibition and the iconic Strawberry Field, allowing you to walk the grounds where John Lennon played as a child.
- ⚓ Mersey River Cruise: See the world-famous waterfront from the deck of the River Explorer Cruise, featuring live or recorded commentary on the city’s maritime and musical heritage.
- 🚌 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus: Navigate the city effortlessly with the City Explorer bus, covering 14 key stops including the Royal Albert Dock, the Cavern Quarter, and both cathedrals.
- ⚽ Football & Music Icons: Explore the hallowed halls of the Liverpool FC Museum and the British Music Experience, which features legendary memorabilia from the Spice Girls to Freddie Mercury.
- 📲 Instant Digital Savings: Save significantly compared to individual gate prices with a mobile pass that also unlocks exclusive discounts at local shops, cafes, and restaurants across the city.
Ticket prices were checked at the official website and via confirmed resellers and last updated in May 2026.
How to get to the British Music Experience
The Cunard Building is on Canada Boulevard, on the river side of the Pier Head waterfront. The main entrance faces the river, opposite the Mersey Ferry terminal.
By train: Merseyrail’s James Street and Moorfields stations are the nearest, both approximately a 5-minute walk. Liverpool Lime Street (the mainline station for Avanti, Transpennine Express, and Northern Rail services from across the UK) is approximately 15 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride.
By bus: Most Liverpool city bus routes drop off at Liverpool ONE bus station, adjacent to the Albert Dock. From there it is a flat 5-minute walk along the waterfront to the Cunard Building. Bus routes including 10A, 13, 17, 54A, 82A, and 86 stop on Brunswick Street nearby.
By Mersey Ferry: The Cunard Building is directly opposite the Mersey Ferry terminal, making it a natural pairing with a ferry crossing from Birkenhead or Seacombe.
By road: Follow signs for the Waterfront, Albert Dock, and Mersey Ferries. Access to the Cunard Building by car is via Brunswick Street only.
Coach groups: A short-stay drop-off point is available outside the main entrance on Canada Boulevard for pre-booked groups. Longer-stay coach parking is at Kings Dock; refer to the Liverpool Groups Guide for details.
Why book the Liverpool City Sights Hop-On Hop-Off Tour?
- 🎸 The Beatles’ Birthplace: Hop off at the Cavern Quarter to explore Matthew Street and the legendary Cavern Club, where the Fab Four’s rise to global superstardom truly began.
- ⚓ Royal Albert Dock: Discover the heart of Liverpool’s waterfront, a vibrant hub of history and culture housing the Beatles Story, the Maritime Museum, and the Tate Liverpool.
- ⛪ Architectural Giants: Visit both the massive, neo-Gothic Anglican Cathedral and the strikingly modern Metropolitan Cathedral, connected by the appropriately named Hope Street.
- ⚽ Football & Culture: Learn about the city’s fierce sporting rivalries and industrial heritage as you pass iconic landmarks like the Radio City Tower and the Walker Art Gallery.
- 🎧 Multilingual Commentary: Enjoy fascinating insights into the “World Capital of Pop” with audio guides available in 11 different languages while you relax on the open-top deck.
Parking at the British Music Experience
There is limited on-street metered parking on both sides of Brunswick Street and at the front of the building. Charges apply from 7am to 11pm, seven days a week, at a rate of approximately £10 for up to four hours. This is public highway metered parking rather than a managed museum car park.
There are six disabled bays on Brunswick Street and one on Water Street; these operate under standard parking charge rules. A range of commercial car parks are available across the waterfront and nearby city centre. Q-Park users receive a 10% discount when pre-booking with the code LIVBME.
Five great things to do in Liverpool
- 🎸 See Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields and other Beatles sights – on the Magical Mystery Tour.
- ⚽ On an Anfield stadium tour – go behind the scenes at Liverpool FC’s iconic stadium.
- 🏛️ Explore Liverpool’s rich culture and history – on a guided walking tour.
- ⛴️ Take a sightseeing cruise – along the Mersey River.
- 🏞️ Visit Snowdonia, Llandudno Pier and Conwy Castle – on a North Wales day tour.
How long to spend at the British Music Experience
The BME recommends allowing at least 75 minutes. Visitors who engage with all the interactive elements — the Gibson Interactive Studio, Dance the Decades space, Vocal Booth, and listening stations — typically spend 90 minutes to 2 hours. The museum is compact enough that it does not require a full day.
Accessibility at the British Music Experience
The main entrance on Canada Boulevard involves steps. Visitors with mobility requirements should use the accessible entrance on Brunswick Street (the side of the building); ask staff at the main entrance and they will direct you.
The museum is otherwise fully wheelchair accessible throughout, with level or ramped access between gallery areas. Specific provision includes: accessible toilets; a free wheelchair loan service (reserve in advance by contacting the museum); a hearing loop system in all audio areas (switch hearing aid to the T setting); audio guides free of charge for visitors with visual impairments (available at the ticket desk); and visual alarm systems. Information is available in accessible formats and signage uses recognisable pictograms.
Contact the museum before visiting to discuss specific requirements: [email protected] or 0151 519 0915.
Inside the British Music Experience: what to see
The museum is arranged as a chronological walk through British popular music from 1945 to the present day, with galleries organised by era rather than strict decades, tracing how each period gave rise to the next musical movement.
Chronological galleries: The timeline begins with jazz, skiffle, and the early origins of British rock and roll in the post-war years, moving through the beat group era of the early 1960s (with a dedicated section on Merseybeat and the Beatles’ Liverpool context), glam rock, punk, new wave, Britpop, and contemporary music. Each era is illustrated with artefacts, photography, footage, and audio.
Artefacts and outfits: The collection includes stage outfits worn by Freddie Mercury, Dusty Springfield, Mick Jagger, Adam Ant, and the Spice Girls; guitars and instruments played by major artists including Ian Curtis’s guitar; handwritten song lyrics by Adele; original Brit Award statues; and the front door of the Apple Corps offices on Savile Row.
Gibson Interactive Studio: A hands-on room where visitors can try guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and other instruments. No musical experience is required. This area is popular with children and often busy at weekends.
Vocal Booth: A sound-isolated space where visitors can record vocals. Included in the general admission ticket.
Dance the Decades: An interactive space where visitors can follow along with twelve iconic dance styles from different eras of British music, displayed on screen.
Boy George hologram: A hologram performance piece featuring Boy George, displayed in one of the gallery spaces.
Smartify audio guide: A free smartphone audio tour is available via the Smartify app; download before visiting and scan the QR code at the gallery entrance. Bring your own headphones. The audio guide costs an additional £3 if purchased at the entrance desk rather than via the app.
Pop-up tours: Daily at 11:15am and 2:15pm, a staff member leads a free guided tour of highlights from the collection. Included with all general admission tickets; no separate booking required.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book online to save money and guarantee entry | Online pre-booking gives an automatic discount over walk-up prices and locks in your time slot. Book at britishmusicexperience.com up to 30 minutes before your desired entry time. |
| Your ticket is valid for 12 months | If you are unable to stay long or plan to return, your ticket covers unlimited visits for a year. Keep the confirmation email. |
| Download the Smartify app before you arrive | The free audio guide is accessible only via the Smartify app. It is simpler to download and set up before you enter the galleries. Bring your own headphones; the museum does not lend them. |
| Arrive promptly for your time slot | Entry operates in 15-minute slots. Arriving significantly early or late may affect entry. The ticket desk can advise on the day if your plans change. |
| The Merch Store and Star Café are free to enter | Both are accessible from the main foyer without a museum ticket. The Star Café serves hot food, coffee, and drinks; the Merch Store sells vinyl, books, band clothing, and memorabilia. |
Frequently asked questions about the British Music Experience
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the British Music Experience open on Mondays? | Yes. |
| Do you have to book in advance for the British Music Experience? | Advance booking is recommended and gives an automatic price discount, but walk-up tickets are available at the entrance. Booking online up to 30 minutes before arrival is possible. |
| Is the British Music Experience suitable for children? | Yes. The interactive elements — instruments, vocal booth, dance space — are designed for all ages. Children under 5 are admitted free. The recommended minimum age is not stated; the museum says all ages are welcome. |
| How long is the British Music Experience open? | The BME is a permanent national attraction; it is not a temporary or touring exhibition. However, the Cunard Building tenancy is ongoing — the museum has been based in Liverpool since 2017. |
| Is the Liverpool Pass accepted at the British Music Experience? | Yes. Liverpool Pass holders can visit without advance booking during any opening hours. The pass also covers the Beatles Story, Mersey Ferries, and other Liverpool attractions. |
Things to do near the British Music Experience
All five attractions are within a 10-minute walk of the Cunard Building.
- Royal Liver Building and Three Graces (adjacent): The Cunard Building is one of Liverpool’s Three Graces; the Royal Liver Building next door offers guided tours to its clock towers.
- Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head (~5-minute walk): A free museum in a purpose-built modern building on the waterfront covering Liverpool’s social and cultural history, including sections on music, sport, and the dock trade.
- Mersey Ferries (~2-minute walk): The commuter and leisure ferry service crossing between Liverpool Pier Head and Birkenhead (Woodside) and Seacombe on the Wirral. The crossing takes approximately 10–15 minutes each way and is included in the Liverpool Pass.
- The Beatles Story, Albert Dock (~10-minute walk): The largest dedicated Beatles exhibition in the world, covering the band’s history from Hamburg to the break-up. Located in the Grade I listed Albert Dock complex.
- International Slavery Museum, Albert Dock (~10-minute walk): A free museum on the third floor of the Merseyside Maritime Museum, covering the transatlantic slave trade and its legacies.
What to visit tomorrow: other music museums and interactive attractions within two hours
- National Football Museum, Manchester (~50 minutes by train): Housed in the Urbis building in central Manchester, this free museum covers the history of English football with interactive exhibits and archive footage.
- Science and Industry Museum, Manchester (~50 minutes by train): A free national museum in the buildings of the world’s first passenger railway station, with interactive science galleries, an air and space hall, and industrial heritage collections.
- The Lowry, Salford (~55 minutes by train): A major arts centre housing galleries of L.S. Lowry paintings, two theatres, and visiting exhibitions. Gallery admission is free; theatre tickets are separate.
- Leeds City Museum, Leeds (~1 hour by train): A free city museum with natural history, archaeology, and cultural collections, housed in a converted Victorian mechanics’ institute. An alternative Leeds option is the Abbey House Museum for social history.
- National Railway Museum, York (~1.5 hours by train): The world’s largest railway museum, housing the Mallard locomotive and an extensive collection of royal carriages and historic trains. Admission is free, although parking is not.
More North-West England travel
Other North-West England travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Is it worth visiting the Puzzling Place in Keswick?
- Discover the mysteries of the Castlerigg Stone Circle in Keswick.
- World of Beatrix Potter visitor guide: What to expect at this Bowness-in-Windermere attraction.
- Guides to visiting Beatles sites in Liverpool: The Beatles Story and Mendips – John Lennon’s Childhood Home.
- Key information for visiting the Museum of Liverpool.
