For the first time, the Three Cunard Queens – Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2 – will sail into Liverpool together as part of the One Magnificent City celebrations, marking the 175th anniversary of Cunard.
This unforgettable spectacular, which is a salute to the company’s spiritual home, will take place over the May bank holiday. The three ships will only be together for a short time on Monday 25, but activities will take place across the weekend.
*Please note, all times are approximate and, particularly in relation to the movement of the Three Queens, are subject to change because of weather, tidal considerations and general ship operations. The website www.onemagnificentcity.co.uk and Twitter @OMCLpool will have the most up-to-date information throughout the event*
WHAT’S HAPPENING WHEN
Saturday 23 May
• 10pm – Amazing Graces – state-of-the-art projections on the Three Graces at the Pier Head exploring the spirit of Liverpool
Sunday 24 May
• 9am – Queen Mary 2 arrives in the city and berths at Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal
• 10pm – Amazing Graces projections on the Three Graces at the Pier Head
• 10.30pm – Firework display
Bank Holiday Monday 25 May
• 10.45am – Queen Mary 2 leaves the berth to greet her two sisters at Brazil Buoy (on the
river between Crosby Beach and New Brighton)
• 12pm to 2pm – Three Queens meet and sail in formation past the UNESCO World Heritage
Site and south towards the Liverpool Echo Arena, and then will head north along the Mersey
• 2.10pm – Queen Mary 2 leaves the city, Queen Elizabeth berths at the Cruise Liner Terminal
and Queen Victoria anchors in the middle of the Mersey
• 10pm – Amazing Graces projections
• 10.30pm – Firework display, after which Queen Elizabeth leaves the city and Queen Victoria berths at the Cruise Liner Terminal
Tuesday 26 May
• 4.30pm – A special musical sail-away performance to say goodbye to Queen Victoria
• 5pm – Queen Victoria sails out of the city
There will also be street performances, flash mobs, pavement art, live theatre and music performances lining the waterfront on Saturday from 6.00pm – 9.30pm; Sunday from 12pm – 9.00pm and Bank Holiday Monday from 2.00pm – 9.00pm
TRAVEL ADVICE
Huge numbers of people will head to the city to be part of the celebrations, with the main focus being on Bank Holiday Monday 25 May.
Please plan your journey to and from the event carefully, regardless of how far you’re travelling, and maybe think differently about which mode of transport to use.
To see your options and for help in planning your journey, visit www.merseytravel.gov.uk
Due to the anticipated massive demand on the transport network:
• Travel updates and alerts will be posted on www.merseytravel.gov.uk, or if further help is needed in planning a journey before or during the event, call Traveline on 0151 236 7676 or 0871 200 22 33. You may also want to follow @Merseytravel on Twitter and look out for #3queenstravel.
• If you’re local, consider staying local. The Three Queens will be a full waterfront and coastal spectacle with opportunities to view from Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton. Walking and cycling may be the fastest and easiest way to get to and from the event.
• If you live in the Liverpool City Region, consider using public transport as services will be strengthened.
• Mainline train services from Manchester, Wigan and Crewe directions will be particularly busy. If you live in the area and normally take the City line into Liverpool, you may want to consider taking the bus.
• Be prepared. As this is an event of national and international significance, it goes without saying that it will be extremely busy and there will be queues. Plan ahead, leave plenty of time to get where you want to go and please be patient.
• If you’re visiting from further afield or have mobility issues, car parking will be available.
• Some of the events during the Three Queens weekend will finish late which means significant demand for transport services from 10pm. Don’t leave it too late – allow time to get to the stop or station and for there to be queues when you arrive there. Consider what your alternative options may be in getting home.
For more information visit www.onemagnificentcity.co.uk or follow @OMCLpool on Twitter and One Magnificent City Liverpool on Facebook.
ROAD CLOSURES
In order to facilitate this event safely, it will be necessary to implement a number of road closures during the event each day as follows:
Saturday 23rd May 2015 – 8.00am to 11.30pm
Water St, Brunswick St and St Nicholas Place will be closed from The Goree to Canada Boulevard,
Sunday 24th May 2015 – 8.00am to 11.30pm
Water St, Brunswick St and St Nicholas Place will be closed from The Goree to Canada Boulevard and Princes Parade
Bank Holiday Monday 25th May 2015 – 6.00am to 11.30 pm
There will be a number of road closures in place around the Liverpool Waterfront area as follows:
Princes Parade
St Nicholas Place
Water Street
Brunswick Street
Mann Island
Canada Boulevard
Gower Street
In the interests of spectator safety, The Strand will be closed between Old Hall Street and Liver Street from 9.00am to 4.00pm. Where possible, access will be maintained for residents and businesses during the day; in order to facilitate this there will be traffic restrictions on a number of roads in and around the City Centre.
The normal coach parking/drop off facilities will be maintained with the exception of coach drop-off in Gower Street. For more information regarding coach parking arrangements in Liverpool, please refer to www.liverpooltraveltrade.com
Royal Liver Building/Cunard Building/ Port of Liverpool Building – Access to these buildings during the Monday Waterfront closures will be severely restricted based on crowd attendance at the event
Taxi Ranks – On Bank Holiday Monday 25th May, the ranks at St. Nicholas Place, James Street, and Albert Dock will be closed. A dedicated taxi drop off/pick up area will be established in Water Street. Access to St Nicholas Place rank for the cruise liner berth, will be maintained at all other times
Tuesday 26 May 2015
There will be a one-way traffic system in place on Princes Parade but this is for residents only, the road will be closed to general traffic. Canada Boulevard will be closed at its junctions with Mann Island, Water St., Brunswick St. and St Nicholas Place.
Wirral has its own Traffic Management Plan in place for Monday 25th May, details of which can be found at www.visitwirral.com/threequeens
Details relating to Sefton can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/threequeens
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What else is happening?
Bring your flags to wave and your best singing voices so you can join in with what is sure to be a Best of British, flag waving, sing-a-long event!!
We anticipate significant spectators will be in and around the Liverpool waterfront area throughout Sunday, Monday and Tuesday but particularly on Monday 25 May when the Three Queens will meet together for the first time on the River Mersey.
There will be a food and drinks market located on The Strand, near to Salt-House Dock and also towards the north end of Princes Parade.
The Amazing Graces projection show will take place at 10.00pm on Saturday, Sunday and Monday with a short firework finale at 10.30pm on Sunday and Monday evening.
Will there be fireworks?
As part of the evening projection event ‘Amazing Graces’, there will be a short, mid-river, firework finale at 10.30pm on Sunday 25 May and Monday 26 May expected to finish approx. 10.40pm.
Spectators attending this short Firework display should consider their travel arrangements home due to the late finish of the show & other evening events taking place in the city that will end around the same time.
Can we visit the Cunard Ships to look around?
Members of the public will not be permitted to visit any of the Cunard Queens due to Maritime Security Regulations.
Official ship visits have been organised by Cunard however these ‘invite only’ events are already in place and finalised.
Liverpool Cruise Terminal is a Restricted Area for passengers, crew and invited ship visitors only so spectators are not be able to access the berth area.
Where is the best place to see the ships?
Both sides of the Mersey will provide a spectacular view of the 3 Queens whether you are located in the Wirral, Liverpool Waterfront or Sefton.
Details of Wirral’s plans for the event can be found at www.visitwirral.com/threequeens
Details relating to Sefton can be found at www.sefton.gov.uk/threequeens
Traffic Management Arrangements
Live updates regarding traffic arrangements will be available from www.merseytravel.gov.uk
Car Parking Arrangements
There are a number of car parks in and around the Liverpool waterfront area. The majority of City Centre car parks will remain open however please be aware of the traffic management measures that may be in place around the waterfront when planning your journey.
Free event parking in Wirral will be provided at the Dips, Coastal Drive, New Brighton. Follow the signs from junction 1 of the M53.
I am a Blue Badge Holder
Blue Badge parking is available on a first come first served basis at their usual locations. Additional Blue Badge Parking will be provided on 25th May at Albert Dock, however, please note that charges will apply for these particular spaces. Again these will be available on a first come, first served basis.
There will be a limited number of additional Blue Badge parking spaces provided on Marine Promenade, New Brighton on a first come, first served basis.
I am a wheelchair user – will there be a disabled viewing point during the day?
A designated wheelchair area will be available on a first come first served basis for the evening show only. The designated wheelchair area will be located at Pier Head (outside the Museum of Liverpool). One adult only is permitted to accompany each wheelchair user.
Due to the volume of spectators we anticipate in and around the Liverpool waterfront during the 25th May, this facility will not be available.
Due to the size of the Cunard ships, you don’t need to be in the immediate vicinity of the water’s edge to get a good vantage point.
Crowd Management Measures
We anticipate significant spectators will be in the Liverpool Waterfront area, particularly on Monday 25 May when the Three Queens meet. In the interests of public safety, on Monday 25 May we have the ability to close sections of Liverpool Waterfronts viewing areas.
In order to maximise the volume of spectators that can be accommodated, the following items are not permitted within each of the Liverpool Waterfront ‘Zones’ on Monday 25 May:
Camera Tripods will not be permitted – mono pods are acceptable
Camera Drones will not be permitted to fly, in the interests of spectator safety
Gazebos are not permitted
Fishing rods are not permitted along the waterfront area
Alcohol will not be permitted to be brought or consumed within any of the ‘zones’ other than designated bar areas
The following items may be permitted should space allow*:
Portable / Fold out / camping chairs
Mobility Scooters
*You may be asked to move to other areas for your own comfort and safety. Please cooperate with crowd safety stewards.
Will there be food and drink concessions – if so, what sort of food?
There will be an international food market along the Strand from Friday until Tuesday of the event. There will also be other offers at various locations during the weekend as well as a host of exciting venues across the Waterfront. You are welcome to bring packed lunches / picnic style lunches.
Please ensure that you bring plenty of drinking water with you to avoid de-hydration if it is a hot day.
Where and how many toilets will there be?
There will be portable style toilets located in each of the viewing zones.
Is there a first aid point?
There are several First Aid points across the Waterfront and each viewing areas will have its own dedicated first aid staff.
Will volunteers be on site and clearly identifiable to give out information?
There will be uniformed stewards located at each of the viewing zones to help manage the crowds. Volunteers will be on hand to share information and will also be located at each of the main transport hubs.
