Liverpool is the right home for a museum of British pop, and the British Music Experience tells the whole story, from the skiffle boom and The Beatles to Adele and beyond. It fills the ground floor of the Cunard Building, one of the Pier Head’s Three Graces, and is organised by era, so you move through the decades of rock and roll, the Swinging Sixties, glam, punk, new wave, Britpop and the modern charts. The collection is strong on stage costumes, with outfits worn by Freddie Mercury, Dusty Springfield, Adam Ant, Mick Jagger and the Spice Girls, and on instruments, including pieces played by Queen’s Roger Taylor, the Sex Pistols and Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. Other highlights include handwritten Adele lyrics, original BRIT Award statues and the front door of Apple Corps from Savile Row. What makes it fun is the hands-on side. In the Gibson Interactive Studio you can learn to play guitar, drums or keyboards, the Dance the Decades studio teaches the moves of each era, and a vocal booth lets you sing. Temporary exhibitions add new reasons to return, including 50 Years of Rock Against Racism, which runs until 3 January 2027. This page links to the Tiqets entry ticket.
How to visit: the British Music Experience is in the Cunard Building on the Pier Head, L3 1DS, opposite the Mersey Ferry terminal. James Street station is the nearest on Merseyrail, a few minutes’ walk away, and the Pier Head is about ten minutes on foot from Liverpool ONE. The museum generally opens from 10am to 5pm, with last admission an hour and a quarter before closing. Tiqets’ venue listing shows it closed on Tuesdays while the product page shows daily opening, so check the day before you go. Show your smartphone ticket at the main entrance. The ticket can be cancelled or rescheduled until 11:59pm on the day before your visit, and the building is wheelchair accessible.
What to expect: allow at least ninety minutes, and longer if you plan to try the studios, which are popular with teenagers and adults alike. Most displays are behind glass with listening points, so bring headphones if you prefer your own. It is an indoor, all-weather choice and rarely feels crowded outside weekends.
Making the most of it: start with the Sixties galleries to connect what you see with Liverpool’s own story, then spend real time in the studios. Combine it with Royal Liver Building 360 next door, or book a combined ticket with The Beatles Story if you are doing both.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided journey through British pop music by era, with costumes, instruments and memorabilia, plus interactive studios for playing, dancing and singing.
Best time
A weekday morning, when the interactive studios are free to try without a queue.
How long
At least ninety minutes, and up to two and a half hours with the studios.
Tips
Check whether it is open on a Tuesday, and note that last admission is an hour and a quarter before closing.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Music lovers who want the bigger British story around The Beatles, from skiffle to Britpop.
- Families
- Teenagers love the guitar, drum and dance studios, and the building is step-free.
- Couples
- A playful couple of hours trying instruments together before dinner on the waterfront.
- Pair with
- Royal Liver Building 360 next door, or The Beatles Story on the Royal Albert Dock.
- Time needed
- Two hours.
Good questions
Where is the British Music Experience in Liverpool?+
It is in the Cunard Building on the Pier Head, opposite the Mersey Ferry terminal. James Street station is a few minutes’ walk away.
What can you see at the British Music Experience?+
You can see stage costumes, instruments and memorabilia from the 1950s to today, including outfits worn by Freddie Mercury and the Spice Girls. There are also studios to try guitar, drums, keyboards, dance and singing.
How long do you need at the British Music Experience?+
Allow at least ninety minutes, and longer if you use the interactive studios. Last admission is an hour and a quarter before closing.
Is the British Music Experience open every day?+
It generally opens from 10am to 5pm, but one Tiqets listing shows it closed on Tuesdays. Check the day before you plan a Tuesday visit.
Can I cancel my British Music Experience ticket?+
Yes, the Tiqets ticket can be cancelled or rescheduled until 11:59pm on the day before your visit. After that, the booking is fixed.
