Birkenhead Park is a Grade I listed public space in Birkenhead. It opened in 1847 and was England’s first publicly funded park. It was designed by Joseph Paxton, best known for The Crystal Palace, and provided the inspiration for New York’s famous Central Park.
Interesting features include the Swiss Bridge, a covered wooden bridge crossing the park’s lake, a charming Roman Boathouse with terracotta roof, and a magnificent neo-classical Grand Entrance.
A £11 million pound restoration, completed in 2008, saw the park restored to its Victorian glory and the addition of a modern visitor centre with café and exhibition space.
Facilities at the park include tennis courts, bowling greens, a children’s adventure playground, rugby and football pitches, and a lake for fishing (an Association of Wirral Angling Clubs permit is required). Birkenhead Park Cricket Club, Birkenhead St Mary’s Cricket Club, and Birkenhead Park FC rugby club play their fixtures here.
The park provides an urban sanctuary for many species of wildlife. Creatures here include the tawny owl and Daubenton’s bat.
Birkenhead Park also hosts a number of events during the year including Wirral Council’s free public fireworks display on Bonfire Night and Birkenhead Festival of Transport in September.
Merseyrail’s Birkenhead Park train station is close to the Ashville Road entrance to the park and offers frequent services to Birkenhead town centre and Liverpool city centre.
Visitors arriving by car can input the postcode CH41 4HY into their satellite navigation system.
