Imp 2024 Tourist Information

Things to Do and See in the N.W. of England and North Wales

From Bob Allan, Warrington, Cheshire.

Keep browsing down this page, or click on the content entries here. We think you will find there is a lot to see and do! Why not stay for a whle?

Click on this link to find out...

MerseyFlow operate the Mersey toll bridges. This includes the new Mersey Gateway as well as the historic Silver Jubilee Bridge.
You can register on the Web site or pay when you cross. But if you don't pay by midnight on the day you cross you will receive a penalty notice! More information here

The Mersey Kingsway and Queensway tunnels also require payment of a toll. This can be by card or mobile at the tunnel entrance. Cost = £2.10 each tunnel, cash payment is also accepted. More information here. The road tunnels are owned and operated by MerseyTravel, and have their own police force, the Mersey Tunnels Police.

After all, we are a car club!

• Isle of Anglesey Racing Circuit, guess where?
• Oulton Park Racing Circuit, near Nantwich, Cheshire
• Three Sisters Sprint and Cart Circuit, Wigan
• TVR Engineering Ltd. Bristol Avenue, Blackpool FY2 0JF. Britain's largest independent car manufacturer. Now TVR Automotive Ltd. based in Surrey. Remember the TVR Tina?
• ...and Preston, Lancs. is where the Bond 875 came from!
• JLR Jaguar S-type and more recently Land Rover Discovery and Evoque were built in Speke/ Halewood, Liverpool
• Vauxhall Motors, Ellesmere Port. Home of the Viva and Astra, now making electric vehicles.
• Hooton Park Hangar Museum, Wirral
• Ex-Pressed Steel Panels, Keithley, Yorkshire
• Demon Tweeks, Wrexham

• Liverpool and Lancashire
• Cheshire and Greater Manchester
• Discover Beatrix Potter
• The Beatles

The Wirral is a unique peninsula with a long history, from the first Ferry 'cross the Mersey (rowed by monks) to William Lever's soap factory and the first trams. It straddles the beautiful dairy country of Cheshire and Merseyside.
The Wirral peninsula, separated from Liverpool by the River Mersey, is a place of contrasts; from the hustle and bustle of Birkenhead with its ferries and historic warships, shopping precincts, markets, galleries and museums to Wirral Country Park where badgers and foxes hunt and the hedgerows are alive with butterflies in the summer.
You can stroll along the promenades at West Kirby, Hoylake or New Brighton and breathe in the fresh coastal air, or head for the 60ft high boulder clay cliffs and look out over the Dee Estuary. You can smell the tang of the sea and sand, feel the sea breeze and, if you're patient and observant, maybe catch a glimpse of a magnificent peregrine falcon hunting the banks for an un-suspecting redshank or one of many species of waders found in this tranquil haven.

• On-line guide to Wirral Region
• Port Sunlight
• Ness Gardens University of Liverpool botanic garden.
• Cheshire Oaks Outlet Village - shopping "names" at a discount.
• Blue Planet Aquarium - denizens of the deep. Stroke the fishes or swim with sharks.
• The WaterwaysMuseum - lots of interesting information about canals, narrow boats and related things, well worth a visit

But don't forget the Beatles trail and other local amenities!

It takes around 20 minutes to get into Liverpool, one of the world's greatest cities of the 19th Century which leaves an impressive legacy of some of the grandest architecture in the country. King John granted a Royal Charter to Liverpool in 1207, creating a city now known World wide as the birthplace of The Beatles and the home of Liverpool and Everton football clubs. Liverpool was once the "Second City of the Empire", even eclipsing London for commerce at times.
The miles of docks bore witness to cargoes from around the globe and the mass migration of peoples from all over Europe to the New World.
In the United Kingdom, Liverpool has a reputation second to none as a unique place to visit and enjoy. It was named European City of Culture 2008 on 1st June.

• Liverpool Guide
• Visit Liverpool
• What to See and Do in Liverpool
• The Mersey Ferry
• Two magnificent cathedrals
• China Town
• Speke Hall National Trust Elizabethan treasure, only 45 minutes away

The City of Chester dates from the time of the Roman occupation of Britain c.AD70. A number of buildings from the Middle Ages still remain. At this time, c. 13th Century, the City was walled and fortified with a Castle overlooking the River Dee. It is the largest remaining city in England to have a twin-level walkway, known as The Rows, dating from the 14th Century and originally used by traders.

• Chester Guide
• Visit Chester
• Chester City History
• More Chester Info
• Chester Zoo - fun for all the family - as seen on TV

The area around Northwich has been exploited for its salt pans since Roman times, when the settlement was known as "Condate". The town has been severely affected by salt mining, and subsidence has historically been and still is a significant problem.
Delamere Forest provides a stunning setting for a family adventure. Whether a leisurely wander through the trees, scaling the heights at Go Ape, an adventure in the deep dark wood finding all the sculptures from the Gruffalo story or enjoying a family bike ride.
Nantwich has among the highest concentrations of listed buildings in England, with notably good examples of Tudor and Georgian architecture.
Hack Green nuclear bunker, a few miles outside the town, is a once government owned nuclear bunker, now a museum. The best kept secret in the area?

• Delamere Forest. New visitor centre and cafe, walking and cycling trails and Go Ape tree top adventures for younger people.
• Lion Salt Works history of salt production
• Hack Green secret nuclear bunker
• Jodrell Bank, near Goostrey, observatory with the world famous radio telescope and the Lovell tree collection
• Oulton Park Racing Circuit, near Nantwich, Cheshire

Manchester and Liverool are the largest and most prominent cities in N.W. England. Long-time rivals, both are known for music, sport, art and famous teaching hospitals, music schools and universities as well as having grown out of the 17th Century industrial revolution. Manchester also has two football teams; United and City. Manchester has always been a heart of manufacturing whilst Liverpool complimented this with a huge and prosperous trading port. Many people in fact left from the Port of Liverpool to take up new lives in the USA.

• Manchester Guide
• Visit Manchester
• Tourist Info
• Anson Engine Museum in Poynton
• Museum of Science and Industry in Trafford, visit the Power Hall
• Imperial War Museum in Salford
• Coronation Street Tour in Trafford
• Bolton Steam Museum largest collection of working Mill Engines in Europe
• Trafford Centre - shop 'till you drop
• China Town with some World famous restaurants

The rapid growth of Southport largely coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian era. Town attractions include Southport Pier, the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British Isles and Lord Street, an elegant tree lined shopping street, unfortunately now somewhat down at heel.
Southport today is still one of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK. It hosts various events, including an annual air show on and over the beach and the largest independent flower show in the UK.

• Southport Guide
• Visit Southport

Blackpool rose to prominence as a major centre of tourism in England when a railway was built in the 1840s connecting it to the industrialised regions of northern England. The railway made it much easier and cheaper for visitors todv reach Blackpool, triggering an influx of settlers; in 1876, Blackpool was incorporated as a borough governed by its own town council and aldermen. In 1881, Blackpool was a booming resort with a population of 14,000 and a promenade complete with piers, fortune tellers, public houses, trams, donkey rides, fish and chip shops, and theatres.
TVR formerly produced sports cars at its Bispham factory employing 250 people. Blackpool was also the original site of Swallow Sidecar Company, forerunner of Jaguar Cars.

• Blackpool Guide
• Visit Blackpool
• Heritage Tram Tours

Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort in the mid-20th century. It was home to the largest Pontins resort in the country which closed in 1993. Whilst the resort of Blackpool attracted holiday makers predominantly from the Lancashire mill towns, Morecambe had more visitors from Yorkshire (due to its railway connection) and Scotland. This gave Morecambe the nickname "Bradford on Sea". Between 1956 and 1989, it was the home of the Miss Great Britain beauty contest.
The town has well known connections to playright Alan Bennett and comedian Eric Morecambe. It is also known for the Midland Hotel, an art deco hotel on the seafront which contains interior design and art pieces by artist Eric Gill.

• Visit Morecambe

There is so much to see and do in North Wales that I don't know where to start. Its only 30-80 miles to get to many interesting areas - a little further to Portmaddog, but well within reach of castles, slate mines, narrow gauge railways, beautiful countryside and wonderful holiday resorts.

• North Wales Tourism
• Bodelwyddan Castle - magnificent parkland and gardens, impressive castle and the National Portrait Gallery in Wales
• Conwy Castle
• Caernarfon Castle
• The Great Orme
• Llandudno

Its only around 100 miles to get to the Lake District. An unusual, and very attractive area of England which is particularly sought after by tourists. Many low hills with lakes, each with their own special character, offer a great opportunity for a relaxing holiday and walking in the open air. Many people enjoy collecting "the Wainwrights". This time of year should be the best, as there can be a high rainfall!

• Lake District Guide
• Visit the Lake District
• More...
• More on Cumbria Region
• Beatrix Potter
• British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland
• Lakeside Motor Museum in Ulverston, featuring classic cars plus Donald Campbell's Bluebird
• Historic railways
• Herdwick Sheep

Some photographs copyright Simon Jones, MELT Internet Design Ltd. used with permission (company now dissolved).
Other royalty free images are from PixaBay.

Web site developed and maintained by R.J. Allan "Hand Knitted Software" 2023-24

Comments on and contributions to the Web site should be sent to Bob Allan (e-mail).

Page last modified: Saturday, 12-Aug-2023 11:54:30 CEST