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Birkenhead Park

Park Drive, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 4HY

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About this venue

On Easter Monday 1847, the gates were opened to the very first publicly funded park in the world. Designed by Sir Joseph Paxton - Birkenhead Park was created to be the People's Garden - a place where the lowliest peasant to the British Monarch could stand together to enjoy a piece of the countryside in the middle of the city. In 1850, Fredrick Law Olmstead visited the park and with its inspiration, then went on to design and create what is arguably the most famous public park in the world - Central Park New York. In 2004 Birkenhead Park underwent an £11.8million restoration return it to its former glory. Today, Birkenhead Park is a Grade I listed landscape and carries the prestigious Green Heritage Award. It caters for all visitors with a number of sports such as Football, Cricket, Bowls, Angling and cycling, as well a visitors centre and access to some of the original structures around the park.

Access Guide

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Introduction

Birkenhead Park

  • Birkenhead Park was the world's first publicly funded park.
  • It was designed in 1847 by Joseph Paxton with the aim of creating a 'park for the people'.

Opening Times

  • The venue is open 24hrs.

Location

  • There is a bus stop within 150m (164yds) of the venue.
  • The nearest National Rail station is Birkenhead Park.
  • Comments View
    • Bus stops are located on Park Road North, Park Road South and Park Road West.
    • The photograph shows the bus stops near the Park Road South entrance.

Parking

  • The venue does not have its own car park.

Temporary Changes to Parking as of January 2024

  • There is currently no parking available on Park Drive.
  • Visitors will instead be required to park on the roads outside of the park (Park Roads North, South, East, West, Cavendish Road and Ashville Road).

Access Point (Main Entrance - Park Road North)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located at the junction of Park Road North and Park Road East.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is step-free access at this access point.
    • There is a gate which opens away from you (push).
    • The gate is permanently held open.
    • The width of the gap is 138cm.
    • As of September 2023, the road access gates are permanently shut. Access is via the pedestrian gates either side only.
  • Comments View
    • There are two pedestrian entrances either side of the driveway.
    • There is level access, however, the path leading up to the entrance is cobbled and may not suitable for wheelchair users without assistance.

Access Point (Park Road East)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located on Park Road East.
    • There is not an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is step-free access at this access point.
    • There is a gate which opens away from you (push).
    • The gate is permanently held open.
    • There are bollards at this access point.
    • A bollard inside the entrance narrows the width to 100cm.
      As of September 2023, access is via the pedestrian side gates only.

Access Point (Ashville Road - Lower Park)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located on Ashville Road.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is step-free access at this access point.
    • There is a gate which opens away from you (push).
    • The gate is permanently held open.
    • As of September 2023, access is via the pedestrian side gates only.

Access Point (Ashville Road - Upper Park)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located on Ashville Road.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
    • There is a gate which opens away from you (push).
    • The gate is permanently held open.
    • As of September 2023, access is via the pedestrian side gates only.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located on the pathway leading to and beyond the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.

Access Point (Park Road North)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located on Park Road North.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is step-free access at this access point.
    • There is a gate which opens away from you (push).
    • The gate is permanently held open.
    • The pathway beyond this entrance leads up to the park and the visitor centre.

Access Point (Park Road South)

  • Access Point View
    • This information is for the access point located on Park Road South.
    • There is an information board/map at this access point.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this access point.
    • There is a gate which opens away from you (push).
    • The gate is permanently held open.
    • The are two pedestrian entrances either side of the driveway.
      The access point here gives access to the park and the cricket pavilion to the right beyond the entrance.
      As of September 2023, access is via the pedestrian side gates only.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located on the footpath leading to and beyond the entrance.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.

Park Entrances

  • The park is accessible from a number of different directions, with over 10 pedestrian access gates and 4 regular vehicle access gates (2 each for the upper and lower parks).
  • Additional vehicle access gates are opened during specific events to allow for a greater level of access.

Parks and Gardens

  • The park or garden does have footpaths.
  • The path(s) has a / have tarmac surface(s).
  • The majority of the path(s) is / are wide enough for wheelchair users.
  • There are moderate, slight and steep slopes on the paths.
  • There are bench seats situated along the paths for people to rest.

Activities

  • Activities within the park include a children's playground, football pitches, bowling greens, fitness trail and two lakes for fishing.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • The nearest accessible toilet is located within the Birkenhead Park Visitors Centre.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • The nearest standard toilet is located within the Birkenhead Park Visitors Centre.