Church of St Luke, Liverpool

Church of St Luke, Liverpool tickets: which one to buy

Saint Luke's Church stands at the top of Bold Street in Liverpool city centre, and it is known to everyone as the bombed-out church, because it has been left as a roofless ruin since the Blitz. Today it is managed as a community arts and events venue, and the grounds and interior are usually open to visitors during the day, with a small donation or charge at some events. Film screenings, markets, concerts and exhibitions are held inside the ruined walls, especially in summer.

The church is a short walk from Liverpool Central station and the shops of Bold Street, which is known for its independent cafes and restaurants. Walking tours of Liverpool sometimes include it, together with the two cathedrals on Hope Street, the Georgian Quarter and the Chinatown arch nearby. Opening hours depend on events. Event tickets are sold online and at the gate, and the church website lists the programme.

Visiting Church of St Luke, Liverpool: what to see

The church was built between 1811 and 1832 in a Gothic Revival style, designed by John Foster senior and completed by his son, John Foster junior, with a tall tower and large windows. On the night of 5 to 6 May 1941, during the May Blitz, when Liverpool was heavily bombed because of its docks, the church was hit by an incendiary bomb and burned out, leaving only the outer walls and tower standing. After the war it was decided to keep the shell as a memorial to those who died in the bombing. In the garden, a sculpture commemorates the Christmas truce of 1914, showing a British and a German soldier shaking hands.

A plaque recalls the Irish famine, whose victims passed through Liverpool. The roofless nave, open to the sky, has become one of the most photographed and atmospheric places in the city, with trees growing among the stones. The tower still holds its clock faces, frozen in place. The walls show scorch marks and damage from the fire. Stone tracery survives in the tall windows, now open to the sky. The garden is planted with flowers and shrubs. Artworks and installations appear inside during exhibitions. The site was listed as a heritage building. Birds nest in the walls.

Church of St Luke, Liverpool opening hours and the best time to go

Opening hours vary with the events programme, and the church is generally open during the day from spring to autumn, with events continuing into the evening; winter openings are more limited. The garden is peaceful on weekday afternoons. Summer brings open-air cinema and concerts, and the church is lit dramatically at night during events.

Liverpool is busy at weekends and during big football matches and festivals. Remembrance events are held here in May and November. Allow about twenty minutes to walk around the church and garden, and continue down Bold Street for food and shopping. The Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and the Philharmonic Dining Rooms pub, with ornate Victorian interiors, are a short walk up Hope Street.