Located on the northern bank of the River Mersey, Widnes is a historic industrial town between Liverpool and Manchester. After a chemical factory was established at Spike Island in 1847, the town experienced rapid growth and became a major hub for the chemical industry. Today, Widnes is home to the United Kingdom’s only museum dedicated solely to chemistry.
Things to do in Widnes
Don’t miss the Widnes Town Hall, a Grade II-listed building designed in a Renaissance style in the 1880s. It’s a short stroll from the Kingsway Leisure Centre, where you’ll find a 25-metre swimming pool, sporting courts and a gym. Also nearby is the home ground of the Widnes Vikings and a museum dedicated to the history of rugby league in the town.
Travelling with kids? Be sure to spend an afternoon at Catalyst, an interactive science museum that focuses on the world of chemistry. It’s home to more than 18 interactive exhibits, an observatory and a theatre where live science demonstrations take place. Catalyst lies alongside Spike Island’s riverside park, which features bird-filled wetlands, waterfront trails and remnants of the area’s industrial past.
A short drive across the Mersey Gateway Bridge will take you to the Norton Priory, which preserves the remains of an abbey that dates back to the 12th century. Its excavated ruins and 18th-century country house are now open to the public as a museum. A highlight of the complex is the walled garden with its Grade II-listed icehouse.
Getting around Widnes
Widnes is around 30 minutes’ drive from the centre of Liverpool and 15 minutes from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Widnes railway station, which is around five minutes’ drive from the town centre.