The Walker Gallery is an art museum located on William Brown Street, just a short walk from Lime Street Station.
The Grade II* listed building houses one of the largest art collections in England outside London, and is part of the National Museums Liverpool group.
The Grade II* listed description of the building by Historic England reads as follows;
"SJ 3490 NE WILLIAM BROWN STREET
L1
44/1358 Walker Art Gallery
28.6.52
G.V. II*
Art Gallery. 1874-7. H. H. Vale. Stone, 2 storeys and 13 bays. Rusticated ground floor with Greek key band, windows with balustraded aprons and sashes without glazing bars. End bays break forward with flanking flat Corinthian pilasters. Centre 5 bays project with giant hexastyle Corinthian portico behind which 3 bays are recessed with 3 entrances, centre one with architrave and entablature, with brackets and windows above. 1st floor has no windows, fielded panels in end bays and entablature, with brackets and windows above. 1st floor has no windows, fielded panels in end bays and long relief friezes. Entablature and balustrade, central raised block with seated statue of Liverpool. Steps to portico flanked by statues of Raphael and Michelangelo by Warrington Wood and balustraded wall.
Listing NGR: SJ3497390811" SOURCE: (
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"The Walker Art Gallery's collection dates from 1819 when the Liverpool Royal Institution acquired 37 paintings from the collection of William Roscoe, who had to sell his collection following the failure of his banking business, though it was saved from being broken up by his friends and associates.
In 1843, the Royal Institution’s collection was displayed in a purpose-built gallery next to the Institution’s main premises.
The Walker Gallery was designed by local architects Cornelius Sherlock and H. H. Vale, and was opened on 6th September 1877 by Edward Henry Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby.
The Gallery is named after its founding benefactor, Sir Andrew Barclay Walker (1824–1893), a former mayor of Liverpool and wealthy brewer born in Ayrshire who expanded the family business to England and moved to live in Gateacre.
In 1893, the Liverpool Royal Institution placed its collection on long-term loan to the gallery and in 1948 presented William Roscoe's collection and other works. This occurred during post-war reconstruction when the gallery was closed, re-opening in 1951. During the Second World War the gallery was taken over by the Ministry of Food and the collection was dispersed for safety.
Extensions to the gallery were opened in 1884 and 1933 (following a two-year closure) when the gallery re-opened with an exhibition including Picasso and Gauguin. In 2002 the gallery re-opened following a major refurbishment.
In 1986, the gallery achieved national status, as part of the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside." SOURCE: (
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The Walker Art Gallery holds a large collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts spanning over six hundred years.
It displays works of art by artists such as, Rubens, Rembrandt, Poussin and Gainsborough.
There are also Tudor portraits and a large collection of Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite works including Dante’s Dream by Rossetti, hanging alongside other artists such as Millais, Turner, Monet and Holman Hunt.
The Gallery also has a collection of 20th century modern and contemporary art that includes pieces by Lucien Freud, Bridget Riley and Henry Moore.
The Gallery exhibits the current and past winners of the John Moores Painting Prize, the oldest painting competition in the UK. It includes work by David Hockney, Peter Doig, Martin Green and 2012 winner, Sarah Pickstone.
The Decorative Arts gallery contains over 500 pieces of ceramics, glass, pottery, fashion and furniture from the ancient world to the 20th century.
The Big Art for Little Artists, is a specially designed gallery created for children under 8 years old.
The Gallery has a café with free Wifi and a gift shop stocking prints, jewellery, cards, books and other souvenirs.
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(Coronavirus Pandemic
The gallery will remain free but you will have to book a ticket for a timed slot to visit. Visit the Liverpool Museums website for more information on when tickets will become available.)