Liverpool is set to welcome a rather unusual visitor this October as Logos Hope, home to the world’s largest floating bookfair, arrives in the city.

The ocean-going ship will dock at Liverpool Cruise Port as part of its 2026 Waves of Hope UK tour, giving visitors the chance to step onboard, browse thousands of books and discover what life is like aboard a ship that travels around the world.

Logos Hope will open to the public in Liverpool from Friday 23 October until Thursday 5 November 2026.

More than 5,000 books onboard

At the heart of the ship is its huge floating bookfair, which features more than 5,000 titles covering a wide variety of subjects and genres.

Visitors will be able to browse and buy books for all ages, while there will also be cultural displays, activities and opportunities to meet members of the ship’s international volunteer crew.

The vessel has welcomed millions of visitors since entering service with Operation Mobilisation in 2009 and has travelled to ports across the world.

Logos Hope measures more than 132 metres in length and has visited over 140 different ports in more than 70 countries.

What can you do onboard Logos Hope?

There is much more to the Liverpool visit than the bookfair.

Visitors can explore parts of the ship, visit the Hope Café for refreshments and take part in a programme of events taking place throughout its stay.

Guided tours of Logos Hope will also be available, offering a closer look around areas of the vessel that visitors would not usually see.

Tours last around one hour and take place in small groups.

Prices for the guided tours are:

• Adults: £5
• Children aged 5–16: £2
• Children aged four and under: Free

Tours need to be booked separately in advance.

Events taking place during the Liverpool visit

A programme of special events will run onboard during Logos Hope’s time in the city.

This includes family activities, cultural events, conferences and community gatherings.

Among the programme is Kids on Deck! on Sunday 25 October, designed for children aged four to 11, alongside Meet the World later that evening.

Meet the World will feature music, traditional dances and performances from members of Logos Hope’s international crew, giving visitors the opportunity to experience cultures from around the globe without leaving Liverpool.

Further events are scheduled throughout the ship’s stay.

When is Logos Hope open in Liverpool?

Logos Hope will be based at Liverpool Cruise Port, Princes Parade, Liverpool, L3 1DL.

The ship opens to the public at 1pm on Friday 23 October.

General opening hours will then be:

Tuesday to Saturday: 10am–10pm
Sunday: 1pm–10pm
Last entry: 9.30pm

The ship will be closed to the public on Mondays and on Thursday 29 October.

General admission onboard costs just £1 per person, and visitors do not need to book in advance simply to visit the ship and floating bookfair.

Separate booking is required for guided tours and selected onboard events.

A unique addition to Liverpool’s autumn calendar

Liverpool regularly welcomes cruise ships from around the world, but Logos Hope will bring something a little different to the waterfront this autumn.

Whether you want to browse thousands of books, take a look around an international ship or experience some of the events taking place onboard, its two-week stay offers another reason to head down to Liverpool’s waterfront this October.

Logos Hope will be open at Liverpool Cruise Port from 23 October until 5 November 2026.

Further information, event details and tour bookings are available through the official Operation Mobilisation website.