Liverpool Parks and Gardens

(Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK)



There are more than a handful of green spaces awaiting visitors to the city of Liverpool. These come in the form of large public parks with recreational facilities, important nature reserves, spacious golf courses and structured landscaped gardens boasting sizeable plant collections and horticultural excellence.

Located on the south-eastern side of central Liverpool, the Princes Park has been awarded a Grade-II* status by English Heritage and was opened to the general public way back in 1842, becoming the property of Liverpool City Council may years later, in 1918. Also Grade-II* listed, neighbouring Sefton Park resides within the Mossley Hill area, alongside the neighbourhoods of Aigburth and Toxteth, and covers an enormous space of approximately 235 acres / 95 hectares.

Close to Liverpool are many further similar offerings, such as the Ness Botanic Gardens at nearby Neston, which were created at the end of the 19th century by local cotton merchant Arthur Kilpin Bulley and lie close to the northern Welsh border. The late-winter snowdrop walks are a major highlight here, with more than 60 different species of snowdrops to admire.


Liverpool Parks and Gardens

Sefton Park

Address: Sefton Park Drive, Liverpool, Merseyside, L17 1AP, England
Tel: +44 (0)151 225 5925
Just ten minutes to the south-east of central Liverpool, Sefton Park dates from the 1870s. The famous three-tiered palm house is a prominent focal point and is traditionally Victorian in style, being built towards the end of the 19th century and filled with exotics. Also of note is the grotto named Old Nick's Caves, the Shaftesbury Memorial and the large lake, where small groups of terrapins have been spotted sunning themselves in recent years, although nobody is quite sure who released them here, and when.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Ness Botanic Gardens

Address: Environmental Research Station, Neston, Wirral, Merseyside, CH64 4AY, England
Tel: +44 (0)151 353 0123
The Ness Botanic Gardens feature more than 60 acres / 24 hectares of beautiful landscaping, with mature trees, shrubs, flowers, a gift shop, a visitors' centre, a playground and a café. There are conservation areas, wildlife gardens and lots of events staged here throughout the year, including snowdrop walks during the late winter / early spring, floral exhibitions and photo competitions. The onsite Roses Tea Room provides some tasty homemade food, ranging from hearty breakfasts to afternoon teas.
Open hours: daily, March to October - 09:30 to 17:00, November to February - 09:30 to 16:00
Admission: charge, children are free

Liverpool Parks and Gardens

Calderstones Park

Address: Calderstones Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, L18 6HS, England
Tel: +44 (0)151 225 5925
Calderstones Park is situated in the Allerton area, some 15 minutes to the south-east, being an impressive parkland with many large areas of grass. Attractions comprise a playground area, sports facilities, a fishing lake and mature gardens, including stunning Japanese-themed landscaping with numerous oriental statues and lanterns. Close by, the Geoffrey Hughes Memorial Ground serves as a useful point of reference.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Clarkes Gardens

Address: Springwood Avenue, Liverpool, Merseyside, L25 7UN, England
Tel: +44 (0)151 494 2664
A public park sited within the southerly Allerton district, nearby the Springwood Cemetery, Clarkes Gardens provides a peaceful spot to relax, close to Menlove Avenue (A562). Families will appreciate the children's zoo, the picnic spots and the playground.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 23:00
Admission: free

Newsham Park

Address: Sheil Road, Liverpool, Merseyside, L6 7UR, England
Tel: +44 (0)151 225 5925
Newsham Park is just 3 miles / 5 km to the east of the city centre, where it features sports fields, jogging trails, seating areas and a number of seasonal festivals. There is a large lake here, which is always popular with fisherman. This spacious Victorian parkland opened way back in the 1860s and covers slightly more than 120 acres / 49 hectares. Notable buildings resident within the grounds include both the Newsham Park Hospital (formerly the Seaman's Orphanage) and Newsham House.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Princes Park

Address: Princes Avenue, Liverpool, Merseyside, L8 2TA, England
Tel: +44 (0)151 227 3911
Covering roughly 110 acres / 45 hectares, Princes Park was founded in the mid-19th century, becoming the city's very first public parkland. Highlights include seating areas, wide pathways suitable for jogging and cycling, a playground area for children, a spreading fishing lake, seating areas and mature trees.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to dusk
Admission: free



Walton Hall Gardens

Address: Walton Lea Road, Higher Walton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA44 6SN, England
Tel: +44 (0)1925 601617
The grand 19th-century country house of Walton Hall is a Grade-II listed building owned and maintained by Warrington Borough Council. Just over a 30-minute drive from the city, the estate includes some beautifully planted gardens, a gift shop and a café. Also onsite is a fun miniature 'crazy' golf course, pitch and putt, a bowling green and a small petting zoo, complete with peacocks, pygmy goats, Shetland ponies, rabbits, ferrets and pot-bellied pigs. Chamber music recitals are often held in the hall, being organised by the Friends of Walton Hall Music Society.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to dusk
Admission: free

Croxteth Hall and Country Park

Address: Muirhead Avenue East, Liverpool, Merseyside, L12 1EL, England
Tel: +44 (0)151 228 5311
Situated in the north-easterly Croxteth suburb, just under 6 miles / 10 km from central Liverpool, Croxteth Hall and Country Park is a grand estate with a number of landscaped gardens, a large woodland area and some wildlife trails. Children will appreciate the playground and the miniature railway rides, as well as the picnic sites and gift shop goodies. This country estate was gifted to the city in 1972, with the house itself dating back to the late 16th century and comprising Tudor and Queen Anne architectural styles.
Open hours: daily - 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and families

Otterspool Park

Address: Otterspool Drive, Liverpool, Merseyside, L17 5AL, England
Tel: +44 (0)151 225 5925
Otterspool Park lies close to the city's trendy Albert Docks, where it is known for its sports and kite-flying. Featuring large expanses of open-grassland, picnic areas, cycling trails and benches, there are also a number of highly regarded public houses serving food nearby, should you be here at lunchtime and fancy some hearty pub grub.
Open hours: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free

Wirral Country Park

Address: Thurstaston Visitor Centre, Station Road, Wirral, Merseyside, L61 OHN, England
Tel: +44 (0)151 648 4371
The Wirral Country Park is an important wildlife haven and is home to an enormous quantity of indigenous animals. Located in the Wirral area, roughly a 20-minute drive to the south-west, visitors will find woodland walks and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. The park was officially established in the early 1970s and comes with two visitor centres sited on the Wirral Way. Keen ramblers may like to check out the Wirral Coastal Walk, which connects Seacombe with the Thurstaston Country Park and stretches for around 15 miles / 24 km.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Formby Pinewoods

Address: Lifeboat Road, Formby, Liverpool, Merseyside, L37 1LJ, England
Tel: +44 (0)1704 878591
Situated next to the Freshfield Squirrel Reserve, the impressive Formby Pinewoods are owned and managed by the National Trust. This coastal wildlife reserve features many endangered species of plants and animals, along with guided trails, woodland areas and impressive views.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk

Freshfield Squirrel Reserve

Address: Victoria Road, Freshfield, Formby, Merseyside, L37 1LJ, England
Tel: +44 (0)1704 878591
The Freshfield Squirrel Reserve resides on the northerly outskirts of Liverpool, being some 13 miles / 21 km away and situated in nearby Formby. One of the few homes of the red squirrel in this country, the reserve is maintained by the National Trust and features many tame red squirrels, as well as other more typical wildlife. Keen golfers may like to check out the neighbouring Formby Golf Club, while families often head to the beach after their squirrel encounters.
Open hours: daily - dawn to dusk
Admission: free

Delamere Forest

Address: Hatchmere Road, Warrington, Cheshire, WA6 6NL, England
Tel: +44 (0)127 061 0180
Delamere Forest is roughly a 45-minute drive to the south-east of the city, being located just past Kingsley and close to Cuddington. Attractions include vast woodland areas, a gift shop, walking trails, seasonal events, stunning views of the surrounding countryside and picnic areas next to Blakemere Lake. Avid birdwatchers regularly come here, looking for greater spotted woodpeckers.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 18:00
Admission: free