About
World Museum on William Brown Street is one of Liverpool's most popular cultural attractions, housing internationally significant collections spanning natural history, world cultures, archaeology, and physical sciences. Originally opened in 1851 as Derby Museum before expanding significantly in the Victorian era, the museum underwent a major £35 million redevelopment completed in 2005, creating stunning modern galleries within the historic neoclassical building.
The collections encompass over a million objects, from Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek pottery to dinosaur fossils, live insects, and a remarkable aquarium.
The museum's galleries take visitors on a journey through time and around the world, exploring human history, natural diversity, and scientific discovery.
Highlights include the Bug House with live insects and spiders, the extensive Egyptian collection featuring genuine mummies and coffins, the Natural History Centre with thousands of specimens, and the Planetarium offering immersive cosmic experiences.
The museum serves as both a research institution and popular family destination, combining serious scholarship with engaging interactive displays.
Free admission makes it accessible to all, while the quality and breadth of collections rival many national museums. Located in Liverpool's Cultural Quarter alongside the Walker Art Gallery and Central Library, World Museum forms part of National Museums Liverpool and plays a vital role in the city's cultural life and educational provision.
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Annual Visitors (2019)
650,000
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 Weekday mornings (10:00-12:00) during term time for quietest experience
💡 Visitor Tips
- Arrive at opening time (10:00) Tuesday-Friday during school term to experience galleries at their quietest. Weekends and school holidays get very busy, especially the Bug House and Planetarium.
- The museum has five floors - pick up a free floor plan at the entrance desk to navigate effectively. Lifts are available but can be busy; stairs are often quicker between adjacent floors.
- Planetarium shows require separate tickets (£5-7) and sell out quickly, especially weekends. Book tickets at the information desk immediately upon arrival or reserve online in advance for popular showtimes.
- Allow at least 2-3 hours minimum; a comprehensive visit could easily take 4-5 hours. Prioritize must-see galleries: Ancient Egypt, Bug House, Natural History Centre, and Planetarium for first-time visitors.
- The Natural History Centre on Floor 2 offers hands-on exploration with real specimens you can touch and examine - particularly engaging for children and perfect for rainy Liverpool days.
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the museum. The café on the ground floor serves hot meals, snacks, and drinks with vegetarian and vegan options at reasonable prices (£4-9 mains).
- Photography is allowed in permanent galleries (no flash) but some temporary exhibitions may prohibit photos. Tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted throughout the museum.
- Combine your visit with the Walker Art Gallery next door (also free) for a full day of culture. Both museums are part of National Museums Liverpool with connected history and complementary collections.
Highlights
Ancient Egypt Galleries
One of the finest Egyptian collections outside London, featuring genuine mummies including the Mummy of Hor and Ramesses' court musician. The galleries display elaborately decorated coffins, canopic jars, amulets, and everyday objects that illuminate ancient Egyptian life, death, and religious beliefs.
Particularly remarkable are the well-preserved cartonnage masks, hieroglyphic papyri, and the collection of shabtis (servant figures).
Interactive displays explain mummification processes and funerary customs, while the atmospheric gallery design evokes the mystery of ancient tombs. The collection dates from predynastic times through to the Roman period, offering comprehensive insights into one of history's most fascinating civilizations.
Many objects originated from excavations by Liverpool's own archaeologists in the early 20th century.
The Bug House
A living exhibit featuring live insects, spiders, and other invertebrates in naturalistic habitats. Visitors can observe giant millipedes, hissing cockroaches, stick insects, and tarantulas, with knowledgeable staff providing fascinating insights into these often-misunderstood creatures.
The Bug House offers an immersive experience where children and adults can overcome fears and gain appreciation for invertebrate diversity and ecological importance.
Regular handling sessions allow brave visitors to hold certain species under expert supervision. The exhibit combines education with entertainment, explaining insect anatomy, behavior, life cycles, and conservation needs. With over 70% of all animal species being invertebrates, the Bug House highlights biodiversity often overlooked in traditional museums while challenging perceptions about 'creepy crawlies'.
Natural History Centre
An impressive hands-on discovery space containing thousands of natural history specimens available for close examination. Visitors can handle genuine fossils, bones, shells, rocks, and preserved specimens while learning from expert volunteers.
The centre features touchable dinosaur bones including vertebrae and claws, complete animal skeletons, mineral collections, and drawers full of fascinating specimens from around the world.
Microscopes allow detailed examination of tiny creatures and structures. This interactive approach to natural history encourages curiosity and scientific thinking, making it particularly popular with families. The centre represents the museum's commitment to accessible learning, breaking down barriers between collections and visitors that characterize traditional display cases.
Regular activities and workshops enhance the hands-on experience.
Planetarium
A state-of-the-art digital planetarium offering immersive journeys through the cosmos under a 62-seat dome. Using cutting-edge projection technology, shows transport audiences from Earth to distant galaxies, exploring planets, stars, black holes, and cosmic phenomena. Programs range from family-friendly introductions to astronomy to detailed explorations of specific celestial topics.
The planetarium presents both live presentations by knowledgeable astronomers and pre-programmed shows featuring stunning visuals and current astronomical discoveries. Special shows celebrate space missions, seasonal night sky observations, and cosmic events. The tilting seats and 360-degree projection create a truly immersive experience that inspires wonder about our place in the universe.
Shows run throughout the day with varying themes and complexity levels suitable for different ages.
Collections
World Museum houses over one million objects spanning natural sciences, archaeology, ethnography, and physical sciences. The natural history collections include extensive zoological, botanical, geological, and paleontological specimens accumulated since the 19th century, with particular strengths in British and tropical fauna, insects, shells, and fossils.
Archaeological collections encompass Egyptian antiquities (one of Britain's finest provincial collections), Classical Greek and Roman objects, and British prehistoric materials.
Ethnographic collections represent cultures from Africa, Oceania, the Americas, and Asia, documenting material culture, belief systems, and artistic traditions. Physical sciences collections include historical scientific instruments, astronomy materials, and technology artifacts. Many collections originated from Liverpool's trading networks and scientific societies, reflecting the city's maritime heritage and Victorian scientific enthusiasm.
The museum actively acquires contemporary materials and works with source communities regarding sensitive objects.
Research and conservation facilities support scholarly work and public programming.
Ancient Egypt
Comprehensive displays of mummies, coffins, funerary goods, and everyday objects from ancient Egypt, spanning 4,000 years of Egyptian civilization. The galleries explore religious beliefs, burial practices, hieroglyphic writing, daily life, and artistic achievements through beautifully preserved artifacts.
📍 Floor 3
World Cultures
Ethnographic collections from Africa, Oceania, the Americas, and Asia, celebrating human creativity and cultural diversity. Objects include masks, textiles, carvings, ceremonial items, and everyday objects, presented with contemporary perspectives and community voices.
📍 Floor 3
Natural World
Natural history galleries featuring taxidermy, fossils, skeletons, and geological specimens illustrating evolution, biodiversity, and Earth's history. Displays range from dinosaurs to contemporary ecosystems, explaining natural processes and conservation challenges.
📍 Floor 2
Bug House and Aquarium
Living exhibits featuring live invertebrates and aquatic creatures in naturalistic habitats, offering close encounters with insects, spiders, fish, and marine invertebrates while explaining ecological roles and conservation.
📍 Floor 2
Space and Time
Astronomy and geology galleries exploring cosmic origins, planetary science, deep time, and Earth's formation. The planetarium offers immersive shows about the universe, while displays explain solar system dynamics and astronomical discoveries.
📍 Floor 2
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.