M&S Bank Arena seating plan: blocks, tiers and where to sit

The M&S Bank Arena seating plan has three parts: the floor, a lower tier with odd-numbered blocks and an upper tier with even-numbered blocks. The Liverpool arena holds 11,000 people at most. Each event has its own layout, so for most first-timers the sensible choice is a lower-tier block opposite the stage on your show’s plan.

Upcoming dates and their status follow near the end, with artist links. The UK venues page covers arenas in other cities.

How does the M&S Bank Arena seating plan work?

Think of the M&S Bank Arena seating plan as a base layout that changes with each event, because the arena says every event layout is unique. M&S Bank Arena stands on Kings Dock, on the Liverpool waterfront, and opened on 12 January 2008. It was the Echo Arena until the end of 2018, so a Liverpool Arena or Echo Arena seating plan shows this same building.

Wikipedia counts 7,513 permanent seats around three sides of a central floor. A tier is a raised bank of those fixed seats. The official map shows these areas.

How do block numbers work at M&S Bank Arena?

M&S Bank Arena block labels tell you your area straight away. An odd number means the lower tier, an even number means the upper tier, and a letter means the floor. Your ticket adds a row and a seat. These labels come from the arena’s access map, so check them against the plan for your own date.

Why does the M&S Bank Arena layout change?

The M&S Bank Arena layout changes because the stage can move and drapes can close off parts of the room. A drape is a tall curtain, and here it can hide the upper tiers when a show needs a smaller space. These are the arena’s own figures for event organisers.

If your show’s plan has no upper tier, a drape is the likely reason. It is not a sign that the seats have gone.

Where are the best seats at M&S Bank Arena?

The best seats at M&S Bank Arena depend on the event, and the arena itself calls this a matter of personal preference. For most first-timers, a lower-tier block opposite the stage works best. You sit close, slightly raised, and with a seat of your own all night.

• Best for being close: the floor, standing or seated, if you are happy with steps.
• Best all-round view: a lower-tier block opposite the stage on your show’s plan.
• Best for seeing the whole show: an upper-tier block opposite the stage.
• Best on a tighter budget: start with the upper tier, then compare prices on the plan.
• Best for children: tiered seating, because under-14s cannot go on a standing floor.
• Best for a group treat: a Premium Suite, which suits up to 12 guests.

The plan changes with each show, so use these four steps to pick a block:

1. Open the plan for your date and find the stage.
2. Find the blocks straight opposite it. These face the stage head-on.
3. Choose your tier. Odd numbers are lower and closer. Even numbers are higher and further back.
4. Check the steps if stairs are hard for anyone in your group.

What is the view from your seat at M&S Bank Arena?

How far your block is from the stage, and how high it sits, decides your view at M&S Bank Arena. A View From My Seat is a fan website with real photos. Use it for the feel of a block, and your show’s plan for the facts.

Is the floor at M&S Bank Arena seated or standing?

The floor at M&S Bank Arena is seated at some events and standing at others, so check your ticket and the event page. The arena says its floor can now hold up to 4,500 people standing.

• Getting in: floor standing tickets use the floor entrances, not the main doors.
• Children: under-14s are not permitted on the floor at standing concerts. They may come in only with an adult, in tiered seating.
• Seated floors: these are on one level and reached by stairs. The arena warns that they may not suit small children or anyone who struggles with stairs.
• Age rules: event pages differ, so read yours before you buy.

How much are M&S Bank Arena tickets?

M&S Bank Arena ticket prices depend on the show, so the floor and the tiers have no fixed price. The arena’s ticketing partner is Ticket Quarter, and Ticketmaster UK sells many shows on the current list.

Premium tickets are sold separately for each event. Premium here means a seat with extras such as drinks, faster entry or a private room. The arena also has 22 hospitality boxes.

Premium suits a birthday or a work night. It is not worth it if you only want to be close, because the floor gets you nearer.

How do accessible tickets work at M&S Bank Arena?

M&S Bank Arena has over 100 accessible tickets in level-access bays, with seats for friends and personal assistants and space for guide dogs. The bays sit between the lower and upper tiers. Floor seating is on a lower level and needs steps.

• Booking: call the box office on 0344 335 0437, or email accessibility@lexliverpool.com. The team can advise you on seats, views and steps.
• Access Card: access bookers need a Nimbus registration number, and registering is free for this arena’s customers.
• Companions: an Essential Companion ticket can be booked only with a paid ticket. The companion must be at least 16.
• Toilets: there are seven accessible toilets, on every level. A Changing Places toilet is a short, covered walk away in Exhibition Centre Liverpool.
• Mobility scooters: these are allowed in public areas, and you can ask about hiring one.
• Hearing and sign language: hearing induction loops are available. Ask early for British Sign Language, captions or audio description.
• Assistance dogs: these are welcome.

Bringing children to M&S Bank Arena?

M&S Bank Arena sets no age limit on shows unless the artist asks for one, and under-14s need an adult with them. Choose tiered seating over the floor. The arena also has a Family Club with member perks.

How do you get to M&S Bank Arena?

The easiest way to get to M&S Bank Arena by train is a short taxi or bus ride from Liverpool Lime Street. The arena is at Kings Dock on the waterfront, and the postcode for a satnav is L3 4BX.

• Driving? The arena is less than 20 minutes from the motorway network. Follow the brown tourist signs for the Waterfront.
• Walking or cycling? Wide waterfront boulevards lead to the arena from the city centre.
• Travelling from further away? Check your last train from Lime Street before you buy, and allow time for the taxi or bus back.
• Coming from abroad? Liverpool John Lennon Airport is about 20 minutes away by road, and Manchester Airport about 45 minutes.

When should you arrive at M&S Bank Arena, and which bag can you bring?

M&S Bank Arena door times are on your ticket and in your pre-event email, so check those first. Arrive before the start, because late arrivals are let in only at a suitable break. Everyone goes through screening on the way in.

• Your entrance: there are three points of entry: Cityside, Riverside and Floor. Your ticket shows the one to use.
• Bags: one bag per person, no bigger than A4. Backpacks, suitcases and laptop bags are refused, and there is no bag storage.
• Exceptions: medical bags and baby changing bags are allowed.
• Screening: you need not empty your pockets or bag, but you may be asked to go to a search table.
• Not allowed: cans, glass, aluminium bottles, professional cameras, tablets, GoPros and Meta smart glasses, among other items.
• Food and drink: only what you buy inside. Catering kiosks sell drinks and hot and cold snacks.
• Leaving: once your ticket is checked, you cannot leave and come back in.

Which mistakes should you avoid at M&S Bank Arena?

Trusting a plan from another show is the first mistake to avoid at M&S Bank Arena. Others are bringing a backpack and buying a standing ticket for a child under 14. Check these too:

• Booking floor seats for someone who struggles with stairs: the floor is reached by steps, so ask for level access instead.
• Confusing the venues: The Auditorium and Space by M&S Bank Arena are separate rooms on the same campus.
• Going to the wrong door: floor standing tickets use the floor entrances.

Travelling further for a show? The Co-op Live seating plan covers Manchester’s newest arena.

Who is playing at M&S Bank Arena soon?

Rock, pop, comedy and darts fill the M&S Bank Arena calendar. Paul Heaton opens the list on Wednesday 11 November 2026, and comedian Paul Smith closes it in November 2027.

What to do now (as of 31 October 2026)

As of 31 October 2026, every M&S Bank Arena date on the list was on sale at its last official check, with one exception. Paul Heaton on Wednesday 11 November is sold out. The next date to watch is Courteeners on Friday 13 November.

1. For a show on sale: open its plan, find the stage and choose your tier.
2. For a sold-out show: any tickets that other fans are reselling appear on the artist’s page, such as Paul Heaton tickets.
3. When comparing resale seats: make sure the block, row and seat match the plan for that show.