The exhibition explores the history of the ocean liner
Titanic in Focus: White Star Line Hotel arrives in Liverpool this week
A landmark exhibition on the Titanic will arrive in the city this week. The Titanic In Focus Exhibition tells the story of the historic ship in its spiritual home of Liverpool and at the former White Star Line headquarters, now the White Star Line Hotel at 30 James Street.
Running from January 8 until March 10 2026, the exhibition offers a rare and immersive opportunity to learn about the Titanic’s history inside the Grade II* listed building where her journey was planned and managed.
The exhibition charts the complete timeline of the ocean liner, as visitors are guided through the design phase and its construction in Belfast. It then moves to the glamour of her maiden voyage, and the tragedy that unfolded.
The exhibition showcases items recovered directly from the wreck site, two miles beneath the ocean surface.
Titanic in Focus: White Star Line Hotel (Image: whitestarheritage.com)
A spokesperson said: “To bring these items back to 30 James Street is to complete a circle that began over a century ago.
“This isn’t just a display of objects; it is a homecoming. Seeing these artefacts within the same wood-paneled rooms where J. Bruce Ismay and Thomas Andrews discussed the ship’s blueprints creates a powerful, almost electric atmosphere.”
Some of the objects on display have not been shown in the North West of England.
Key objects on display:
– The Aft Grand Staircase: Guests will stand before the largest surviving section of its famous staircase. Its intricate woodwork provides a direct look at the Edwardian luxury.
– Wreckage Artefacts: A centerpiece of the collection is an intact wooden deck chair, recovered from the ocean surface by a cable ship in the days following the disaster—one of the few pieces of furniture to survive the North Atlantic elements.
– Wallace Hartley’s Sheet Music: In a deeply emotional display, the exhibition features a fragment of sheet music belonging to Wallace Hartley. The Lancashire-born bandleader famously led his musicians in prayer and song until the ship’s final moments.
– Personal Archives: Rare, handwritten letters and telegraphs share the human stories of the crew and passengers, sharing their hopes for a new life in America and their final messages home.
Organisers anticipate tickets for the three-month run will sell out quickly so advance booking is advised.
More information can be found on whitestarlinehotel.co.uk/titanic-exhibition/.