24 Hours In Wirral

Forget about having a slice of the good life – have it all in Wirral, where miles of beautiful coastline and countryside, historic architecture, world-famous galleries, and foodie havens combine in a smorgasbord for the senses.

- Penny Fray

Nestling between the River Dee and River Mersey, the Wirral peninsula boasts a strong maritime heritage, sandy beaches, gorgeous gardens and views of scenic North Wales, as well as the jaw-dropping Liverpool skyline. It’s also home to several protected coastland parks and an unusual array of wildlife – all in an area just 15 miles long and seven miles wide. For our Wirral day out, we’ll venture beyond the familiar gloss of upmarket towns like Heswall, Hoylake, and West Kirby and wander off to the garden village of Port Sunlight before heading east towards the seaside town of New Brighton and Birkenhead for its world-famous park.

IN THE MORNING

We start our tour in the delightful surroundings of Port Sunlight. This remarkable village was the vision of industrialist William Lever, later known as Lord Leverhulme, and was originally built in the late 1800s to house workers at the nearby Lever soap factory. It boasts more than 900 Grade II listed buildings and acres of pretty parkland. For the best village vistas visit the Hillsborough Memorial Garden. From here you’ll see a magnificent war memorial built by the Welsh sculptor William Goscombe John, and the dramatic domed roof of the Lady Lever Art Gallery. Originally opened in 1922 by Lord Leverhulme to house his incredible art collection, the Lady Lever is free to enter, brimming with fine furniture, stunning sculptures, and Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces. The gallery also tells the tale of Lord Leverhulme himself, as does the neighboring