St George's Hall

About

Due to the unprecedented situation in relation to Coronavirus, it is with a heavy heart but the best intentions that Liverpool’s City Halls (St George’s Hall, Liverpool Town Hall and Croxteth Hall) have taken the decision to close their doors until further notice. The City Halls team apologises for any inconvenience caused and hopes to resume normal service with all respective events and activities as soon as possible. Find out more on the website.

Celebrate. Experience. Discover.

The Grade 1 listed St George’s Hall sits within the heart of Liverpool in more ways than one; it is a place of congregation and celebration, offering a central location and a true sense of the city amidst incomparable surroundings.

Situated opposite Lime Street Station, in the very heart of Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage St George’s Quarter, you’ll find one of the finest examples of neoclassical architecture in the world.

This magnificent structure stands at 169ft long and 74ft wide with a tunnel vaulted ceiling – the largest of its kind in the whole of Europe. Established in 1854 as a grand hub for music festivals and the Civil and Crown courts, St George’s Hall has been at the very epicentre of Liverpool life ever since.

After a £23m refurbishment, HRH Prince Charles befittingly reopened its doors on St George’s Day in 2007. In the years since, St George’s Hall has returned to its former glory as an unrivalled spot for world-class events, having hosted breath-taking spectacles from a live rooftop gig by Ringo Starr to the sleeping giants of Royal de Luxe and so much more.

In fact, the Hall hosts a great variety of free and paid public events and exhibitions all year round; from a range of fascinating, in-depth guided tours to mainstream music and comedy gigs. You may even be greeted by the cheers of wedding guests or the sight of corporate delegates on your visit, such is the multi-faceted magnitude of events that St George’s Hall entertains.

As for the aesthetics? The interior architecture is a reflection of the ostentatious display that Victorian Liverpool had, with a ceiling supported on massive red granite columns and figures portraying art, science, fortitude and justice. Look beyond the gold leaf and porticoes in the Great Hall; this is home to the greatest brick arches in the world, and houses a breath-taking Minton tiled floor of over 30,000 mosaic tiles, which has been revealed numerous times since the building’s reopening. 

St George’s Hall is even a popular location for filming, having appeared in world class productions such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Peaky Blinders.

To really understand the workings and behind-the-scene wonders, we highly suggest booking yourself onto one of their tours. Explore the nooks and crannies of St George’s Hall that the public rarely get to see by following their enthusiastic and knowledgeable tour guides that will tell you fascinating stories and lead you around the catacombs, cells and rooms of this magnificent building. A variety of tours are available at different times of the year and can be booked online via the St George’s Hall website, or at the Visitor Centre (based on the south-side and accessible via St John’s Lane).

Planning on making it a whole day experience? Perfect! The Little Shoe café is a star in Liverpool’s thriving independent scene and has recently opened a second site in the Visitor Centre of St George’s Hall. There, you will be able to enjoy a range of savoury and sweet delights in comfortable, ambient surroundings. The Little Shoe also provides a variety of hot and cold refreshments, as well as a fully licensed bar.

Key features of the Visitor Centre include:

• The original south entrance hall on St Johns Lane, designed by Harvey Lonsdale Elmes, but never before used by the public; 
• Opportunities to visit the cells used by prisoners awaiting trial; 
• The newly refurbished law courts
• Glimpses of the unique ventilation system designed by Dr David Boswell Reid; 
• A new accessible viewing gallery for the Great Hall; 
• The Little Shoe café.