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Liverpool Olympia

Liverpool
Courtesy of Liverpool Olympia

WHERE

Liverpool

What it’s like

Gigs, comedy and touring shows in a grand old listed theatre, with under 16s needing an adult alongside them.

This is a proper old theatre building put to work as a music and comedy venue, the sort of place where the show is the whole point of the evening rather than a bit of it. Concerts and comedy nights make up the bill, and what you get depends entirely on which event you've booked into, since age rules shift from show to show.

Most events let in under 16s as long as they've got an adult with them, and if you've got a younger one in tow it's worth going for the balcony seats, which the venue itself recommends for anyone under 14. Anything running past 11pm flips to strictly 18+ with ID checked on the door, so that's not one for a family night out.

Being a listed building has its charm and its faff in equal measure. There's no lift, so if stairs are a problem for anyone in your group you'll want the ground floor accessible viewing area rather than a balcony ticket. Food and drink from outside isn't allowed in, though there are bars on every level and toilets dotted across the foyer and each balcony, so nobody's trekking far at the interval.

Getting there without a car is easy enough, with Lime Street a mile off and several buses stopping about 100 metres from the door. If you are driving, there's a paid car park right next to the entrance that opens half an hour before the show and shuts half an hour after, which takes the guesswork out of parking in town.

What’s on here

Facilities

Accessible toilet
Food on site
Toilets
Wheelchair accessible

Need to know

Parking
Paid secure public car park next to main entrance on West Derby Road, opens 30 mins before event, closes 30 mins after
Wheelchairs
Accessible viewing area and toilets on ground floor
Getting there by bus or train
Liverpool Lime Street station 1 mile away
  • Under 16s need an adult with them at most events, and it's 18+ after 11pm with ID checked
  • Balcony seats are recommended for under 14s, but there's no lift up to them
  • No outside food or drink is allowed in, only what's bought on site
  • There's a smoking area outside the main entrance, though it doesn't open the moment doors do

Plan your visit

Can children come to events here?

Depends on the event, most are open to all ages but under 16s need an adult with them. Anything after 11pm is 18+ with ID required.

Is the venue accessible if someone can't do stairs?

There's an accessible viewing area and accessible toilets on the ground floor. No lift though, because it's a listed building, so balcony seats aren't an option for wheelchair users.

Can we bring our own snacks or drinks in?

No, only food and drink bought inside the venue is allowed. Medical exceptions can be sorted out if you contact them ahead of time.

What's the parking like?

There's a paid, secure car park right next to the main entrance on West Derby Road. It opens 30 minutes before the event and closes 30 minutes after.

How do we get there without a car?

Lime Street station is about a mile away, and buses 12, 13, 5 and 18 stop roughly 100 metres from the entrance.

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