Warrington

Warrington is an industrial town in Cheshire, with a population in 2020 of 172,330. Motorway traffic scoots by and you're only likely to stop here for business, or to watch a rugby league match.

Understand
The Wærings were Saxons, so the place they lived was called Weringtun. It was the lowest place you could wade across the Mersey, and for centuries people hoisted their cloaks and tunics to do so. The ford was a mile upstream from the present town centre, so the medieval settlement lay east around St Elphin's church, and a bridge was first documented in 1285. It was a quiet market town until the 17th century. Then the Mersey was made navigable, and the Industrial Revolution powered the growth of Liverpool, Manchester and the corridor between. The Manchester Ship Canal opened in 1894 and enabled large freight vessels to sail 40 miles inland. Warrington developed through textiles and metal-bashing, especially the production of metal wire. It also had military facilities to the east around Risley and Birchwood, such as an RAF base and a munitions factory, best not sited next to residential areas.

This industrial corridor developed professional sports clubs in the 19th century, and Warrington was part of the faction that broke away from the rugby union in 1895. They did so for the right to recompense players for time and wages lost from regular jobs in mills and collieries and foundries. These clubs became the Rugby League, and Warrington have always played in the top tier - they're called "The Wire" for the town trade. The game in England remains concentrated in the northern industrial cities, but was successfully exported especially to Australia. In 1947 Australia returned the favour when Brian Bevan of Sydney NSW signed for the town club, and scored tries prolifically for the next 13 years.

The Mersey was the historic boundary between Lancashire and Cheshire, so Warrington north of the river was in Lancashire until 1975. Local government changes then risked making it an exclave, a detached part of the county, so it needed a new governance tier to relate to. "Anywhere except Liverpool! Not with those dreadful scallies!" was the popular verdict, so it was assigned to Cheshire — this is nominal, since the town is nowadays a free-standing metropolis. It's a typical post-industrial place, with retail parks populating former factories, and much brownfield. A good start has been made by re-greening along the river and canal, and to the east around Risley, but it's a work in progress.

Local information is available from Warrington Council.

By plane
Manchester Airport is usually the best option, as it has global connections and good onward transport. See below for trains.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport has flights from west Europe. Take the bus to South Parkway station then train to Warrington Central.

By train


From Manchester Airport a direct train runs hourly, taking 50 min via Manchester city centre and Newton-le-Willows, and continues to Runcorn, Chester, and along the north Welsh coast to Llandudno Junction, for Holyhead and ferries to Ireland. From the airport, it may be more convenient to take a train into Manchester city centre and change. An hourly train crosses the Pennines from Leeds via Bradford, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Rochdale, Manchester Victoria and Newton-le-Willows, and continues to Chester.

Bank Quay station is on the west side of the town centre. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, toilets, ATMs and a cafe. There is step-free access to all platforms.

is the best station for Liverpool and Manchester. Three trains an hour run from Liverpool Lime Street, taking 40 min via Liverpool South Parkway (for airport) and Widnes, and continue to Manchester Oxford Road. Central station is about a 10 min walk from Bank Quay.

Central station is north side of town centre. It has a staffed ticket office and machines, toilets and a cafe. There is step-free access to both platforms.

is also on the Liverpool-Manchester route, but trains only stop hourly. You might use it for the west edge of town. It has a staffed ticket office, machines, toilets and step-free access to platforms.

Sankey for Penketh is half a mile west on the same line, but is just a rush-hour halt, with one morning and one evening train calling.

By bus
Flixbus runs twice a day from London Victoria, taking 5 hours via Birmingham. Megabus runs once F-M from London Victoria, taking 4 hr 20 min. National Express no longer runs here. You might do better travelling via Liverpool or Manchester.

Arriva Bus 7 runs every 30 min from Liverpool, taking 80 min via Huyton. Arriva Bus 110 runs every 30 min from Runcorn, taking 40 min via Widnes.

Go North West Bus 100 runs hourly from Manchester Shudehill, taking 90 min via Eccles, Trafford Centre, Irlam, Hollins Green and Woolston.

Arriva Bus 360 runs from Wigan every 30 min, taking 50 min via Newton-le-Willows. Bus 329 runs hourly from St Helens, taking 50 min via Winwick.

Warrington Interchange bus station is by Warrington Central railway station.

By road
From the south take M6 to Junction 20 or 21. From Leeds, central Manchester or Liverpool take M62 to Junction 9. From Manchester airport take M56 onto M6, and from Chester or North Wales take M56 to Junction 11.

Warrington does not have a Park & Ride. The car park by Central Station is capacious but filthy; the daily rate is reasonable, but they fine you £100 for pick up and drop-off.

Get around


All buses ply from the Interchange opposite Central station. Warrington's Own Buses is the main local operator: their timetables are posted on the TFGM Greater Manchester website.

WOB 19 runs hourly north to Winwick, Culcheth and Leigh (for Sports Village), and WOB 28A runs hourly to Risley, Culcheth and Leigh.

WOB X5 runs hourly east to Lymm and Altrincham. WOB 9A runs hourly south to Stretton and Northwich.

Driving around town is easy outside rush hour, unless there's been a smash on the motorway and traffic tries to divert through the centre. Central car parks are Golden Square Shopping Centre, the Market and Cockhedge, plus Riverside Retail Park.

Some 30 taxi firms serve the town. Those earning good reviews for helpful reliable service include Lymmited (+44 1925 393111), 242 Cars (+44 1925 242242), Direct Taxi (+44 1925 244244) and PR Cars (+44 1925 877877).

Taxis wait at Bank Quay and Central stations and at the bus station.

See

 * Palmyra Square 100 yards south of the Golden Gates is the most attractive part of town, with the museum, Parr Hall, Pyramid Arts Centre and many 19th century buildings.
 * Palmyra Square 100 yards south of the Golden Gates is the most attractive part of town, with the museum, Parr Hall, Pyramid Arts Centre and many 19th century buildings.
 * St Mary's is the Roman Catholic church, on Smith St. It's an elegant Pugin building of 1877.
 * Victoria Park is a pleasant riverside park with playing fields on Knutsford Road, half a mile southeast of town centre.
 * is the gaunt structure spanning the Mersey west of Bank Quay Station. With a span of 200 ft (61 m), it was used 1915-1964 to link two parts of a chemical and soap factory without obstructing river traffic on the Mersey. Railway wagons and later trucks were driven onto a gondola then lifted across. It's becoming derelict.
 * Sankey Valley Park is south side of town in the long narrow strip between the St Helens canal and the Mersey. Lots of tracks for jogging or cycling.
 * is a raised peat bog. These once covered much of post-glacial Europe until drained in modern times. This one has been restored by raising the water levels, and is now a wetland nature reserve. Access is via Ordnance Road in Birchwood - a munitions factory formerly stood here.
 * : see Northwich for this 19th century mansion and gardens.
 * is a raised peat bog. These once covered much of post-glacial Europe until drained in modern times. This one has been restored by raising the water levels, and is now a wetland nature reserve. Access is via Ordnance Road in Birchwood - a munitions factory formerly stood here.
 * : see Northwich for this 19th century mansion and gardens.

Do

 * What's on? Read Warrington Guardian, published weekly. The name is a nod to the Saxon Wærings, whose name denotes "ward, guard, guardian".
 * Football: Warrington Town play soccer away down in the amateur leagues. The nearest pro clubs are Wigan and Bolton, but for top-tier games head to Manchester or Liverpool.
 * Cinema: Cineworld is on Time Square in town centre. Odeon is on Westbrook retail park.
 * Pyramid is a multi-use live entertainment venue on Palmyra Square, incorporating Parr Hall.
 * Golf: nearby courses are Warrington GC, Walton Hall, Antrobus GC, Alder Root, Poulton Park, Birchwood, Lymm GC and Fiddlers Ferry.
 * Transpennine Cycle Trail stretches coast to coast from Southport to Hornsea. The local section eastbound approaches along the St Helens Canal towpath to Fiddlers Ferry and Sankey Valley Park, then loops south onto the Manchester Ship Canal towpath to Latchford Locks, then continues east through Lymm.
 * Apple Jack's is a farm-based play park open April-Sept. There's a maize maze in mid-summer, but no animals on show. It's five miles south on B5356 near Stretton.
 * Golf: nearby courses are Warrington GC, Walton Hall, Antrobus GC, Alder Root, Poulton Park, Birchwood, Lymm GC and Fiddlers Ferry.
 * Transpennine Cycle Trail stretches coast to coast from Southport to Hornsea. The local section eastbound approaches along the St Helens Canal towpath to Fiddlers Ferry and Sankey Valley Park, then loops south onto the Manchester Ship Canal towpath to Latchford Locks, then continues east through Lymm.
 * Apple Jack's is a farm-based play park open April-Sept. There's a maize maze in mid-summer, but no animals on show. It's five miles south on B5356 near Stretton.
 * Apple Jack's is a farm-based play park open April-Sept. There's a maize maze in mid-summer, but no animals on show. It's five miles south on B5356 near Stretton.
 * Apple Jack's is a farm-based play park open April-Sept. There's a maize maze in mid-summer, but no animals on show. It's five miles south on B5356 near Stretton.

Buy

 * Golden Square is the mall behind the bus station with some 120 stores. Hatters Row is its extension east, and Cockhedge is another 200 yards east.
 * Riverside Retail Park is southeast edge of the centre beside the Mersey.
 * The Market, open daily, has a food hall and other small shops under cover.
 * Junction Nine is a retail park a mile north of town on Winwick Rd A49.
 * Gemini Retail Park is two miles north of town along M62.

Town centre

 * Tayef is a Balti place at 104 Buttermarket Street, open daily 17:00-23:30. Great food, but you'd better come hungry.
 * East Orient is a Chinese buffet at 54 Horsemarket Street, behind the bus station.
 * Donatello at 75 Orford Lane is deservedly popular for Italian staples. It's open M-F 5-10PM, Sa Su noon-10PM.
 * Caffe Caruso is a friendly Italian at 32 Horsemarket, open M-W 9AM-4PM, Th-Sa 9AM-10PM.
 * Danny's Kitchen at 90 Bridge Street is a trad chipper with a sideline in Chinese food, open daily 11AM-4:30PM.
 * The Botanist on Time Square is an attractive pub-bistro open Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa 10AM-1:30AM.
 * The Botanist on Time Square is an attractive pub-bistro open Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa 10AM-1:30AM.

Further out

 * Delgados at 19 Honiton Way, Penketh is a pizzeria open W Th 5-10PM, F Sa 11AM-10PM.
 * Choy Hing Village at 97 Knutsford, Grappenhall do good Chinese and Thai, M-F noon-2:30PM, 5-10:30PM; Sa Su 4-10:30PM.
 * Choy Hing Village at 97 Knutsford, Grappenhall do good Chinese and Thai, M-F noon-2:30PM, 5-10:30PM; Sa Su 4-10:30PM.

Drink



 * The Friar Penketh is a JD Wetherspoons on Friars Gate in town centre.
 * The Looking Glass on Buttermarket is no longer part of Wetherspoons, and customers say it's gone to the dogs.
 * Barley Mow at 29 Old Market Place is a trad old pub with good food, open Su-Th 10AM-10PM, F Sa 10AM-midnight.
 * The Tavern is a sports bar at 25 Church St, open M-F 3-11PM, Sa Su noon-midnight.
 * The Warrington Rodney is next to the rugby stadium and has rooms.
 * The Blue Bell in Golden Gate Shopping Centre is a trad pub with food open M-Sa 9:30AM-10PM, Su 9AM-10PM.
 * The Postern Gate on St Austins Lane has live TV sport. It's open Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa noon-2:30AM.
 * Borough Arms at 120 Buttermarket St is open Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa noon-1AM.
 * The White Hart at 56 Sankey Street has bar food and upstairs gigs. It's open Su-Th 11:30AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-1AM.
 * The London Bridge is a family-friendly pub south of the Ship Canal at 163 London Rd, Appleton Thorn, open daily noon-11PM.
 * Ferry Tavern in Penketh is on the ribbon of land between the Mersey and the canal. It's by the marina and on the Trans Pennine Trail, a good stop-off for cyclists, open Tu-Th Su noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight.
 * Brewery: Coachhouse produces various ales. No tours.
 * Distillery: Quintessential Brands in Birchwood make gin and other spirits. No tours.
 * Distillery: Quintessential Brands in Birchwood make gin and other spirits. No tours.

Stay safe
Usual caution about traffic, safeguarding valuables, and steering clear of rowdy drunks.

Connect
As of Oct 2022, Warrington has 5G from all UK carriers, and its surrounds and approach roads have 4G.

Go next

 * Knutsford is a well-preserved old market town.
 * Quarry Bank Mill in Styal is a preserved cotton mill and estate near Manchester Airport.
 * Liverpool and Manchester are both unmissable lively cities.
 * Chester is an attractive old town that retains its ancient city walls.