The Liverpool FC Museum and Anfield history tour combine to form one of the best football heritage experiences anywhere in Europe. Tucked into the Main Stand at Anfield, the LFC Story museum was rebuilt and reopened in stages between 2022 and 2025, with the latest expansion celebrating the 2024-25 Premier League title and now displaying every major trophy in Liverpool FC’s 134-year history together for the first time. For any visitor with even a casual interest in the club, the museum is a more substantial experience than most expect — easily 90 minutes to two hours of genuine content even before you add the Anfield stadium tour that’s typically bundled with the ticket.
This guide covers the Liverpool FC museum and the Anfield history that surrounds it: what the museum contains, how to book, what to expect from the tour, and the wider history of the club that the museum tells. We’ve written it for visitors who want more than a quick walk-through — the museum genuinely rewards readers who arrive with some context about Shankly, Paisley, the 1980s, Hillsborough, and the modern Klopp-Slot era.
The LFC Story Museum: What You’ll Find
The current museum, opened in its expanded form in late 2022 and refreshed after the 2024-25 title win, occupies space within the Main Stand alongside the stadium tour reception. Entry is normally bundled with the tour (the combined ticket is the standard purchase), though museum-only tickets are available at a reduced price. The space is split into nine themed zones:
Where It All Began. The 1892 founding of the club after the famous dispute that saw John Houlding evicted as president of Everton — the dispute that gave Liverpool FC their original players and the Anfield ground. Original artefacts, including the founding committee’s signatures, are on display.
The Early Years. The first First Division title in 1900-01, the long pre-war years, and the slow build that would later lead to the European glories.
The Shankly Revolution. The arrival of Bill Shankly in 1959, the rebuild of the team and the club, the second-division promotion, and the cultural shift that turned Liverpool from a sleeping giant into the spiritual home of English working-class football. The Shankly section is the emotional heart of the museum.
The European Glory Years. Rome 1977, Wembley 1978, Paris 1981, Rome 1984. The four European Cups of the Paisley-Fagan era, on display together in their original cases. The trophies are bigger and heavier than you imagine from television.
The 1980s Dominance. League titles, FA Cups, the Heysel tragedy, the long road back, and the achievements of Kenny Dalglish as a player and manager. Heysel is treated with seriousness and respect.
Hillsborough. A dedicated, sober memorial space telling the story of the 1989 disaster, the long fight for justice, and the eventual exoneration of the supporters in 2016. Most visitors find this the most affecting part of the museum. The room is quiet by design and worth pausing in even if you came for the football.
The Long Wait. The 1990s and 2000s — Houllier’s UEFA Cup, the Istanbul miracle of 2005, Rafael Benitez’s later years, and the slow decline that eventually triggered the Fenway Sports Group takeover.
The Klopp Era. The 2018-19 Champions League win in Madrid, the 2019-20 Premier League title that ended the 30-year wait, the gegenpressing identity, and the cultural reset that brought Anfield back to global prominence.
Champions Again. The 2024-25 Premier League title under Arne Slot, with the trophy on display alongside interactive content from the title-winning season.
Across all zones, the museum’s strength is the quality of original artefacts — match-worn shirts from European finals, the actual European Cups, Shankly’s notebooks, original press cuttings, signed memorabilia from every era. The interactive content (touchscreens, audio guides, video reels) is well-produced but the museum’s heart is in the physical objects.
Practical Information: Booking, Prices, Timing
Address: Liverpool FC Museum, Main Stand, Anfield Road, Liverpool L4 0TH. The entrance is opposite the club superstore on Anfield Road, well-signposted from every approach.
Opening times: typically 09:30 to 16:00 on non-match days, with last entry at 15:00. Closed on match days, on European competition home days, and on certain other event days. Always check the official Liverpool FC website calendar before booking travel.
2026 prices (indicative, combined museum and stadium tour):
Adult: around £25
Child (5-16): around £15
Under-5s: free
Senior/Concession: around £18
Family (2 adults, 2 children): around £65
Museum-only tickets are around £18 for adults if available, but the bundled price difference is small enough that most visitors take the tour as well.
The LFC Highbury package (a longer tour with additional access including the home dressing room) is around £45 for adults.
Booking: through the official Liverpool FC stadium tours portal. Online booking is essential — walk-up availability is unreliable, especially in summer.
How long to plan: 90 minutes to 2 hours for the museum alone; 3 to 4 hours for the combined museum and stadium tour experience including security, store, and walking time. Allow longer if you want to read every plaque (and many visitors do).
The Anfield Stadium Tour Element
The stadium tour bundled with the museum visit takes you out of the museum and into the working stadium itself: the home and away changing rooms, the players’ tunnel (with the famous “This Is Anfield” sign at the entrance, which the museum lets you touch), the directors’ box, the media room where post-match press conferences are held, and the pitchside dugout area. The audio-guided format means you can take the tour at your own pace; the highest-tier packages include a guided experience with a former Liverpool player or staff member.
The full Anfield stadium tour guide walks through the tour itself in detail — what to expect on the pitchside walk, the changing room access, the trophy posing opportunity, and the practical tips around photography and accessibility.
Anfield History: The Stadium Itself
Anfield’s history is unusual in English football because the stadium predates the club. The ground was built in 1884 for Everton FC, who played there until 1892 when the dispute with landlord and committee president John Houlding led the Everton committee to relocate to Goodison Park (where they remain in name, though now at Hill Dickinson Stadium for first-team matches). Houlding, left with a football ground and no team, founded Liverpool FC to play there. Liverpool have been at Anfield ever since.
The stadium has been continuously rebuilt across its 142-year history. The current configuration includes:
The Kop (south stand). Built originally in 1906, expanded over decades, rebuilt as an all-seater in 1994 following the post-Hillsborough Taylor Report. Capacity around 12,400. The most famous stand in world football, named after the Spion Kop hill in South Africa where many Liverpool men died in the Boer War.
The Anfield Road End (north stand). Significantly expanded in 2023-24 to a capacity of around 16,000, making it the largest single stand for atmosphere at the ground. The expansion was famously delayed by the contractor’s collapse but the completed stand is now considered one of the best new pieces of football architecture in England.
The Main Stand (west). Expanded to three tiers in 2016, taking the stadium’s overall capacity over 54,000 for the first time. Contains the changing rooms, press facilities, hospitality boxes, and the museum.
The Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand (east). Built in stages through the 1960s and 1970s, named in honour of the player and manager who lifted seven league titles, three European Cups, and four FA Cups.
Total current capacity is around 61,000 — the seventh-largest football stadium in England.
Liverpool FC History: A Visitor’s Primer
The museum tells the story in detail, but a quick mental framework helps you get more out of the visit.
1892-1959: The early decades. Five league titles (1901, 1906, 1922, 1923, 1947) but no European football yet — that competition didn’t exist until 1955. Anfield rebuilt several times during this period.
1959-1974: The Shankly era. Bill Shankly arrived from Huddersfield Town in 1959 with the club in the Second Division. He rebuilt the squad, rebuilt the training facilities, rebuilt the club’s identity, and won three league titles, two FA Cups, and a UEFA Cup before retiring in 1974. Shankly is the founding father of modern Liverpool FC in every meaningful sense.
1974-1985: The Paisley-Fagan dynasty. Bob Paisley succeeded Shankly and won three European Cups (1977, 1978, 1981), three league titles, and three League Cups in nine years. Joe Fagan followed and won the 1984 European Cup and the league title. This was the most successful period in Liverpool FC history and arguably the most successful sustained period in English football history.
1985-1990: Dalglish as player-manager. Kenny Dalglish took over after Heysel and won three league titles and two FA Cups, including the 1985-86 double. Hillsborough in 1989 cast a long shadow.
1990-2015: The wilderness years. The 1990 league title was followed by 30 years without a top-flight championship. Trophies still came — FA Cups, League Cups, the 2001 UEFA Cup treble under Houllier, the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul under Rafa Benitez — but the league title remained out of reach.
2015-2024: The Klopp era. Jürgen Klopp arrived in 2015 and rebuilt the club’s identity around high-energy pressing football. Champions League winners in 2019. Premier League champions in 2020 (ending the 30-year wait). World Club Champions in 2019. League Cup and FA Cup winners. Klopp departed in 2024 having returned Liverpool to the global elite.
2024-present: The Slot era. Arne Slot succeeded Klopp and won the Premier League in his debut season, 2024-25. The museum’s newest gallery celebrates this title.
What to Combine With the Museum Visit
The LFC Story museum sits inside Anfield, two miles from the city centre. A sensible plan combines the museum with other Anfield-area visits or makes it part of a wider football heritage day on Merseyside.
Same-area additions: walk through Stanley Park (the green space that separates Anfield from Goodison) to visit the Goodison Park heritage tour; visit the murals and statues around the ground (the Shankly statue at the Kop end, the Paisley Gateway, the Hillsborough Memorial); or stop for a pint at one of the historic football pubs around Anfield if you’ve come on a non-match day.
Wider-day options: combine with the Museum of Liverpool at the Pier Head for a broader Liverpool history day, or with the British Music Experience for a music-history-focused itinerary. Many football tourists also fit in the Beatles Story on a non-matchday Liverpool trip.
For families, the museum works well for football-curious children aged around 8 and up. Younger children might find the more sombre Hillsborough section difficult; the rest of the museum is engaging and interactive.
Practical Tips for Visiting
Book in advance. Walk-up availability is unreliable, especially during school holidays and in the summer tourist months.
Allow more time than you think. Most visitors underestimate the museum and end up rushing. Three to four hours for the combined museum and stadium tour is realistic.
Read up beforehand. The museum is far more rewarding if you arrive knowing the rough Shankly/Paisley/Dalglish/Benitez/Klopp/Slot timeline. The first three names in particular get less coverage in modern football media than they deserve.
Buy souvenirs at the museum store rather than the main superstore if you want unusual or limited-edition items — the museum store carries pieces that the main store doesn’t.
The audio guide is worth the small upcharge. It’s well-produced, well-paced, and includes contributions from former players.
Photography is allowed throughout the museum and most of the stadium tour. Flash is discouraged near older artefacts and the Hillsborough memorial.
The museum and tour are accessible — wheelchair access is good throughout, with lifts to all levels and accessible toilet facilities. The full pitchside walk involves some uneven surfaces; ask about the alternative accessibility route when booking.
Food and drink are available at the cafe inside the stadium tour reception area. Selection is limited; for a proper meal, the cafes on Anfield Road or back in the city centre are better options.
Liverpool FC Museum and Anfield History FAQs
How much does the LFC museum cost?
Around £18 for museum-only adult entry, around £25 for the combined museum and stadium tour, and around £45 for the LFC Highbury premium tour. Children’s, family, and concession discounts apply. Always check current prices on the official Liverpool FC website before booking.
Is the museum open on match days?
No. The museum closes on Liverpool home match days and on European home days, with some additional closures around major events. Always check the official calendar.
How long does the museum take?
Plan for 90 minutes to 2 hours for the museum alone, or 3 to 4 hours for the combined museum and stadium tour with security checks, the shop, and walking time.
Can children visit the museum?
Yes, and most do. Older children (8+) tend to engage most. The Hillsborough memorial section is handled sensitively but parents may want to talk children through it.
Is photography allowed?
Yes, throughout the museum and most of the stadium tour. Flash is discouraged around older artefacts and the Hillsborough memorial. Professional camera gear with detachable long lenses is restricted.
Where exactly do I find the museum entrance?
Through the Main Stand entrance, opposite the club superstore on Anfield Road. The entrance is well-signposted and includes the stadium tour reception.
What’s the difference between the museum and the stadium tour?
The museum is the artefacts, displays, and history galleries. The stadium tour takes you into the working stadium — changing rooms, tunnel, dugouts, directors’ box, press room. Most visitors do both as a combined ticket.
Does the museum cover the women’s team?
Yes, with an expanded women’s-football section opened in 2024 covering Liverpool FC Women’s promotion to the WSL, the current squad, and Liverpool’s broader women’s football heritage.
Where do I get to the stadium from the city centre?
Black cab or Uber (around £10-£15), bus (numerous routes from Lime Street and Queen Square), or walk (around 50-60 minutes via Scotland Road and Everton Brow). On match days, the matchday Soccerbus runs from Sandhills Merseyrail station.
Can I tour Anfield in a wheelchair?
Yes. Both the museum and the stadium tour have full accessibility with lifts, accessible toilets, and a modified pitchside route. Tell the booking team when you book.
Final Thoughts on the LFC Museum and Anfield History
The Liverpool FC museum is a serious football heritage destination — easily the equal of any club museum in Europe, and bettered only by a small number of national football museums and the FIFA Museum in Zurich. For Liverpool fans the visit is essential. For neutral football fans it’s still strongly recommended. For non-football-fans with a general interest in Liverpool history, the museum’s account of the club’s role in the city’s working-class culture, the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies, and the post-2016 cultural revival is genuinely affecting.
Most visitors leave Anfield with a deeper appreciation of why Liverpool FC matters to its city. That’s the real measure of a successful football museum. The trophies are spectacular and the European Cups are unmissable, but the achievement is in how the museum connects football to the place.
If you’re planning a wider Liverpool trip, the Liverpool football tourism hub covers everything from match day experiences to how tourists can get tickets to the Merseyside derby. The museums and galleries guide covers Liverpool’s wider museum scene including the World Museum, the Museum of Liverpool, and the Walker Art Gallery.