River of Light - United by Light
27th October - 5th November
River of Light is illuminating the waterfront this autumn and Royal Albert Dock is right at the heart of it. Between 5pm and 9pm, view two brand new installations for free – Emergence by This is Loop and Ukrainian Dreams by Tais Poda.
Make the most of your visit with dockside dining and late-night shopping while exploring the stunning surroundings.
Places to dine before River of Light
Before you set off on the River of Light trail, why not join us at the dock and enjoy dinner at one of our fabulous restaurants to set you up for the walk ahead?
Lunyalita
With a menu of delicious Spanish deli platters, charcuterie boards and Catalonia-inspired tapas, Lunyalita is the perfect choice for foodies who love to share.
Maray
Middle Eastern small plates with lots of veggie and vegan options make Maray another great place to try lots of different dishes, not missing their famous Disco Cauliflower!
Gusto
For fantastic Italian family favourites, savour crisp-crusted sourdough pizzas fresh out of the oven, plates of pasta, risotto and its signature meat and fish dishes at Gusto.
Rosa’s Thai
Combine a direct view across the inner quay to the River of Light artwork with authentic flavour-packed Thai dishes at Rosa’s Thai, including curries that hit every spice level.
Madre
Madre is our top pick for Liverpool’s tastiest tacos – meat, fish and veggie stuffed – as well as wood-fired grills and snacks made for sharing with a chilled house marg or two.
Places for drinks after River of Light
Don’t let the River of Light experience end once you’ve seen the canal artwork, make a night of it and go out for dockside drinks afterwards…
The One O’Clock Gun
Get the feel of a friendly local down at the dock with a drink at The One O’Clock Gun, where you’ll find a line-up of craft beers and ciders including locally brewed ales, gins and cocktails.
The Long Shot
If the spectacle of River of Light wasn’t enough, there’s a chance to catch some sporting action on the big screen too. Drop into The Long Shot for a winning pairing of live sport and world-class cocktails.
Burnt Milk Hotel
Head to Anchor Courtyard next to Madre to find Burnt Milk Hotel, our small but perfectly formed bottle shop and bar to relax with a house cocktail or one of their hand-picked wines.
PANAM
For drinks with a view overlooking the wonderful colourful Ukrainian Dreams projection, PANAM is the ideal casual spot for unwinding once you’ve completed the trail.
The Smugglers Cove
The Smugglers Cove is famous for its huge selection of rums but you don’t have to be a rum fan to enjoy a chilled wine or a refreshing spritz on the River of Light route, plus it’s super family-friendly.
Grab-and-go food options
If you fancy food and drink to take on the trail, so you’ve something tasty and warming en route, the dock has lots of great on-the-go choices.
Costa
On the inner quay, Costa’s a perfect midway stop between Emergence and the best viewing spot for Ukrainian Dreams so grab a coffee or a creamy hot chocolate to keep you toasty on the colonnades.
Docklands Fish & Chips
There’s nothing quite like freshly-cooked crispy
battered fish and a side of chippy chips at the end of a walk in a handy-to-carry cardboard tray
– even if it is only 2k, you’ve earned it!
Maray & One O’Clock Gun
Sister venues and dock neighbours Maray and One O’Clock Gun are teaming up for Right of Light with a special takeaway menu that includes its signature falafel-filled wraps and tempting boozy hot chocolates.
So Greek Full
For authentic Greek street food, nowhere does it better than So Greek Full, so head to the blue and white truck for tasty filled souvlaki, skewers, pitta and fries.
Roly’s Fudge
It’s a fact that walkers need carbs for energy, so once you’ve ticked off the River of Light sights indulge in a trip to Roly’s Fudge for a grab bag of award-winning homemade crumbly fudge!
Peaberry Coffee House & Kitchen
It’s all about delicious dogs at Peaberry with their savoury and sweet takeaway hotdog trio – a spicy chilli dog, salt and pepper dog or The Frenchie: half brioche, half French toast, totally irresistible.
Half-term family fun
Don’t struggle for ideas when it comes to keeping children entertained over half term, just bring them to the dock, we’ve got plenty!
River of Light
One of the biggest events in Liverpool this half term will be River of Light. Download a map of the 2k route including two amazing artworks at the dock. If you’re with little ones maybe complete it over a couple of visits to get family selfies with all 11.
Fun family sessions at Maritime Museum
Discover more about our city’s maritime history including secrets of the world’s most famous luxury liner, Titanic, with sessions for 6-17-year-olds. Make the most of your trip by exploring its variety of exhibitions, including Life on Board and Lusitania: life, loss, legacy.
Beat the clock at Escape Hunt
If you love a brain-teasing challenge and are looking for something for the whole family, then Escape Hunt is the perfect place to test your wits and hopefully triumph! Escape rooms are suited to ages 8 and over, from Wild West or pirate treasure quests to a mad as a hatter Wonderland adventure.
Family dining with tasty kids’ menus
Eating out at the dock can be a real family treat because lots of our restaurants have dedicated kids’ menus. Mini foodies can tuck into delicious fresh pasta or make their own pizza at Gusto, enjoy a young guests steak experience at Miller & Carter or go all-American with burgers, ribs and hotdogs at What’s Cooking.
Halloween Pumpkin Trail with Liverpool BID
Get in the Halloween spirit this half-term by going pumpkin-spotting! Pumpkins containing a letter inside will be appearing in windows across Liverpool including one here at the dock. Families can follow the trail and collect all the letters to spell out a Halloween-themed word and be in with a chance of winning a prize.
The Beatles Story
Uncover the Fab Four’s journey to stardom with The Beatles Story. Enjoy an immersive, self-guided tour through history and learn how the young Liverpool lads were propelled to worldwide fame, complete with recreations of key locations, authentic memorabilia and exclusive photography.
FAQs
We want everyone to have a fabulous experience at this year’s River of Light, so if you’re planning on following the trail here’s everything you need to know…
When will River of Light take place?
Installations will be available to view from Friday 27th – Sunday 5th November. They will be illuminated from 5pm to 9pm.
Where can I find your installations?
Royal Albert Dock has two installations for River of Light. Emergence is located in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. Building. Ukrainian Dreams is projected onto the Maritime Museum and best viewed by the entrance to Britannia Courtyard on the inner quay.
Where can I find out more information on River of Light?
Head to Visit Liverpool’s dedicated page:
https://www.visitliverpool.com/riveroflight/
Which shops will be open later?
Roly’s Fudge is open until 8pm
Quay Confectionery is open until 10pm
With Love From Liverpool is open until 8pm
The Nest is open until 8pm
Liverpool Pictures is open until 7pm
Costa is opening until 9pm
Docklands Fish & Chips is open until 9pm
What times do the food trucks open & close?
Our street food traders open and close at various times depending on footfall, but usual trading times are between 11am and 10pm.
Is there car parking at Royal Albert Dock?
Yes, our car parks are open 24 hours a day and are located at the entrance on Salthouse Quay and along Gower Street.
Spaces cannot be reserved.
What’s the nearest train station?
James Street Station is a short walk away from Royal Albert Dock.
The Merseyrail journey planner is available here:
https://www.merseyrail.org/journey-planning/
Where is the nearest bus station?
The Liverpool ONE bus station is located across The Strand. Plan
your journey here:
https://www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/coach-stations/liverpool
What time do the toilets close?
10pm nightly
Can I fly a drone over the installations?
There is no taking off or landing from the Royal Albert Dock estate.
For permission, any filming should be applied for through the film office:
https://www.liverpoolfilmoffice.tv/filming-in-liverpool/albert-dock/