Royal Albert Dock

Christmas 2024: This winter, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool is set to transform into a magical, festive wonderland with the return of its much-loved light trail, festive menus, unique gifts, and the launch of the Christmas Courtyard.

Located in the dock’s Anchor Courtyard and open on selected dates from 5-30th December, visitors can wander through the giant beautifully-dressed Christmas hearts to discover a secret market square, complete with 4 bespoke Scandinavian-inspired market stalls and 6 traditional wood cabins, along with a snowy, picture-perfect setting.

Offering a variety of seasonal food and drink specials and unique gifts, Christmas Courtyard will be the perfect spot to socialise with friends over a festive tipple, indulge in a sweet treat, or look for that perfect stocking filler for a loved one, with flurries of 10 minutes of snowfall every hour on the hour adding to the enchanting setting.

Pick up an Instagram-worthy Nutella hot chocolate from Francie’s Focaccia & Coffee, tuck into nachos washed down with a cranberry mulled wine from Madre or Bar Glue’s take on a winter Dark & Stormy, or indulge in a sweet treat from Revolucion de Cuba. Those looking to do some Christmas shopping can browse Nature’s Treasure for a beautiful Christmas crystal, or find that perfect gift for furry friends with Bodhi’s Pup-up from The Nest.

In partnership with Makers Market, visitors can also explore some of the North West’s finest independents, offering artisan spirits, homemade cakes, flavoursome street food, children’s books and much more.

To add to the Christmas setting, the square will be festively dressed with large illuminated Christmas trees, festoon lighting, and outdoor seating for visitors to relax and soak up the atmosphere.

To complete a festive experience, visitors can download a map from www.albertdock.com/christmas-2024 and embark on the dock’s stunning Light Trail, which will see its historic Colonnades illuminated with a collection of characters and nautical installations, offering the perfect free, family-friendly activity.

Indulge in Middle Eastern-inspired dishes at Maray, including turkey shawarma with braised red cabbage and sprouts with chestnut tahini. For a Caribbean Christmas, visit Revolucion de Cuba to enjoy pulled cajun turkey cubanos with cranberry chilli jam and pigs in blankets, or opt for a more traditional roast with all the trimmings at authentic Italian favourite, Gusto.

Shopping? Think Lost Soles for stylish streetwear and accessories, House of Spells for spell-binding gifts and merchandise, and Roly’s Fudge for a delicious sweet treat.

The dock’s family-friendly attractions offer a memorable Christmas culture fix, including Beatles Story and the Merseyside Maritime Museum, and those wanting to make a weekend of it with a festive staycation can enjoy a relaxing overnight stay at Holiday Inn Express or Premier Inn to be in the heart of all the Christmas action.

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By Stephanie Heneghan: The largest group of Grade I-listed buildings in the UK; the red-brick former warehouses that comprise Royal Albert Dock Liverpool were built in the 1840s by Jesse Hartley, an engineer with architectural flair. Designed to store “high value bonded goods”, they fell into disuse in the 1950s and by the 1970s were earmarked for demolition. Luckily, instead, they were brought back to life, with the first phase of development completed by 1984. The subsequent move here by the Tate – it opened Tate Liverpool in 1988 as celebrated architect James Stirling converted the warehouse into a gallery – cemented an altogether brighter future not only for the Albert Dock but the until-then disused waterfront as a whole.

There’s plenty to do here. The star attraction is undoubtedly the Tate’s northern outpost but alongside that gallery there is the award-winning Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum. There are several shops offering souvenir gifts, and a selection of cafes and restaurants suiting varying budgets and tastes along the waterfront.