Attractions · Museums
World Museum
by National Museums Liverpool
World Museum is at William Brown Street, Liverpool, run by National Museums Liverpool. Entry is free. Usual opening: 10am–5pm (check the museum's website for days).
Booking is with National Museums Liverpool. Old Town Liverpool does not sell tickets.
Natural history, ancient Egypt, world cultures and space under one roof on William Brown Street. The collection began with the 13th Earl of Derby’s natural history collection, and the museum moved into the purpose-built William Brown Library and Museum in 1860.
Entry is free.
Opening hours
- Usual opening
- 10am–5pm (check the museum's website for days)
Prices
- Entry
- Free
Where it is
William Brown Street
William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN
On this spot
What was here before
The museum grew from the 13th Earl of Derby's collection, first shown in 1851 in two rooms on Duke Street. Its William Brown Street home opened in 1860; in May 1941 a bomb left it burnt to a shell, and after a £35 million refurbishment it reopened as World Museum in 2005.
- 1851
The Derby Museum opens in two rooms on Duke Street.
- 1860
The William Brown Library and Museum opens; some 400,000 attend.
- 1941
A bomb in May leaves the museum burnt to a shell.
- 1976
A permanent Egypt gallery opens.
- 2005
Refurbished and renamed World Museum.
Old Town Time Meter
64/100
Landmark
- Time on this spot166 years, since 1860 (museum on William Brown Street)22/40
- Age of the present building166 years, built 186017/20
- Layers of history5 documented chapters15/15
- Continuity166 years in the same use (museum)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 World Museum
When is World Museum open?
Usual opening: 10am–5pm (check the museum's website for days).
Where is World Museum?
At William Brown Street, William Brown Street, Liverpool, L3 8EN.
How much does World Museum cost?
Entry Free. Prices are set by National Museums Liverpool and can change.
Where can I eat near World Museum?
Close to the start point you can try Doctor Duncan’s, The Ship & Mitre and The Excelsior.
Sources: Wikipedia: World Museum.
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.