Discover

Port Sunlight Museum

Welcome to Port Sunlight Museum

Our award-winning museum tells the story of William Lever and his vision to create a village for workers at his Sunlight Soap factory.

Step inside Port Sunlight Museum to explore how the village developed over the years, from the working and living conditions to the charming architecture, and meet the people who built it and lived here.

Things to see and do at Port Sunlight Museum

The museum is packed with tales and nostalgia from displays of vintage soap packaging to Ringo Starr’s first performance with the Beatles in the village in 1962. Through film shows, interactives, models and an array of intriguing artefacts, you can discover the tale of this inspirational village.

Don’t miss:

  • Selling Sunlight, a special exhibition exploring Lever Brothers’ innovative approach to advertising and packaging
  • A recreated 1900s grocers’ shop filled with Lever Brothers’ soap packaging
  • A huge model of the village created between 1960s-1980s
  • A family-friendly ‘design your own Port Sunlight house’ activity area
  • Sunlight Spirit, a fascinating 20-minute film telling the story of the village using archival footage (seating provided)
  • ‘Port Sunlight at War’, a display containing original artefacts, interactive videos and a searchable database of those listed on the village’s grade I listed War Memorial
  • ‘Beatles Over The Water’, a display exploring Port Sunlight’s unique place in the story of the Fab Four

 

 

Plan your visit

There is an entry fee to visit the museum and Worker’s Cottage. You can pay on the day or book your ticket online in advance.

 

Opening times

Open Monday–Sunday, 10am–4.30pm.

Closed 24, 25, 26 December, open New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

 

Prices
Ticket  Museum & Worker’s Cottage  + Morning Walking Tour*
Adult £8.00 £21.00 £23.00
Concession (student, 60+, disabled) £7.00 £15.00 £17.00
Child (5-16) £5.50 £8.50 £10.50
Family (2 + 2) £24.00 £52.00 £67.00

*Purchase a Port Sunlight Museum ticket and enjoy a discount on a morning village walking tour at 11am – book online or in-person.

Children under 5 go free and do not need a ticket. Free entry is available to carers accompanying a visitor with a disability.

All income received from ticket sales to Port Sunlight Museum goes directly to supporting Port Sunlight Village Trust’s work to preserve and promote this special village.

 

Gift Aid

Gift Aid makes a huge difference to not only supporting Port Sunlight Museum, but Port Sunlight Village Trust. When you’re purchasing a ticket, please consider applying Gift Aid which allows us as a UK charity to claim back, on your behalf, 25p for every £1 of your donation from the Government.

 

Join a walking tour

Your Port Sunlight Museum ticket also gives you a special discount on a morning walking tour ticket when you book them together. This discount isn’t available on afternoon tours.

Book your place on a morning walking tour here.

 

Free entry for 12 months

We’d love to see you again, so that’s why your ticket will remain valid for 12 months from the purchase date, giving you the chance to explore Port Sunlight’s story again. Just remember to hold on to your ticket!

 

Getting here

You can find Port Sunlight Museum at 23 King George’s Drive, Port Sunlight CH62 5DX. Free parking is available opposite and on surrounding streets, however please be mindful of residents. Find out more about travelling to Port Sunlight here.

 

Accessibility

The museum has toilets, including an accessible toilet and baby changing facilities for paying customers only. There is level access at the entrance and throughout the museum. Please note the door to the exhibitions space is not automatic and you may require some assistance to open it. Assistance dogs are welcome inside Port Sunlight Museum, however we’re not able to allow non-assistance dogs.

Carers or companions go free and do not need a ticket.

For accessibility information click here to read our Detailed Access Guide on the AccessAble website.

 

Family visits

Families can make more of their visit to Port Sunlight Museum by taking part in Mabel’s Wash Day trail to spot miniatures hidden amongst the displays and objects. The trail is £2 each.

Sunlight Sensory Backpacks offer a range of engaging and interactive items for budding historians to support and enhance your visit to Port Sunlight’s Museum and the Worker’s Cottage. Our backpacks have been designed to visitors with additional sensory needs and tailored to ages 4–9 however can be enjoyed by all visitors. Each pack contains over a dozen items from ear defenders and sunglasses to fidgets toys and a scavenger hunt – download the full list of items here.

Sensory backpacks are available on a first come, first served basis from Port Sunlight Museum’s gift shop for a £10 refundable cash deposit. You will need to give your full name, email and phone number. If you wish to pre-book your sensory backpacks, please email us or call 0151 644 4800.