Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre

The tunnels were created between 1810 and 1840 by wealthy industrialist and tobacco merchant, Joseph Williamson. His motivation for building the tunnels remain a mystery and speculation hints at various reasons including commercial quarrying, a philanthropic desire to create employment and simply because of Williamson’s eccentricity, which has led to various nicknames including the Mad Mole and the Mole of Edge Hill.

The Williamson Tunnels remained derelict and inaccessible for many years, however, in 1995 archaeological investigations were carried out on the site and in 2002 the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre was opened to the public including guided tours of part of the tunnel complex.

What to see at the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre

Excavations on the tunnels are still underway and the full extent of the tunnel system is unknown. However, the excavated part of the tunnel complex covers an area east of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral that is bounded by Paddington, Mason Street, Grinfield Street and Smithdown Lane.

The Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre includes the site of Williamson’s unconventional house on Mason Street and the Paddington tunnels. The centre includes exhibits about the life of Joseph Williamson as well as displays about the tunnels themselves. The exhibition about Williamson is surprisingly interesting as the guy was a complete nutter and there are displays showing the extent of his eccentricity.

As part of the admission fee, visitors can take a guided tour of the Paddington tunnels, the largest of which is 12.2m (40ft) deep.

Areas below Williamson’s house, including the Wine Bins and the Banqueting Hall are still being excavated and are only accessible to members of the Friends of Williamson Tunnels Trust, although any visitor can become a member. The Banqueting Hall is an impressive 18.3m (60ft)-long and 8.3m (27ft)-high chamber that was excavated between 2017 and 2018 and was most likely an 18th-century quarry that had been vaulted over at a later date.

Visiting the Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre

The Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre is located in the Edge Hill neighbourhood to the east of the city centre. It is near the University of Liverpool and less than a 10-minute walk to the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and the Victoria Gallery and Museum.

The centre is open Tuesday to Sunday during summer and Thursday to Sunday in winter. On open days, tours of the tunnels operate between 10am and 4pm. The entry fee to the heritage centre including the standard guided tour costs £4.50. Guided tours last for around 45 minutes.

Due to insurance reasons, some of the more impressive parts of the tunnel complex are off-limits to regular visitors and can only be visited by Friends of Williamson Tunnels Heritage Centre members. However, paying the £10 to become a member doesn’t simply give you access to a larger part of the site as members-only tours do not operate on a regular basis and it is unlikely that you can join up and go on a tour of the Banqueting Hall on the same day. As excavations on these areas progress, it is likely that they will eventually become part of the standard guided tour.

Because of the nature of the tunnel network, it is not suitable for wheelchair users. However, wheelchair users can visit the exhibition area (which is wheelchair-accessible) free of charge.

You should allow around an hour for a visit including a guided tour of the tunnels.