Visit Widnes Places

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

  

Widnes Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Widnes

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Widnes history

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Toponymy

The most usual explanation for the name Widnes is that it comes from the Danish words vid, meaning wide, and noese, meaning nose. Earlier spellings of the name have been Vidnes, Wydnes and Wydness. Widnes promontory is not particularly wide and another possible explanation is the first part derives from Danish ved, meaning a wood.

Early history

There is little evidence of any early human occupation of the area although a flint arrowhead was discovered at Pex Hill, suggesting there was some human presence in the Stone Age. Roman roads by-passed the area but some Roman coins were found where the Ditton railway station stands today. Vikings had invaded the area in the 9th century and Widnes was at the extreme south of the Danelaw.

Coming of the chemical industry

John Hutchinson built his first factory in 1847 on land between Sankey Canal and railway making alkali by the Leblanc process. Further chemical factories were soon built nearby by entrepreneurs including John McClellan, William Gossage, Frederic Muspratt, Holbrook Gaskell and Henry Deacon. The town grew rapidly as housing and social provision was made for the factory workers.

Recent history

Widnes–Runcorn Transporter Bridge gave the first direct link over the Mersey for road traffic. Widnes became the first in Britain to have a regular covered-top double-decker bus service. By the 1950s the town had 45 major chemical factories.

Widnes culture & places

The Queens Hall opened in 1957, it was originally Victoria Road Weslyan Methodist Chapel. It was in use as a theatre and concert hall until the opening of The Brindley in Runcorn in 2004. Adjacent to the hall, in Lacey Street, is the Queen’s Hall Studio.

Widnes landmarks

The Silver Jubilee Bridge is a Grade II listed structure with Historic England. It was opened in 1961 and crosses to Runcorn. For many years it was the only crossing of the River Mersey West of Warrington. In 2017 the new Mersey Gateway bridge was opened to relieve congestion at the older bridge.

Widnes geography / climate

Widnes is situated on the north bank of the River Mersey. The whole town is low-lying with some slightly higher areas in Farnworth and Appleton. Drainage of the Widnes area is into the Mersey via Ditton, Steward’s and Bower’s Brooks.

You can visit Widnes places with Walkfo Widnes to hear history at Widnes’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Widnes has 51 places to visit in our interactive Widnes 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 Widnes, 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 Widnes places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Widnes & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 51 audio facts unique to Widnes places in an interactive Widnes map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Widnes Places Map
51 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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

  

Best Widnes places to visit

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

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Visit Widnes plaques