Liverpool Docks in the UK
Liverpool is a special place in the UK. What was a city that was rather impoverished in the 20th century, has experienced an influx of investment that has transformed itself into a great place to visit. Old dock warehouses that were defunct have been repurposed as cozy and trends bar, restaurants, and museums. Thankfully, the docks of Liverpool are still relatively intact and is one of the main draws of the city. The dock area of Liverpool is more formerly described as the Royal Albert Dock of Liverpool.
In this post, you’ll see my latest video from Liverpool, my best photos of the Liverpool Docks, and tips on how to get there.
The Liverpool Docks, A Brief History
The Royal Albert Dock, a collected of dock buildings and warehouses, were first opened in 1846, and built of iron, brick, and stone. At the time, it was a revolutionary construction design that enabled ships to be loaded and unloaded directly to and from warehouses. Valuable cargo that was transported and stored include brandy, cotton, silk, tobacco, ivory, sugar, and of course, tea. New shipping designs and methods that followed the docks halcyon days eventually made it more and more obsolete.
The Albert Dock served as a naval base of the British Atlantic Fleet during WWII, which made it an obvious target. During the German Blitz in May of 1941, the docks were damaged. After the war, the dock faced a period of decline due to financial difficulties in maintaining it. Only in 1981 did the Albert Dock start being renovated and further developed. The five warehouses which make up the complex cover 1.25m sq ft in size, the biggest such group of Grade I listed buildings anywhere in the UK.
Liverpool Dock Photos
Getting to the Liverpool Docks
To get to the Royal Albert Dock, you will first need to get to Liverpool. Assuming that you are flying, you can fly into either Liverpool John Lennon Airport (Airport Code: LPL) which is a smaller airport, or Manchester Airport (Airport Code: MAN), which is larger and maybe cheaper.
If coming from Liverpool Airport, you take many buses to get to the Liverpool ONE Bus station, which lies across the street from the Royal Albert Dock. These buses include Bus 500, 80A, and 86A (more info here). The bus fare is around 2-3 British pounds.
If you are coming from Manchester Airport, the best way to get to Liverpool is by train. There are trains constantly shuttling between Manchester Airport and Liverpool Lime Street Station. Then from Liverpool Lime Street, the Albert Dock is only a 10-15 minute walk away. Use Google Maps or head west/southwest from Liverpool Lime Street (downhill) until you hit water.
When to see the Liverpool Docks
As far as the time of year you should see the Royal Albert Dock, hands down in the spring and the summer. Liverpool, and the UK in general, does not do fall or winter very well. The weather is almost always gray and wet. Every now and then though, you do get a gorgeous sunny day, which are more likely in the middle of the calendar year.
Seeing as how this part of Liverpool is rather popular, if you are looking for photos without too many people, you can’t go wrong with going in the morning on a weekday. You will always find a few pensioners out and about at all times of the day. Furthermore, with numerous docks in the area and many photographic vantage points, it is also worth coming during night time for some slow exposure photography.
Photographing the Liverpool Docks
All in all you have the Royal Albert Dock, but there is also Canning Dock, George Parade, and Dukes Dock that are worth capturing with your camera. Standard photographic equipment like a 24-70 mm aperture lens would do you well, in addition to a 50 mm prime lens. The latter is especially great for capturing subjects against the warehouse brick background as the bokeh.
Furthermore, given that there are some water elements around, reflection shots at night would be to your benefit to capture. For this you will need a nice and sturdy tripod and though not required, a hand held shutter release. If you head towards the Pump House at Albert Dock, and look towards the Southeast at the Wheel of Liverpool, this is a prime example of what I am talking about. While the wheel is illuminated, you can get a long exposure shot, with it reflecting on the dock water. This can also be done at the square canal where the Tate museum is (here). Below is a list of some other attractions to photograph at the Liverpool Docks:
Waterfront Pier Head Promenade
Pump House (Canning Dock)
Royal Liver Building (George Parade)
Tate Modern (Albert Dock)
Wheel of Liverpool (Dukes Dock)
I used to live in Liverpool but have since moved. This was the first time I was able to capture the Royal Liver Building with my drone at sunrise on a trip back. This building is iconic and a symbol of the city. I have never seen it look so good dressed up during Golden Hour.