From Bob Allan, Warrington, Cheshire.
Keep browsing down this page, or click on the content entries here. We think you will find there is a lot to see and do! Why not stay for a whle?
| At and around the Venue | Car oriented | Wirral | Liverpool | Chester | Manchester | |
| Southport | Blackpool | Morecambe | N. Wales | Lake District |
Click on this link to find out...
MerseyFlow operate the Mersey toll bridges. This includes the new
Mersey Gateway as well as the historic Silver Jubilee Bridge.
You can register on the Web site or pay when you cross. But if you
don't pay by midnight on the day you cross you will receive a
penalty notice!
More
information here
The Mersey Kingsway and Queensway tunnels also require payment of a toll. This can be by card or mobile at the tunnel entrance. Cost = £2.10 each tunnel, cash payment is also accepted. More information here. The road tunnels are owned and operated by MerseyTravel, and have their own police force, the Mersey Tunnels Police.
After all, we are a car club!
The Wirral is a unique peninsula with a long history, from the first
Ferry 'cross the Mersey (rowed by monks) to William Lever's
soap factory and the first trams. It straddles the beautiful dairy
country of Cheshire and Merseyside.
The Wirral peninsula, separated from Liverpool by the River Mersey, is
a place of contrasts; from the hustle and bustle of Birkenhead with
its ferries and historic warships, shopping precincts, markets,
galleries and museums to Wirral Country Park where badgers and foxes
hunt and the hedgerows are alive with butterflies in the summer.
You can stroll along the promenades at West Kirby, Hoylake or New
Brighton and breathe in the fresh coastal air, or head for the 60ft
high boulder clay cliffs and look out over the Dee Estuary. You can smell
the tang of the sea and sand, feel the sea breeze and, if you're
patient and observant, maybe catch a glimpse of a magnificent
peregrine falcon hunting the banks for an un-suspecting redshank or one
of many species of waders found in this tranquil haven.
But don't forget the Beatles trail and other local amenities!
It takes around 20 minutes to get into Liverpool, one of the
world's greatest cities of the 19th Century which leaves an impressive
legacy of some of the grandest architecture in the country.
King John granted a Royal Charter to Liverpool in 1207, creating a
city now known World wide as the birthplace of The Beatles and the
home of Liverpool and Everton football clubs. Liverpool was once the "Second City
of the Empire", even eclipsing London for commerce at times.
The miles of docks bore witness to cargoes from around the globe and
the mass migration of peoples from all over Europe to the New World.
In the United Kingdom, Liverpool has a reputation second to none as a
unique place to visit and enjoy. It was named European City of Culture
2008 on 1st June.
The City of Chester dates from the time of the Roman occupation of Britain c.AD70. A number of buildings from the Middle Ages still remain. At this time, c. 13th Century, the City was walled and fortified with a Castle overlooking the River Dee. It is the largest remaining city in England to have a twin-level walkway, known as The Rows, dating from the 14th Century and originally used by traders.
The area around Northwich has been exploited for its salt pans since
Roman times, when the settlement was known as "Condate". The town has
been severely affected by salt mining, and subsidence has historically
been and still is a significant problem.
Delamere Forest provides a stunning setting for a family
adventure. Whether a leisurely wander through the trees, scaling the
heights at Go Ape, an adventure in the deep dark wood finding all
the sculptures from the Gruffalo story or enjoying a family bike ride.
Nantwich has among the highest concentrations of listed buildings in
England, with notably good examples of Tudor and Georgian
architecture.
Hack Green nuclear bunker, a few miles outside the town, is a
once government owned nuclear bunker, now a museum. The best kept
secret in the area?
Manchester and Liverool are the largest and most prominent cities in N.W. England. Long-time rivals, both are known for music, sport, art and famous teaching hospitals, music schools and universities as well as having grown out of the 17th Century industrial revolution. Manchester also has two football teams; United and City. Manchester has always been a heart of manufacturing whilst Liverpool complimented this with a huge and prosperous trading port. Many people in fact left from the Port of Liverpool to take up new lives in the USA.
The rapid growth of Southport largely coincided with the Industrial
Revolution and the Victorian era. Town attractions include Southport
Pier, the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British
Isles and Lord Street, an elegant tree lined shopping
street, unfortunately now somewhat down at heel.
Southport today is still one of the most popular seaside resorts in
the UK. It hosts various events, including an annual air show on and
over the beach and the largest independent flower show in the UK.
Blackpool rose to prominence as a major centre of tourism in
England when a railway was built in the 1840s connecting it to the
industrialised regions of northern England. The railway made it much
easier and cheaper for visitors todv reach Blackpool, triggering an
influx of settlers; in 1876, Blackpool was incorporated as a
borough governed by its own town council and aldermen. In 1881,
Blackpool was a booming resort with a population of 14,000 and a
promenade complete with piers, fortune tellers, public houses,
trams, donkey rides, fish and chip shops, and theatres.
TVR formerly produced sports cars at its Bispham factory employing 250
people. Blackpool was also the original site of Swallow Sidecar Company,
forerunner of Jaguar Cars.
Morecambe was a thriving seaside resort in the mid-20th century. It
was home to the largest Pontins resort in the country which
closed in 1993. Whilst the resort of Blackpool attracted
holiday makers predominantly from the Lancashire mill towns,
Morecambe had more visitors from Yorkshire (due to its railway
connection) and Scotland.
This gave Morecambe the nickname "Bradford on
Sea". Between 1956 and 1989, it was the home of the Miss
Great Britain beauty contest.
The town has well known connections to playright Alan Bennett and
comedian Eric Morecambe. It is also known for the Midland Hotel,
an art deco hotel on the seafront which contains interior design and
art pieces by artist Eric Gill.
There is so much to see and do in North Wales that I don't know where to start. Its only 30-80 miles to get to many interesting areas - a little further to Portmaddog, but well within reach of castles, slate mines, narrow gauge railways, beautiful countryside and wonderful holiday resorts.
Its only around 100 miles to get to the Lake District. An unusual, and very attractive area of England which is particularly sought after by tourists. Many low hills with lakes, each with their own special character, offer a great opportunity for a relaxing holiday and walking in the open air. Many people enjoy collecting "the Wainwrights". This time of year should be the best, as there can be a high rainfall!
Some photographs copyright Simon Jones, MELT Internet Design
Ltd. used with permission (company now dissolved).
Other royalty free images are from PixaBay.