Places to visit in the Wirral Peninsula
Ever wondered where is Wirral or want ideas for things to do there? Just outside Liverpool, the Wirral Peninsula and its town of Birkenhead make an exciting alternative to the famous city on the River Mersey. With miles of sandy beaches, country walks and cycle routes, pretty towns and great places to eat and drink, it’s ideal for short breaks. Visit Wirral art galleries and free museums, and explore the region’s many varied attractions on this two-day itinerary. It’s no wonder locals are proud to call it home.
Day 1
Wallasey to Royden Park
Hit the beach
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 1.5 hours
- Free
Starting in Wallasey, explore Wirral’s many beautiful sandy beaches. They include New Brighton Beach and its landmark lighthouse and fascinating Fort Perch Rock, and the wide Wallasey Beach and Thurstaston Beach. If you’re travelling with kids, they’ll also enjoy the Eureka! Science + Discovery Centre, one of the best family-friendly things to do in Birkenhead.
Take a walk from West Kirby
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours
- Free
Walk along part of the Wirral Way. You can tackle as much as you like, whether strolling from West Kirby in a circular walk, or mooching to Wirral Country Park, spotting wildlife along the way.
Refuel at Heswall
- Eatery
- Suggested time at location: 1.5 hours
Next, head to the town of Heswall, which is full of great coffee shops and restaurants such as Burnt Truffle and Gusto. Browse Linghams Booksellers and enjoy the views of the Dee Estuary; for small-town charm, this is one of the top things to do in Wirral.
Unwind in the woods
- Accommodation
- Suggested time at location: Overnight
Wirral is full of unique places to stay, and is home to “the UK’s smallest five-star hotel” – Hillbark Hotel and Spa. Set in 250 acres of parkland and forest, it has just 17 sumptuous rooms. Enjoy fine dining in its two restaurants and two bars and book a treatment in its spa or beauty salon.
Locals Love...
Victoria Quarter (New Brighton)
Victoria Quarter in New Brighton is an open-air gallery where art lives right on the street. I love how striking murals sit alongside independent shops and cafés, turning an ordinary wander into something memorable. It’s free, welcoming, and always evolving, a place where creativity, community and everyday life meet. If you want to understand New Brighton’s spirit, start here.
Rory Wilmer, Creative Director, New Brighton Creative Futures CIC
Travel between - Fort Perch Rock to Wirral Way
Travel between - Wirral Way to Heswall
Travel between - Heswall to Hillbark Hotel & Spa
Day 2
Royden Park to Thornton Hough
Pop to the shops
- Shopping
- Suggested time at location: 1.5 hours
Despite its proximity to Liverpool, the Wirral Peninsula often feels like it’s in the middle of the countryside. Start your day at Brimstage Hall Courtyard, a shopping village in the grounds of the medieval Brimstage Hall. Here you can stock up on local produce or grab brunch from Claremont Farm Shop and café.
Discover free Wirral art galleries
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours
- Free
One of the top things to do in Wirral is explore its excellent art galleries. Start off at Williamson Art Gallery, then head to Lady Lever Art Gallery – both of which are full of stand-out collections. They’re also free of charge to visit.
Time travelling in Birkenhead
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 2 hours
Go back in time at Port Sunlight , one of the best things to do in Birkenhead. Wander its 130 acres of parks and gardens, and visit the Port Sunlight Museum to learn how William Lever built this “soap village” for the workers in his factory. Like a living museum, it’s also home to an Edwardian worker’s cottage and grocery shop from 1900.
Wander Thornton Hough
- Sightseeing
- Suggested time at location: 1 hour
- Free
From Port Sunlight it’s a short drive to Thornton Hall – and on the way you should stop in the pretty village of Thornton Hough. This charming spot, with its picturesque green, tea shops and cottages, is another surprising side to Birkenhead.
Stay and dine at Thornton Hall
- Accommodation
- Suggested time at location: Overnight
Now’s the time to relax in comfort in another of Wirral’s top attractions – Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa. Book a spa treatment in its large health club, which has a Roman-bath-style swimming pool, and then enjoy dinner in one of its three restaurants.
Top Tip - Birkenhead Park
- Sightseeing
A trip to the Wirral Peninsula would be incomplete without a visit to Birkenhead Park – Britain’s first ever publicly funded park. It is the perfect place to spend time as a family, enjoy a picnic on the vast open meadows, take a stroll around the lakes and natural woodlands, or unleash your competitive streak with a game of tennis or lawn bowling. Snap a pic of the famous Swiss Bridge and keep your eye out for the diverse wildlife that call the park home – can you spot a Goldfinch or a Woodpecker? In fact, Birkenhead Park’s design has drawn such worldwide acclaim that it was used as inspiration for New York’s iconic Central Park. So, why go Stateside when you can keep it Merseyside?
Travel between - Brimstage Hall Courtyard to Wirral art galleries
Travel between - Wirral art galleries to Port Sunlight
Travel between - Port Sunlight to Thornton Hough
Travel between - Thornton Hough to Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa
Travel between - Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa to Top Tip - Birkenhead Park
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