Visit Wallasey Places

Welcome to Visit Wallasey Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Wallasey

  

Wallasey Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Wallasey

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Wallasey history

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Toponymy

The name of Wallasey originates from the Germanic word Walha, meaning a Briton, a Welshman. The suffix “-ey” denotes an island or area of dry land. Originally the higher ground now occupied by the. higher ground was separated from the rest of Wirral by the creek.

Early history

Historically in Cheshire (until 1974), the area was sparsely populated before the 19th century. Horse races organised for the Earls of Derby on the sands at Leasowe in the 16th and 17th centuries are regarded as forerunners of modern Derby. Main activities in the area were farming and fishing.

Early 19th-century development

By the early 19th century, the shoreline between Seacombe and Rock Point started to become an attractive area to which affluent Liverpool merchants and sea captains could retire. Development at Egremont began around this time, and gained pace with the introduction of steam ferries across the river. The area also had a defensive role overlooking the growing Port of Liverpool, with Fort Perch Rock and Liscard Battery.

Later growth and the 20th century

Wallasey comprises several distinct districts which gradually merged to form a single built-up area during the 19th and early 20th centuries. A pier was opened in the 1860s, and the promenade from Seacombe to New Brighton was built in the 1890s. The Beatles played some of their first shows outside Liverpool at the Grosvenor Ballroom in Liscard in 1960. The world’s first passenger hovercraft service operated between Leasowe and Rhyl in 1962.

Civic history

Wallasey became a County Borough in 1913, and was incorporated into the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral on 1 April 1974. The town is contained in the parliamentary constituency of Wallasey, which has been held by Angela Eagle since 1992.

Wallasey geography / climate

Wallasey is situated at the north-east of the Wirral Peninsula, on the western side of the River Mersey and adjoining the Irish Sea. The town forms part of the wider Birkenhead Urban Area, which in 2011 had a population of 325,000. There is no single town centre, although the main shopping area is centrally located at Liscard.

Liscard

Liscard Hall was destroyed by a fire on 7 July 2008. Central Park is the largest park in the town. The main shopping area is the Cherry Tree precinct with an extensive shopping parade outside.

Wallasey Village

Wallasey Village has a mixture of mostly 20th century semi-detached and detached housing. St Hilary’s Church is an ancient foundation; the old tower is all that remains of a 1530 church building which burned down in 1857.

New Brighton

New Brighton was a popular seaside resort after the mid-19th century. The Floral Pavilion plays host to regular productions and national stars such as Ken Dodd. Housing ranges from large villas near the sea to suburban semi-detached homes.

Poulton

Poulton was originally a small fishing and farming hamlet beside the Wallasey Pool. It developed with the growth of the docks, mainly as an industrial and terraced housing area.

Egremont

Egremont developed as an affluent residential area in the early 19th century. Named by Captain Askew who built a house in the area in 1835 and named it after his Cumberland birthplace.

Seacombe

Seacombe is the most southeasterly section of Wallasey, with regular ferry boat departures to Pier Head in Liverpool and Woodside in Birkenhead. There is a commuter ferry service direct to Liverpool during peak hours, while for the rest of the day the ferries are geared to serving tourists.

You can visit Wallasey places with Walkfo Wallasey to hear history at Wallasey’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Wallasey has 402 places to visit in our interactive Wallasey map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Wallasey, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Wallasey places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Wallasey & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 402 audio facts unique to Wallasey places in an interactive Wallasey map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Wallasey Places Map
402 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Wallasey historic spots	Wallasey tourist destinations	Wallasey plaques	Wallasey geographic features
Walkfo Wallasey tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Wallasey

  

Best Wallasey places to visit

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Wallasey has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Wallasey’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Wallasey’s information audio spots:

Everton water tower Everton Water Tower is a Grade II listed water tower situated on Margaret Street in Everton, Liverpool . The water tower is a well-known landmark dating from 1857 and can be seen from most of Liverpool .

Rushworth and Dreaper The manufacturer was founded in 1828 by William Rushworth, operating until 2002 . Upon its liquidation, its archives were mostly destroyed, and the Victorian clock in the works tower was removed . The premises are now occupied by Henry Willis & Sons .

Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory The former Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory (POL) is based in Brownlow Street, Liverpool, England . It merged with the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) in April 2010 .

Victoria Building, University of Liverpool The Victoria Building was designed by Alfred Waterhouse and completed in 1892 . It was the first purpose-built building for what was to become the University of Liverpool . In 2008 it was converted into the Victoria Gallery & Museum .

County Sessions House, Liverpool The County Sessions House is a former courthouse in Liverpool, Merseyside . It stands at the bottom of Islington, to the east of the Walker Art Gallery, which now occupies the building . It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building .

Steble Fountain Steble Fountain stands in William Brown Street, Liverpool, to the west of Wellington’s Column . It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building . It was donated to the city by a former mayor to fill a vacant plot west of the column .

North Western Hotel, Liverpool The Radisson RED Hotel Liverpool opened in 1871 as the North Western Hotel . The building is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building .

Liverpool Lime Street railway station Liverpool Lime Street is a terminus railway station and the main station serving the city centre of Liverpool . Opened in August 1836, it is the oldest still-operating grand terminus mainline station in the world . A branch of the West Coast Main Line from London Euston terminates at the station, as does the original Liverpool and Manchester Railway .

Liverpool Biennial Liverpool Biennial is the largest international contemporary art festival in the UK . Every two years, the city of Liverpool hosts an extensive range of artworks, projects, and a programme of events . The biennial commissions leading and emerging artists to make and present public artworks .

St John’s Gardens, Liverpool St John’s Gardens is one of two open spaces within Liverpool’s World Heritage Site . The gardens contain ornamental flower beds and memorials to notable people of the city . It has been a Green Flag site since 2003 .

Visit Wallasey plaques