EurovisionLiverpool 2023🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Liverpool’s Pier Head to host Eurovillage 2023

Eurovision fans will be able to enjoy the historical urban public space along the Mersey waterfront between May 5-13

Liverpool City Council and event planning organisers, Culture Liverpool have confirmed Pier Head as the location for the 2023 Eurovillage. The public space will begin its schedule of events from May 5-13 as fans from across the world descend on Liverpool for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.

Pier Head

Built in 1771 and Formerly known as the George’s Dock, the now award winning 2.5 hectare open public space first started life as a transatlantic port and later, a connecting terminal for buses and trams in the region. Today it is home to the Mersey ferry crossings and a contemporary urban space that sits in contrast to the former World Heritage Site surroundings along the Mersey waterfront.

Eurovillage 2023

Always a hive of activity, the Eurovillage is a key location for Eurovision fans to meet and enjoy everything the locality has to offer away from the main venue. Including being able to watch the shows and see the artists perform for free. This year the official fan zone of Eurovision 2023 will be the urban space, Pier Head. Last year the go-to gathering point was the Parco del Valentino.

Recently Liverpool City Council and its events organising team, Culture Liverpool posted the £85k tender seeking a security and stewarding company to oversee the Pier Head site for the Eurovillage 2023. The live event open venue will include Liverpool’s connection to Ukraine through Odesa and educational content, street artists, live music, concessions, a culture trail featuring Liverpool’s own Eurovision legend, Sonia and much more!

As part of the event plan and vision, a Eurovision Village will be created as a live event site open to the public from the 5th May until 13th May (dates tbc but will only vary in one or two days). This village will be created on the Pier head site and will consist of activations, stages, live music, concessions and much more. The appointed company will be working alongside Culture Liverpool, Merseyside Police & the BBC to bring together the security plan for the Village, alongside other elements of the Eurovision programme.

Liverpool City Council

The whole city will be utilised and activated. We’ve got things like the Eurovillage that’s going to be down on Pier Head, there will be a Euroclub elsewhere in the city.

Faye Dwyer, (Managing Director M&S Bank Arena)

Location

Situated at the heart of Liverpool’s maritime history, Pier Head lies along the River Mersey. The iconic skyline backdrop features ‘The Three Graces’ – the Royal Liver Building, the Cunard Building and the Port of Liverpool Building. Following a major regeneration project, the sunken basins of the urban canal, seat benches and steps provide a vibrant space for events and quiet reflection overlooking the docklands.

Those with sore feet after a week of partying will be delighted to discover the area is predominantly flat and easily walkable – the M&S Bank Arena that will host the shows in Eurovision week, is less than 10 minutes walk away, the other side of the Royal Albert Dock. For the fans commuting in from around the city and elsewhere, the nearest station is James Street, a short 5 minute walk across the main road.

Other attractions

Being such a central location, Pier Head will give the tens of thousands of Eurovision fans an opportunity to discover a rich tapestry of Liverpool history and culture between the shows.

Music

Of course, as the birthplace of the Beatles and British popular music, there is no better place to be to take in a musical history lesson. Within the Cunard Building is the British Music Experience. This venue explores the history of British Rock and Pop from 1945 to the present. Featuring many exhibits, stage displays and costumes of Britain’s most famous music exports including the Beatles, Spice Girls, David Bowie, Rolling Stones and more.

You can’t go to Liverpool and not feel compelled to visit the Beatles Story at the Royal Albert Dock. From the back streets of Toxteth to Abbey Road, this experience details the history of the Beatles’ rise to super stardom. The museum features faithfully accurate replicas of famous locations connected to the band and archive footage.

Credit: Lisa Bird

History & Culture

Surrounding the Pier Head location are many historical attractions for those with a zest for knowledge. Obviously the location itself means there is no escaping the maritime history that made Liverpool the country’s second city in the 18th Century. Nearby to Pier Head is the Maritime Museum which includes reflection on the darker moments in Liverpool’s history, including the Titanic disaster and its links to the slave trade. Next door is the International Slavery Museum. A campaigning museum that works with the local community and charities to respectfully raise awareness of the past to help prevent modern day slavery in the present. Both of these museums are free to all guests.

Also situated in the area are the Open Eye Gallery, featuring visual medium and photography collections, and Tate Liverpool, which features historical and modern artworks. These are also free to visit. Immediately overlooking the Pier Head public space is the main Museum of Liverpool. Another free attraction that gives a nice overview of Liverpool’s history and culture for those with less time to visit all that the locality has to offer. As well as this, the museum boasts a top floor viewing gallery with scenic views across the Mersey and Pier Head.

Credit: Lisa Bird

For those that seek further adventure, the ferry terminal offers river cruises and excursions to view all the famous landmarks from a sailors perspective, or across the Mersey to the Wirral to see what neighbouring Cheshire has to offer for a day out. Ferries cost £3.80 return commuting across the river or £11.50 for a full river cruise.

Are you planning to visit Eurovillage 2023? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram, @escxtra on TikTok and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify for the latest music from your favourite Eurovision acts. As well as YouTube to see our reactions to the news in the run up to the new Eurovision season.

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