Over 600 stage outfits, instruments, original lyrics and objects.
ACCESS ALL ERAS
Your entry ticket is valid for one year!
Upcoming Events
Thursday 28 May 2026, 7pm
Desert Island Dissent with Linton Kwesi Johnson
Every Sunday at midday
Sunday Album Playback in the Star Café & Bar
Thursday 11 June 2026, 7.30pm
Di'Anno - Iron Maiden's Lost Singer
Wednesday 17 June 2026
The BME Quiz - June Edition - BME Star Café
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Calling All Music Lovers
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British Music Experience
Cunard Building,
Pier Head,
Liverpool, Merseyside.
L3 1DS
United Kingdom
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Join us at our home on Liverpool’s spectacular waterfront
Getting Here
By Train
James Street and Moorfields.
By Bus
Liverpool ONE bus station opposite the Albert Dock.
By Boat
We are directly opposite the Mersey Ferry terminal.
By Road
There are a range of car parks across the waterfront and close by in the city centre.
FAQs
Accessibility
An unrivalled collection of objects, interactive exhibits and activities
A diverse community programme of extended content and events
Upcoming Events
Thursday 28 May 2026, 7pm
Desert Island Dissent with Linton Kwesi Johnson
Every Sunday at midday
Sunday Album Playback in the Star Café & Bar
Thursday 11 June 2026, 7.30pm
Di'Anno - Iron Maiden's Lost Singer
Wednesday 17 June 2026
The BME Quiz - June Edition - BME Star Café
Advancing the education of the art, history and science of music in Britain
Workshops
Our workshops can also be adapted for SEND and University visits and we offer specialist guided tours for Art, Design and Fashion students and opportunities to use the museum for art classes.
Pop Culture
Discover the music and fashions that have emerged from music, social and political movements.
Pop Culture: Rewind
Sing along, dance & dress up as we journey along the soundtrack of our country’s history.
Euro Pop Culture
Learn how social and political changes have been reflected in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Field Trips at BME
An education field trip to the BME in Liverpool includes one of our interactive workshops and a tour of the galleries - both led by one of our Learning Crew.
With over 80 years of history to draw from, our workshops can be tailored to your needs. A member of our team will contact you ahead of your visit to discuss your requirements.
Find Out More
To book your school group or for more information, please get in touch.
info@britishmusicexperience.com
0151 519 0915 (opening hours only).
Download our Risk Assessment
Education FAQs
The only collection in the world to chart the rise of British Popular Music
Open daily stocking music souvenirs, clothing and merchandise
The Colour of British Albums: Special Edition for British Music Experience
The 2nd edition of our colour chart inspired by the artwork of 35 iconic album covers by British bands and musicians. Designed by our friends at Dorothy. Referencing a selection of the most memorable album covers from the last 50 years.
4 colour litho print. 150gsm matte art paper. H70 x W50cm
£30 in store
In Store Now
T-Shirts & Clothing
We stock a large selection of artist tees and apparel.
Cards & Stationary
Music -related cards and gifts for hardcore music fans
Prints & Postcards
Posters and framed specialist artwork is available.
Books
A wide selection of specialist music books
Vinyl Albums
A selection of vinyl albums are always stocked in store.
Exhibition Merch
Unique exhibition items exclusive to the museum
Open to the general public from 10am until 4.30pm - free entry
Serving Hot Food & Drinks
Take a break during your visit with a selection of freshly prepared hot food, light bites and barista-style coffee.
Whether you are stopping in before exploring the galleries or relaxing afterwards on Liverpool’s waterfront, the café offers a comfortable space to pause and recharge.
Iconic exhibits in an iconic building guaranteed to impress your guests
Events That Rock!
Housed within the Cunard Building’s Italian Renaissance and classical Greek interiors, the BME surrounds guests with iconic music objects and stories.
Our Spaces
Flexible gallery and event spaces include the Main Stage, Discovery Zone and exhibition areas, suitable for receptions, talks, dinners and performances.
Catering
Our selected caterers provide tailored menus for dinners, receptions and events, offering flexible options to suit different tastes, budgets and occasions.
The story of British music through costumes, instruments, performance & memorabilia.
1945–1962
From Reconstruction to Rock ’n’ Roll
Post-war Britain was reshaped not just by politics and rebuilding, but by sound. American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues filtered into clubs, radio and youth culture, while skiffle opened the door for teenagers to make music themselves.
By the end of the 1950s, rock ’n’ roll had transformed British pop into something louder, younger and more independent — setting the stage for a generation ready to redefine modern culture.
1962–1966
Britain Goes Global
British artists didn’t just find success overseas in the early 1960s — they reshaped international pop culture. Bands, singers and designers projected a confident new image of Britain that blended music, fashion and art into a recognisable style.
As the country emerged from austerity, youth culture became a powerful creative force and London briefly stood at the centre of the cultural world.
1966–1970
Experimentation and Expansion
Pop music became more exploratory in the late 1960s, absorbing ideas from visual art, politics, technology and global sounds.
Albums grew in importance, festivals created new shared experiences, and musicians began to treat recording itself as a creative instrument. This was a period when British music widened its horizons and audiences started to listen differently.
1970–1975
Glamour, Theatre and Reinvention
Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, pop offered spectacle and transformation. Glam rock embraced performance, identity play and visual excess, turning artists into characters and concerts into events.
Music became more theatrical and stylised, reflecting both escapism and a growing confidence in pop as a cultural art form in its own right.
1975–1985
Voices of Change
As Britain faced unemployment, social division and political tension, music responded with urgency and invention.
Punk challenged expectations about who could make music and what it could say, while reggae, ska and new wave reshaped the sound of British streets and clubs. Pop became faster, sharper and more connected to everyday experience.
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1985–1993
Technology, Clubs and New Scenes
New recording tools, new media and new nightlife cultures transformed how music was made and shared.
Dance music moved from underground spaces into the mainstream, regional scenes gained national attention, and large-scale global events showed the growing reach of British artists.
Music was no longer tied to a single centre — it was happening everywhere at once.
1993–2004
Identity and Pop Revival
British music entered a period of renewed self-confidence in the 1990s, with guitar bands, visual art and fashion contributing to a broader cultural moment.
At the same time, chart pop became increasingly global and media-driven. As the millennium approached, digital technologies began quietly reshaping how audiences discovered and collected music.
2004–Present
The Digital Generation
Streaming, social platforms and talent shows transformed how artists build audiences and how listeners engage with music.
Styles blurred across genres and communities, and British artists continued to influence global charts while working in entirely new ways.
Today’s music landscape is more open, diverse and connected than ever before — and still evolving.
Past Exhibitions
Don’t Believe The Hype... Uncovering the Artwork of Arctic Monkeys’ Debut Album
23 January - 7 June 2026
Live Aid 40: Music, Power & Unity
5 June 2025 - 18 January 2026
ABBA Voyage - Phoenix Collection Outfits
20 April - 10 September 2023
Interactive displays uncovering the stories behind iconic artists
Interactive Studio
Step into the Interactive Studio and try guitar, drums and keyboards using real instruments connected to guided learning stations.
Whether you are picking up an instrument for the first time or returning to one you already play, the studio lets you explore the sounds that shaped British music across the decades.
Follow simple tutorials, experiment with rhythm and melody, and experience how musicians build performances from the ground up.
Boy George Hologram
Experience an exclusive holographic performance from Boy George that brings the energy and personality of a live appearance into the gallery space.
The installation captures his distinctive voice, presence and influence, offering a unique encounter with one of Britain’s most recognisable pop icons.
It’s a moment that connects visitors directly with the performance tradition at the heart of British music culture.
Dance The Decades
Step onto the dancefloor and move through the sounds that defined each generation of British music.
From early rock and roll to contemporary pop, Dance The Decades invites you to explore how styles, rhythms and audiences changed over time.
Follow the music across the eras and experience how dance shaped the way people connected with new sounds.
Anatomy Of A Pop Star
Discover what goes into creating a pop star, from songwriting and performance to image, media presence and audience connection.
Anatomy Of A Pop Star explores how artists develop distinctive identities and how music, fashion and culture combine to shape public personas across different eras of British music.
Hey DJ
Take your place behind the decks and explore how DJs shape the sound and atmosphere of British music culture.
Learn how tracks are selected, mixed and layered to build energy on the dancefloor, and discover the role DJs play in introducing new music and defining scenes.
This hands-on experience reveals the creative decisions behind the music audiences hear in clubs, festivals and broadcasts.
Vocal Booth
Step into the Vocal Booth and record yourself singing along to a selection of classic tracks from across the eras.
Choose your song, take the microphone and experience what it feels like to perform in a studio-style environment.
Whether you are singing solo or with friends, the booth offers a memorable way to connect with some of the most recognisable voices in British music.
Where It’s At
Explore the places, scenes and cultural moments that shaped British music across generations.
Where It’s At reveals how cities, venues and communities helped define distinctive sounds and movements, from local breakthroughs to global influence.
It’s a journey through the environments where music happened and the people who made those scenes possible.