Attractions · Heritage
Liverpool Central Library
by Liverpool City Council
Liverpool Central Library is at William Brown Street, Liverpool, run by Liverpool City Council. Entry is free. Monday to Friday: 9am–8pm.
Booking is with Liverpool City Council. Old Town Liverpool does not sell tickets.
A Victorian library behind a 2013 glass atrium. Go up to the roof terrace for views over William Brown Street and St George’s Hall, and look into the circular Picton Reading Room and the Hornby Library, which hold over 15,000 rare books between them with the Oak Room.
Entry is free during opening hours; to see a specific rare item, book at least 48 hours ahead.
What you see
- Picton Reading Room 1879
- Hornby Library 1906
- Roof terrace 4th floor
Opening hours
- Monday to Friday
- 9am–8pm
- Saturday
- 9am–5pm
- Sunday
- 10am–5pm
Prices
- Entry
- Free
Where it is
William Brown Street
William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EW
On this spot
What was here before
The William Brown Library opened here in 1860, designed by the corporation surveyor John Weightman and paid for by the MP William Brown. The circular Picton Reading Room followed in 1879 and the Hornby Library in 1906; all three are Grade II* listed.
- 1860
The William Brown Library opens.
- 1879
The Picton Reading Room is added.
- 1906
The Hornby Library is added.
- 2010
The library closes for rebuilding on 23 July.
- 2013
It reopens on 17 May with an atrium and roof terrace.
Old Town Time Meter
75/100
Landmark
- Time on this spot166 years, since 1860 (William Brown Library)22/40
- Age of the present building166 years, built 186017/20
- Layers of history5 documented chapters15/15
- Heritage protectionGrade II* listed11/15
- Continuity166 years in the same use (public library)10/10
An index of the documented time and history held by this place, part of Old Town Liverpool's Quantum Energy Mapping. How it is measured.
Make a day of it
Where to eat before or after
Restaurants and pubs close by, each with its own Old Town Liverpool guide.
And in the evening
What's on in Liverpool
More things to do
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Good to know
About Liverpool Central Library
When is Liverpool Central Library open?
Monday to Friday: 9am–8pm. Saturday: 9am–5pm. Sunday: 10am–5pm.
Where is Liverpool Central Library?
At William Brown Street, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EW.
How much does Liverpool Central Library cost?
Entry Free. Prices are set by Liverpool City Council and can change.
Where can I eat near Liverpool Central Library?
Close to the start point you can try Doctor Duncan’s, The Ship & Mitre and The Excelsior.
Times and prices are taken from each operator's own published information and can change. Old Town Liverpool does not sell tickets; please confirm with the operator before you travel. Last checked 9 October 2026.