Liverpool’s waterfront is set to shine once again this autumn as River of Light 2025 returns with a brand-new theme — The Science of Light.
From Friday 24 October to Sunday 2 November, the city’s much-loved free festival will transform the waterfront into an open-air gallery featuring ten large-scale illuminated artworks, each inspired by themes of science, technology, and the natural world.
The installations will be lit up from 5pm – 9pm each evening.
Now celebrating its eighth edition, River of Light continues to attract huge crowds, blending cutting-edge art with some of Liverpool’s most iconic locations. This year’s trail has been created in collaboration with the city’s vibrant science and innovation community, offering an inspiring 3km journey that takes in the Royal Albert Dock, Pier Head, Exchange Flags, and Liverpool ONE.
Table of Contents
River of Light 2025 Map
Use the River of Light 2025 map to guide you around the 10 installations.
River of Light 2025 Installations
1. Embrace by Beamhacker (Exchange Flags)
Experience the power of connection with Beamhacker’s Embrace, an interactive light and sound installation featuring 15 illuminated silhouettes inspired by a human paper chain. When visitors join hands, they complete an electrical circuit that sets off ripples of light and sound — a vivid display of bioelectricity and shared energy. As more people connect, Embrace builds to a dazzling crescendo, celebrating unity and the beauty of collective interaction.
Location: Exchange Flags, L2 3PF
What 3 words: invite.rift.lanes
2. Neuron (The Strand, Outside Royal Liver Building)
Neuron draws inspiration from the fascinating world of neurons and brain connectivity. The light installation “Neuron” simulates neural networks, bridging art and science by visually representing the functioning of the human brain and the connections that enable us to learn and perceive the world. The piece reflects how neurons transmit information through electrical impulses, which are fundamental to human communication and creativity. At the same time, “Neuron” evokes the functioning of real neurons in solving complex problems. The installation transforms a fundamental scientific concept into a sensory experience, connecting audiences to the wonder of science through light.
Location: The Strand outside Royal Liver Building, George’s Dock Gates, L2 0RG
What 3 words: hoping.tasty.zealous
3. Cycle (The Strand, Outside The Cunard Building)
Cycle is an urban star, shining bright. Created by Serge Maheu, Cycle is an interactive installation inspired by the revolutions of the sun and the moon, that illuminates open spaces. Composed of a series of modules equipped with several light animation sequences, Cycle delights with its variations in intensity and colour.
Diffusing brightness from its core, it evokes the halo effect of an eclipse. In a maestria of light and sound, Cycle comes to life at the rhythm of bystanders’ interactions. By moving to the beat of the ambient music, the young and the young at heart transmit their energy to Cycle, transforming it into a larger-than-life musical sequencer.
Location: The Strand, Liverpool, L1 8LT (Outside Cunard Building)
What 3 words: basis.swept.loss
4. Pendulum (Pier Head)
Pendulum merges science, art, and play through waves of light and sound. Suspended above the audience, a glowing geometric form swings like a pendulum, while interactive light spheres let visitors set the motion in play. By transforming the force of gravity into a dynamic visual and sonic experience, Pendulum turns a simple scientific concept into a captivating, hands-on spectacle.
Location: Pier Head – North (L3 1BY)
What 3 words: fired.puppy.forces
5. Within Water (Pier Head)
Within Water is a mesmerising installation at Liverpool’s Pier Head canal link, inspired by the glowing beauty of bioluminescent marine life. Using programmable lights beneath the water’s surface, it recreates the shifting colours and movement of glowing algae, activated by human touch through a central sculptural hand. Created by Yellow Studio in collaboration with local partners and informed by research from the University of Liverpool, the piece celebrates the city’s connection to water, transformation, and community.
Location: Pier Head, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 1HT (South End Canal Basin)
What 3 words: army.flat.blows
6. Face Value (Mann Island Atrium)
Face Value is an immersive, AI-driven installation that turns visitors into participants in a surreal gameshow, where a robotic artist captures and transforms their images in real time. Blending artificial intelligence, robotics, and live visuals, the experience produces ever-changing portraits projected across towering screens. Both mesmerising and thought-provoking, it explores the tension between technology, creativity, and control over our digital identities.
Location: Mann Island Atrium, L3 1BP.
What 3 words: skip.luck.cattle
7. Dandelion (Mann Island, In front of Museum of Liverpool)
Dandelion reimagines the delicate beauty of a dandelion through the lens of science and technology. Every five minutes, it bursts into life with choreographed LED animations and immersive sound, mimicking the movement of wind-blown seeds. Blending biology, engineering, and art, Dandelion celebrates nature’s elegance while exploring the unseen forces that shape our world.
Location: Mann Island – in front of Museum of Liverpool (L3 1DG)
What 3 words: super.legs.order
8. SPICA (Outside Dr Martin Luther King Building, Royal Albert Dock)
A star of lights that shines with the energy of the universe. This luminous installation, with moving LEDs, not only dazzles visually but also brings to life a fascinating scientific concept: why do stars shine? The answer lies in Einstein’s equation E=mc², which explains how nuclear fusion at the core of the Sun and other stars converts mass into an explosion of energy and light.
As a tribute to Einstein’s groundbreaking work and his most famous theory—the theory of relativity—this star transforms science into art, representing the constant flow of energy that lights up our universe. The installation connects spectators to the wonder of space, reminding us that, at the end of the day, we are all made of stardust.
Location: Outside Dr Martin Luther King Jr Building (Hartley Quay, Salthouse Quay, Royal Albert Dock, L3 4AX)
What 3 words: moon.insist.with
9. Blueprint (Strand, in front of Salthouse Dock)
Blueprint is a striking large-scale installation inspired by the double helix structure of DNA. Spanning 20 metres, it features hundreds of illuminated LED tubes that twist and flow in a continuous spiral, symbolising the four bases of DNA and its dynamic backbone. Accompanied by a soundscape from Ed Carter, informed by research into childhood autoimmune diseases at the University of Liverpool and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, the work transforms complex science into a mesmerising visual and sonic experience that captures the essence of life’s blueprint.
Location: Strand, in front of Salthouse Dock – Opposite Canning Place. L3 4AN
What 3 words: firm.improving.complains
10. Optik (Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool ONE)
Optik by The Urban Conga is an interactive installation that transforms light, sound, and movement into a joyful exploration of play and connection. Featuring ten gyroscope-like sculptures with shimmering dichroic film, the artwork invites visitors to spin and interact, creating cascades of shifting colour and sound. By encouraging collaboration and spontaneous creativity, Optik turns public space into a vibrant hub of shared experience and discovery.
Location: Thomas Steers Way, Liverpool ONE, L1 8LW.
What 3 words: rent.rungs.crab
Travel and Parking for River of Light 2025
Getting there by public transport
Liverpool’s waterfront is easily accessible by public transport. Merseyrail trains run frequently into Liverpool Central, James Street, and Moorfields stations — all just a short walk from the River of Light trail. If you’re arriving by bus, several routes stop close to the waterfront, including those serving Liverpool ONE Bus Station and Mann Island. For visitors travelling from Wirral, regular trains via the Merseyrail Wirral Line provide quick connections to the city centre.
Arriving by car
If you’re driving, there are several secure, convenient car parks near the trail:
- Liverpool ONE Car Park (35 Strand St, L1 8LT) – ideal for starting at the Royal Albert Dock or Pier Head.
- Q-Park Liverpool ONE (Alaska Place, L1 0AA) – open 24/7, just a few minutes’ walk from Mann Island.
- Princes Dock Car Park (William Jessop Way, L3 1DL) – perfect for exploring the northern end of the trail near Pier Head.
Please note that some roads around the waterfront may be busier than usual during the festival, so allow extra time for travel. Wherever possible, visitors are encouraged to use public transport or active travel options to help keep the event sustainable and accessible for all.
Places To Eat Near River of Light 2025
With the River of Light stretching across Liverpool’s waterfront, there’s no shortage of great food and drink spots along the way.
Royal Albert Dock is a perfect starting or finishing point, offering a mix of independent restaurants, stylish bars, and family-friendly eateries – all set against stunning waterfront views. From cosy bistros to contemporary dining, it’s a vibrant hub for evening meals and drinks.
Just a short walk away, Liverpool ONE provides even more choice, with a wide range of restaurants, cafés, and quick bites to suit every taste and budget. Whether you’re after a relaxed pre-walk dinner, a cocktail stop, or a late-night bite after exploring the lights, the city centre’s dining scene has you covered.
River of Light 2025
Liverpool Waterfront
24 October – 2 November
FREE
More info
