Wonders of Wirral 2014/15 visitwirral.com/attractionsvisitwirral.com/attractions woNDeRs of wIRRal woNDeRs of wIRRal what’s INsIDe? welcome Nestling between the River mersey and the Dee paRKs & gaRDeNs p3/6 in North west england, wirral is a beautiful Internationally renowned parks, award winning gardens and garden centres that peninsula boasting 35 miles of stunning will provide enjoyment and inspirational coastline and acres of rolling lush countryside. ideas await you in our beautiful peninsula. It constantly surprises and delights as the visitor uncovers more and more of its charms. cultuRe & heRItage p7/12 Perhaps the biggest One of Britain’s most unique model villages, surprise of all is the sheer an attraction immortalised in song, diversity of attractions on Merseyside’s oldest standing building and culture galore will surprise and delight in offer within an area equal measure. roughly only 15 miles long and 7 miles wide. Ranging from those of actIve leIsuRe p13/15 international and national Challenge yourself to the world’s 18 standing to those that are greatest golf holes on a small scale, take to much smaller and often the water and learn new skills or enjoy nature’s bounty at the local RSPB reserve. more hidden away, and There is plenty to keep you active. offering something for all ages, tastes and pockets, there really is something famIly fuN p16/19 for everyone. Whatever their ages, Wirral attractions Wirral is simply provide something for all the family to enjoy and participate in. Seaside or rural, bursting with exciting traditional or new? The choice is yours. and unique attractions just waiting for you to come and explore. Come soon and shoppINg & p20/24 discover its many delights for yourself! eNteRtaINmeNt Town centre or eclectic, out of town shopping in rural surroundings, state of the art cinema and a traditional theatre Key facilities reinvented for 21st century audiences, Wirral has it all. Toilets Visitor Centre Disabled Access Shop map p25/26 Parking No Dogs event highlights p27 Café Cycle Parking where to find us p28 Baby Changing plan your stay p29 facilities competition p30 1 2 paRKs & gaRDeNs paRKs & gaRDeNs Birkenhead park 1 carr farm garden centre 2 Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre, Carr Farm Garden Centre, Birkenhead Road, Park Drive, Birkenhead ch41 4hy Meols, Wirral ch47 9Re ( 0151 652 5197 ( 0151 632 1457 the world’s first publicly funded park, set amongst the peaceful tranquillity of an designed in 1847 by Joseph paxton with open field landscape, carr farm boasts an the aim of creating a park for the people. ideal scenic location. The importance of its landscape and historic buildings Carr Farm offers a unique shopping experience, with were recognised when it was declared a Grade I plenty to do all year round and all the plants, gifts and Historic Park in 1995. Wirral’s flagship park hosts accessories you’ll need to add a touch of inspiration to a varied programme of events and exhibitions. your home and garden. vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN opeNINg tImes opeNINg tImes Daily from dawn to dusk January to December Visitor Centre Open daily Monday to Saturday 9.30am - 4.30pm 8.30am - 5.30pm Closed 25 & 26 December Sunday 10am - 4pm and 1 January Open 9am - 5pm on FREE ENTRY Bank Holidays Closed 25 & 26 December Nearest railway station: and 1 January Birkenhead park FREE ENTRY Nearest railway station: meols [email protected] [email protected] wirral.gov.uk carrfarmgardencentre.co.uk /wirralcouncil /Carr-Farm-Garden-Centre/110281105729608 @BirkenheadPark1 @CarrFarm1982 3 4 paRKs & gaRDeNs paRKs & gaRDeNs Ness Botanic gardens 3 port sunlight garden centre 4 Ness Botanic Gardens, Neston Port Sunlight Garden Centre, ch64 4ay The Causeway, Port Sunlight ch62 5Dy ( 0845 030 4063 ( 0151 645 6244 a treasure for garden lovers. with for all your gardening supplies, indoor and outstanding collections of seasonal outdoor plants and a selection of indoor flowers, trees and shrubs. home wares, come along and pay us a visit. Breathtaking heather, rock, water and herb gardens, Nestled in the heart of the picturesque village of stunning Herbaceous border and Laburnum arch Port Sunlight, we are a family run, ‘proper’ garden delight throughout the year, ensuring there is always Centre, coupled with our popular Sun Lounge Café something of beauty and interest to enjoy here. vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN opeNINg tImes opeNINg tImes February to October: Monday - Saturday Wednesday to Monday 9am - 5.30pm 9.30am - 5pm (Gardens Sunday 10.30am - 4.30pm CLOSED Tuesday for Sun Lounge Cafe closes maintenance - Visitor Centre, 30 minutes before the Garden Kitchen Cafe and Gift garden centre. Shop open). Winter opening See Nearest railway station: website for details. port sunlight Closed 24-31 December - re-opening New Year's Day. Admission charges apply. Nearest railway station: Neston Please note: There are some steep gradients within the gardens. [email protected] [email protected] nessgardens.org.uk portsunlightgardens.co.uk /Ness-Botanic-Gardens/143059692401489 /Port-Sunlight-Garden-Centre/150129358374728 @Ness_Gardens @PSGC2 5 6 cultuRe & heRItage cultuRe & heRItage Birkenhead priory 5 lady lever art gallery 6 Church Street, Birkenhead (car park) Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight Village Priory Street, Birkenhead (pedestrian entrance) ch62 5eQ ( 0151 666 1249 / 652 4177 (for information) ( 0151 478 4136 / 478 4788 (group bookings) home to the oldest building still in use in one of the most beautiful collections of merseyside, the priory provides an oasis of fine and decorative arts in europe, calm in what is now an industrial setting. situated in port sunlight village. Find out about the early history of Birkenhead and Home to famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings by Millais how the area has changed, and the life of cadets from and Rossetti, portraits by Gainsborough and HMS Conway that was moored in the river nearby. landscapes by Turner. Climb the 101 steps of St Mary’s Tower to see the Families will love the hands-on activity rooms and best views over the River Mersey, Cammell Laird and free events programme. Don’t forget to end your the town. visit with a browse in the gift shop, before relaxing vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN in the Gallery café. opeNINg tImes (Summer) Weekends vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN 10am - 5pm opeNINg tImes Wednesday to Friday Open daily 10am - 5pm © Fotografy 1pm - 5pm Closed 25, 26 December (Winter closure at 4pm) & 1 January FREE ENTRY FREE ENTRY Nearest railway station: Nearest railway station: Bebington © Mark McNulty hamilton square Please note: Disabled Access is limited within Priory. [email protected] [email protected] visitwirral.com liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ladylever /birkenheadpriory /ladyleverartgallery @Visit_Wirral @LeverArtGallery 7 8 cultuRe & heRItage cultuRe & heRItage mersey ferries 7 port sunlight museum 8 Seacombe Ferry, Victoria Place, Seacombe 23 King George’s Drive, Promenade, Wallasey ch44 6Qy Port Sunlight, Wirral Woodside Ferry, Woodside, Birkenhead ch41 6Du ch62 5DX ( 0151 330 1444 ( 0151 644 6466 san francisco has its cable cars, New york port sunlight museum celebrates the has its yellow cabs… and liverpool has its unique heritage of the beautiful and world famous mersey ferries. historic industrial village of port sunlight. There’s no better way to experience Wirral than from People, formal planning, architecture and parks & gardens the deck of a famous Mersey Ferry. River Explorer - from its foundation in 1888 to life in the village today. Cruises run all year-round and it is a fantastic way to see Explore the village with our multimedia interactive tour, the spectacular waterfront views and learn the history of or join daily guided walks throughout August. the River Mersey itself. New for 2014, ‘Port Sunlight 125 Years of the Social vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN Suburb’. Special Exhibition opeNINg tImes opens 11 May. Ferries sail regularly from Woodside, Seacombe and vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN Liverpool Pier Head opeNINg tImes terminals. Please visit Museum - Open daily our website or call for 10am - 5pm further timetable Closed 25 - 26 December information and prices. & 1 January Admission charge applies. Nearest railway station: hamilton square for at Port Sunlight Woodside Ferry Terminal Museum open daily, James street for Pier hosting ‘The Royal Visit’ Head Terminal, Liverpool Exhibition. Nearest railway station: Bebington or port sunlight Registered Charity No. 1074713 Registered Company No. 3719976 [email protected] [email protected] merseyferries.co.uk portsunlightvillage.com /merseyferries /portsunlightmuseum @MerseyFerries @PortSunlight 9 10 cultuRe & heRItage cultuRe & heRItage williamson art gallery 9 wirral transport museum 10 Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, & heritage tramway Slatey Road, Birkenhead ch43 4ue 1 Taylor Street, Birkenhead ch41 1Bg ( 0151 652 4177 ( 0151 647 2128 the williamson houses fantastic collections take a ride back in time on one of our of art and maritime history and a busy heritage trams. let the memories of a exhibition and activity schedule. bygone age of classic public transport Open since 1928 the Williamson is the home of art in come flooding back. Wirral with a wide range of exhibitions and varied Wander through our fascinating collection of trams, collections, including Birkenhead’s own contribution buses, motorcycles and cycles: see the delight on to the Arts & Crafts movement, the Della Robbia children's faces as they gaze in wonder upon the Pottery, and ship models galore. miniature world of our model railway while you Try the new café and shop, explore the 1930's garage stocking work by local scene. There's so much to artists & craftspeople, and see - so much to enjoy. now also a wide range of new and secondhand books. vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN opeNINg tImes vIsItoR INfoRmatIoN Weekends and Bank opeNINg tImes Holidays 1pm - 4.30pm Wednesday to Sunday Closed Christmas and 10am - 5pm New Year. Closed Bank Holidays and School Holidays between Christmas and 1pm - 4.30pm New Year. Half hourly tram operates FREE ENTRY to coincide with Woodside Mersey Ferry Service.