Birkenhead

Birkenhead is a town on Merseyside, England, on the Wirral peninsula in the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, across the River Mersey from Liverpool. It is not a tourist destination in its own right but can make for a rewarding afternoon trip from Liverpool, and is well worth a couple of hours.

Understand
The town grew around the huge Cammell Laird's shipbuilding works, its population peaking in the 1921 census when it was the 20th most populated town in England. Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted was so impressed by Birkenhead's public municipal park after a visit in 1850, he incorporated many of its features into his work on New York's Central Park.

In 2011, it was home to 89,000 people.

By road
Birkenhead can be reached by the Mersey tunnels from Liverpool (toll payable) or the M53 from Chester.

By train
It takes 3 minutes for a Merseyrail Wirral line train to travel from Liverpool James Street. These trains serve all loop stations in Liverpool, taking 2 additional minutes for each. These are the 4 stations most useful to visitors (the number in brackets is how many additional minutes it takes for the train to reach this station from Hamilton Square):

By sea

 * Dublin, via Isle of Man Steam Packet, MS Ben-my-Chree during winter.
 * Dublin, via Isle of Man Steam Packet, MS Ben-my-Chree during winter.

Get around


Frequent and reliable Merseyrail services operate between the town's stations. There is also an extensive bus network. Saveaway tickets are valid on all public transport in Birkenhead. These can be purchased at any staffed railway or bus stations in Merseyside. An "all areas" ticket is best, if intending to also travel to Liverpool, Chester, Ellesmere Port, Formby or Southport. The ticket costs about £5 per day, for off-peak use. Alternatively, a slightly cheaper "area B" ticket will cover most of Wirral.

See


At Woodside, the riverside by the Mersey affords an excellent panorama of Liverpool city centre including all of its iconic buildings. There is also a wealth of interesting industrial buildings, structures and artefacts in the outlying docklands area. Some of these are very well-kept, while others are either derelict, or in quite unkempt surroundings; but all reflect the town's industrial heritage. Examples include:



Further outside the centre of town, Bidston Hill provides an interesting group of buildings amongst the heathland:

Do

 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at
 * Watch football at
 * Take a short trip on a vintage tram along the Wirral Tramway, between Woodside ferry terminal and the Wirral Transport Museum, during summer weekend afternoons.  Birkenhead Hamilton Square.
 * Explore Birkenhead Park. The first public park and the inspiration for Central Park, New York. It is larger than most parks and has some beautiful wooded areas and duck ponds. Especially popular in the summer months.  Birkenhead Park.
 * The Ferry 'cross the Mersey, immortalised in the Gerry and the Pacemakers song, is considered by many to be essential on any trip to Liverpool, and by definition involves a trip to Birkenhead. Terminals are Birkenhead Woodside and Liverpool Pier Head.  Birkenhead Hamilton Square or Liverpool James Street.

Buy
Visit Birkenhead Shopping Precinct. Birkenhead has the usual unexciting array of British high-street chain stores for your everyday requirements. Those seeking specialist shops or anything a cut above the norm should head across the water to Liverpool.  Conway Park or Birkenhead Central.

Musicians who are in the area for the International Guitar Festival, or are staying on this side of the river during the annual Beatles festival, can use the following:

Connect
As of Aug 2022, the town and its approach roads have 4G from EE and O2, and 5G from Three and Vodafone. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Go next

 * Port Sunlight, William Lever's model village, is 15 minutes away and is easily accessed by rail or road. 4-6 trains per hour
 * The Wirral coast between New Brighton and West Kirby has some excellent walking and off-road cycling opportunities, including the Wirral Way. 2-4 trains per hour on each branch.
 * The ancient walled city of Chester is 30 minutes away by road or rail. 2-4 trains per hour