Port Sunlight Museum
Port Sunlight Museum
4.5
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Our Museum tells the story of William Lever and his vision in creating this village for workers at his Sunlight Soap factory. Explore how the village developed over the years, from the working and living conditions to the charming architecture. 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. As part of your Port Sunlight Experience ticket, visitors get a chance to step inside a worker’s cottage and experience everyday life in Port Sunlight in Edwardian times. Plus entrance into SoapWorks our interactive family experience. Designed to encourage more children to engage with the STEM subjects (science technology engineering and mathematics), come and have fun learning about the science of soap and its life-saving properties!
Duration: 2-3 hours
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- Judith HLeicester, United Kingdom182 contributionsSocial historyInteresting glimpse into social history. One ticket for the three part experience. Small but very informative museum about the development of Port Sunlight village and what is now Unilever. Make sure you watch the film as well as read in the information. Visit the worker's cottage next door. A few minutes walk away is the Soapworks showing how soap is made. It's aimed at children but worth a visit for adults too.Hello, many thanks for visiting us at Port Sunlight. Really appreciate you taking time to write a review too. Gives people an insight into what to expect when they get here. The film is a delight, about local people played by local people. Thank you!Written 24 April 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 April 2023
- 228DawnMBlackpool, United Kingdom97 contributionsHidden gem..don't tell everyone though as I just want this just for me! (I love the tranquility here!)Best day out ever.... my husband and myself just spent the whole day at Port Sunlight and had such a great time. It's exactly everything I want from a day out. We first went to Lady Lever Gallery. Wonderful bright gallery, excellent cafe and clean facilities. We'd booked for the walking tour at 11.30am. The tour guide was so knowledgeable and you are given a hearing earphone so you can hear everything she says. She knew all about the history and her passion for the village showed. Great value for one and half hour tour. There's so much history and human interest in the tour. Its a truly wonderful village and the story behind it is fascinating. We then went to the soap works as this was included in the price and yet again another enthusiastic gentleman talked us through the process of making soap. Really interesting interactive museum, I think its aimed at children but we loved it! We then visited the museum and this is so good. It was good to read and see some of the plans for the houses and the replica model of the village. Really helpful friendly staff in the museum too. It really was a fantastic day, thank you so much!Hello, may thanks for visiting Port Sunlight, and your kind comments are a delight to read. I shall pass on your praise to the team. Thrilled you went to SoapWorks, and yes it does have a element of being child friendly and a STEM educational value yet everyone can learn something there, interactive is the key - hope you smelt the fragranced socks! Thanks again for taking time to write this wonderful review. We hope you may return again in the not too distant future.Written 20 June 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 18 June 2023
- GemZ77Manchester, United Kingdom498 contributionsReally InterestingBooked online and purchased a combination ticket which gave access to the museum, cottage, soapworks and a walking tour. The museum is only small but very interesting, especially the 20 minute video. The walking tour made it for us; Barry was our guide and he was very informative and well prepared. Our 90 minute walking tour actually ended up 2 1/2 hours! Thank you Barry, we had a great afternoon in Port Sunlight.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 16 September 2023
- Jenifer T63 contributionsSmall but well thought outSmall museum of the history of the Lever family and their soap making business and the development of the village for the benefit of their workers. Some unexpected snippets - Ringo Starr's first official appearance as the Beatles drummer was at a concert in Port Sunlight in 1962. The band was paid the princely sum of £30 !Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 21 September 2023
- Johnjoan134 contributionsComplement & ComplaintWe visited lovely Port Sunlight yesterday, what a beautiful place to visit. Steeped in history, and so picturesque. Barry our tour guide was great too, informative and humorous, making our tour so enjoyable. However, sadly our visit was slightly tarnished by the young man on the desk speaking somewhat disrespectfully to the other lady member of staff when we first arrived, this was rather sad I felt, as it went against all of principles of the great and good man William Lever and his family, to create a pleasant, safe working environment for all of his employees. Other than this incident however, we really enjoyed our visit. Many thanks.Dear Johnjoan1, Thank you for taking the time to inform us of this. We are currently looking into this further as this is not what our values stand for. We will be in touch in due course. Many thanks, Jean Milton Director of HeritageWritten 28 September 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 24 September 2023
- Kenneth Edward LBirkenhead, United Kingdom65 contributionsThis Museum is dedicated to a wonderful man Lord LeverhumeThis Museum is your starting point to this wonderful village, with tours well worth taking. The village hosts a Art Gallery, Garden Centre, great places to have your lunch. The Museum has a small gift shop well stock with local gifts, and a cafe it is all there for your pleasure. Best wishes KelVisited February 2020Travelled soloWritten 5 October 2023
- nickw93Hindhead, United Kingdom14 contributionsGuided tour of Port SunlightVery interesting museum and guided tour. Our guide (Terry) was knowledgeable and had a very easy manner explaining the history and plans at Port Sunlight on the walking tour of about 90 mins. The exhibition was fairly small but clearly explained and supported by a nice short film. Excellent day trip.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 18 October 2023
- Sharon T2 contributionsWonderful place in a gorgeous village.Excellent tour, wonderful gift shop with the original Sunlight Soaps. Well worth a visit for the village itself. Museum is kind of small but still interesting to learn about the village.Visited June 2023Travelled with familyWritten 29 October 2023
- mlashbrook123Oswestry, United Kingdom9 contributionsLovely day outVisited on the recommendation of a friend. Small but interesting museum. Will definitely return with the 1 year valid ticket to visit the village itself. Also went over the road to visit the Art Gallery, which is also worth visiting.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 January 2024
- tom rCrowthorne, United Kingdom22 contributionsA must see for any Liverpool visitGreat day out. Booked the tour and David was an excellent host in our tour of the village and house. The museum and gallery make this a full day out. Cafe offered good value lunches including Scouse! Short easy rail trip from central Liverpool.Visited January 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 29 January 2024
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4.5
810 reviews
Excellent
538
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219
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40
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6
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7
sim130
Birmingham, UK56 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
A picturesque town built by the Leaver family for workers of the soap factory.
It is an excellent attraction for anyone who is interested in turn of the century model city design.
It is an excellent attraction for anyone who is interested in turn of the century model city design.
Written 3 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sim130
Birmingham, UK56 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
A small town museum that teaches you the history of Port sunlight and soap manufacture.
It is worth a visit, and makes an informative attraction alongside the arts museum and looking at all the local houses and war memorial.
It is worth a visit, and makes an informative attraction alongside the arts museum and looking at all the local houses and war memorial.
Written 3 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean C
London, UK53 contributions
Sept 2016
We visited the village today and the museum, very interesting and very helpful and informative lady on duty
Written 1 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ozziechick45
Sydney, Australia780 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
This village was built back in the 19th Century by one of the Lever Brothers for his staff who worked in his factories making SOAP. I was so interested in this that I read some history on it when I arrived home from holidays. Firstly I was amazed that someone would
build homes for their employees, let along with instructions that they all had to be different and that they are. The village was supplied with all its own amenities like a bowling ground, movie theatre, church and some of the most beautiful and quaint gardens I have seen... even today it look a fabulous place to live. The wife of the owner of the factories Lord Lever had a Museum built to hold her treasures some of which are blue Delft
Don't miss going to see this village
We were told that the houses were only for the staff however these days you may be able to rent one for a short holiday so that you can enjoy the village as well
build homes for their employees, let along with instructions that they all had to be different and that they are. The village was supplied with all its own amenities like a bowling ground, movie theatre, church and some of the most beautiful and quaint gardens I have seen... even today it look a fabulous place to live. The wife of the owner of the factories Lord Lever had a Museum built to hold her treasures some of which are blue Delft
Don't miss going to see this village
We were told that the houses were only for the staff however these days you may be able to rent one for a short holiday so that you can enjoy the village as well
Written 30 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tina B
Oldham, UK21 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Fabulous day out at Port Sunlight village in the sunshine! Relaxing beautiful and inspiring.
Great art gallery too .Amazing array of paintings- some well known images all together. Return visit on the cards.
Great art gallery too .Amazing array of paintings- some well known images all together. Return visit on the cards.
Written 29 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ruth W
Manchester, UK124 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
only did a quick visit - need to go back - but well worth it what we did see was quite special great buildings i think over 900 listed?
Written 26 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Doug S
Elgin, UK15 contributions
Aug 2016
If you like the 'Arts & Crafts' movement as I do, visit here for a feast of beauty. Each road shows different aspects of that design period, a balm to the soul.
Written 25 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie R
London, UK60 contributions
Aug 2016
Had a great day at Port Sunlight. Started with train journey from James Street in Liverpool which was very easy and took you straight to Village. We booked the morning walking tour at the Museum for 11.30. Our guide John was a lovely man with so much knowledge of the history due to his family connections with the Factory and family having lived at Port Sunlight. The tour took about 90 mins on a lovely sunny day and you covered all of the village with time to take photos. After the walk you could have lunch at the pub or tea rooms or visit the Museum or Art Gallery. Well worth a visit.
Written 25 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie D
Lytham St Anne's, UK31 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Well worth a visit. Stunning location. Exhibition is great and tea room fab. Volunteers knowledgeable
Written 24 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonicornetto
Chorley, UK3 contributions
Sept 2015 • Couples
Only four stars,takes ages to get there, beautifully kept quirky pieceof history,living museum .lever ar gallery just great, well worth visiting ,,any time o year
Written 24 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Can you hire wheelchairs or scooters
Jon2512
Bishop Auckland, UK140 contributions
I suggest you ring them. They are very helpful. Best of luck!
Cheers. Jon
Are dogs allowed?
Diane B
Cheshire, United Kingdom54 contributions
Dogs aren’t allowed in the museum or workers cottage but can be walked all around the village.
CEANTHOS
7 contributions
Is it suitable for disabled or those who cannot walk very far
It is a small exhibition all on one level with a level entry from the street. The staff there are very helpful and friendly and will assist those with difficulties.
Rosie J
1 contribution
Is the Port Sunlight site , including Cafe , open on Easter Saturday April 16 ? Thanks
They do have a website. Type 'Port Sunlight Museum website' into Google.
Enjoy.
Stephen P
Widnes, UK
do you have a record of any past employers frpm 1917
carol d
uk16 contributions
Hello Stephen, there is a possability we may have information on the person you are enquiring about? If you would like to email our community curator he will be able to help you. Please contact 0151 644 4815 in the first instance.
Thank you.
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