UNIQUE behind-the-scenes tours of one of Liverpool’s world-famous waterfront landmarks are now open for visitors.
The Cunard Building Heritage Tours are being held on selected days until August, offering history lovers exclusive access to the city’s transatlantic past.
Visitors to the Grade II* Listed building – one of the Three Graces which stand proudly on the banks of the Mersey – are being offered a voyage into the past, guided by experts from Liverpool City Council’s Heritage team.
The one-hour Cunard Building Heritage Tour takes visitors to areas of the waterfront landmark normally never seen by the public.
And along the way, they have the chance to hear from the shipping line’s founder Samuel Cunard himself in a fascinating projection – new for 2026 – explaining why Liverpool was the ideal location for his transatlantic passenger service when it started in 1840.
The tour starts in the historic ground floor Arrivals Lounge which once welcomed passengers from across the globe, and which still boasts the architectural detail, stories and character of Liverpool’s golden age of ocean travel.
It then heads deep into the atmospheric basement levels. Here, visitors can see where valuables were stored and where steerage passengers waited in huge underground rooms before embarking on their voyage.
There is also an opportunity to visit the sub-basement which was transformed into a giant air raid shelter during the Second World War.
Meanwhile weekend dates also include access to the upper boardrooms, giving people an additional opportunity to experience some of the building’s most impressive interiors.
The original Cunard Line offices were based in Water Street before the magnificent waterfront Cunard Building was constructed.
With its design inspired by the grand palazzos of Renaissance Italy, the Portland stone-clad building was opened on Monday 12 June 1916 as the new headquarters of the world-famous shipping line and played a central role in transatlantic travel, migration and maritime history.
On the heritage tour, discover how the building functioned during the height of the liner era, explore the craftsmanship that shaped its Beaux-Arts design, and hear stories of the people who worked and travelled through the Cunard Building – from seafarers and migrants to the cultural figures who helped define Liverpool’s international identity.
Alan Smith, Liverpool’s Head of Heritage, Preservation and Development, said: “We’re delighted to take visitors on a tour of the iconic Cunard Building. Part of the three magnificent ‘graces’, the building is widely regarded as the ultimate physical monument reflecting the golden age of travel.
“Serving as the global headquarters of the Cunard line from 1916 to 1967, the building was designed to reflect the company’s status as the absolute master of the transatlantic cruise line travel.
“The Cunard company, hailing from Liverpool, is credited for bringing the ‘Light’ into the new world.”
Tickets for all tours must be booked in advance here – Cunard Building Heritage Tours
