River of Light frequently asked questions

River of Light is an outdoor illuminated gallery on Liverpool Waterfront, a 2KM loop, featuring light and sound from national and international artists which residents and visitors to the city can enjoy and experience.

No, the trail is completely self-guided and no booking or tickets are required. 

The trail is free for all to enjoy. 

The River of Light trail will take place from 25 October - 5 November 2024.

Across 2KM along in and around Liverpool Waterfront. Exact locations of each artwork can be found on the website and a map is available to view and download here. 

There will be 12 artworks

Yes. Each year River of Light features different pieces. Some are from the same artists but no works are repeated. 

The artworks will be lit each night from 5pm until 9pm and will not remain on through the night to conserve energy. 

On 27, 28 October and 3, 4 November the lights will be switched on 4pm for 'quiet hour.'

The light installations will be switched on and off throughout the start and end time of the programme; they are switched on at 5.00pm and switched off at 9pm. 25 October- 5 November.

Firefly Field will not be switched on until 6pm on Friday 25th October*. 

Toilets open for public use are available at Royal Albert Dock and Liverpool ONE and are open until 8PM. 

Royal Albert Dock toilets can be found at L3 4AF. 

Liverpool ONE toilets are located inside the Visitor Centre, Wall Street, L1 8JQ. Toilets cost 30p per visit and is payable via contactless.

Further information on the artworks can be found at visitliverpool.com/riveroflight.

There are no fireworks as part of the River of Light Trail. 

The trail is approximately a 2km loop with no designated start or finish. It is recommended to download the map and plan your own trail.

No, it is designed to be family friendly and all inclusive. It is advised that small children are accompanied by an adult at all times.

As the trail and installations are outside in areas accessible by the public, dogs are allowed to walk the trail.

Yes, all artworks are in accessible locations. Some pieces may be located on cobbled terrain, where this is the case this will be noted. Accessibility information can be found here.

Every artwork will feature light and some feature sound. 

Where flashing lights are part of the piece, this will be noted on our website and in the accessibility guide created for each piece. 

River of Light is a popular event that will become busy at peak times.

River of Light will be organising four 'Quiet Hour' sessions for 2024. They will take place on the following days/times: - 

• Sunday 27 October, Monday 28 October, Sunday 3 November and Monday 4 November. 
• 4pm - 5pm

Measures that will be in place during the 'Quiet Hour' staging will be different for each installation and further details can be found on the individual installation pages.

The River of Light Trail is part of the Culture Liverpool Annual programme delivered across Liverpool. Culture Liverpool is the Liverpool City Council team responsible for the city’s arts and cultural programme and this celebratory light trail is designed to take elements of the popular River of Light event to provide hope and light to the residents.

At each of the installations there will be a large interpretation board with details about the installation and a QR code that can be scanned and will take you through to the designated page on the River of Light Trail website for further details.

There will also be signage for the route map. This has been designed to discourage people from gathering in one place.

The boards are all accessible but the public is reminded to wait until the board is available before taking the information.

The information boards have surface safe anti-microbial laminates applied to graphics. 

Information around accessibility at River of Light can be found here.

Visitors can also save 10% on pre-booked parking with QPark by entering the code VISLIV10 to save 10%

River of Light is a popular event and we encourage the use of public transport to ensure a smooth journey. 

The nearest Merseyrail stations to the River of Light trail are Moorfields (Wirral and Northern Line) and James Street (Wirral Line). For National Rail, Liverpool Lime St Station is approximately a 15 minute walk to Liverpool Waterfront. Or visitors can utilise the Merseyrail underground service to Travel to James Street or Moorfields by rail.

Plan your journey in advance and refer to the Merseytravel website for the most up to date travel information. 

Yes, there will be road closures at the Pier Head.  There will be no access to Pier Head No via Brunswick St (exit only).  Access for disabled parking, businesses, residents and workers is via St Nicholas Place – 6pm – 9pm

Ther will be a road closure in place at the entrance to Royal Albert Dock (Salthouse Quay) from  6pm – 9pm

Yes, River of Light will be organising four 'Quiet Hour' sessions for 2024. They will take place on the following days/times: - 

• Sunday 27 October, Monday 28 October, Sunday 3 November and Monday 4 November. 
• 4pm - 5pm

Measures that will be in place during the 'Quiet Hour' staging will be different for each installation and further details for them can be found on the individual installation pages. 

People can feel, see and experience the world differently; that is why the River of Light Quiet Hour is designed to support members of our community with hidden disabilities and neurodivergent people. The Quiet Hour is planned to create a calmer environment for visitors who find the hustle and bustle an uncomfortable experience. Whilst the lights can’t be turned off, sounds will be turned down or turned off dependant on the individual installation in order to create a gentler sensory experience. 

Exact adaptations for the quiet hour is featured on the relevant artwork accessibility pages. 

All of the light installations can be viewed from the ground and therefore there are no additional viewing platforms for any of the installations.

If you have further questions regarding River of Light Trail that are not covered here, please contact the organisers on cultureliverpool@liverpool.gov.uk

Blue Badge holders can park in designated Blue Badge bays, and any other pay and display bays, free of charge all day.

There are designated Blue Badge bays near to Liverpool Waterfront on Brunswick Street, Water Street and St Nicholas Place.

Find out more here on the Liverpool City Council website.