The Alternative Cross River Charms Of Birkenhead

[hamilton_square]

Re the possible advantages of Birkenhead, as opposed to those of Central Liverpool, as a visitor / tourist base.

And, looking to further expand on Larry Wassgren and Geoff Hogarth’s recent observation, made over on the Iron Door Forum that the competing charms of Birkenhead could well prove an alternative and somewhat more economical base of operations, to that of Liverpool, for more independently minded North American visitors to the Merseyside area. For while not wishing to discriminate against Britain’s European neighbours, given the present circumstances, the more sensitive economic issue of current USA and Canadian Dollar exchange-rate weakness against that of UK Sterling takes on a higher profile to that of the Euro.

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At the cheap (although, I don’t exactly know how cheap) end of the Bed & Breakfast accommodation league, below might be worth taking a look at for those wishing to explore the Birkenhead option further.

http://www.britinfo.net/bed-and-breakfasts/TAJLS10000.htm

To the best of my knowledge, there are a fair few of these similar type establishments dotted along the Rock Ferry section of the New Chester Road before it enters Birkenhead proper. The trick is to find one close or near enough to the Rock Ferry Merseyrail terminal for ease of transportation reasons. One never knows, it might worth the cost of a couple of snail-mail postage stamps to find out more info.

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Public Birkenhead-Liverpool transport links:

For foot passenger cross-river ferries go to –
http://www.merseyferries.co.uk

Click on appropriate Timetable, Prices, etc. tabs for further information.

Note - from Birkenhead one takes the ferry leaving from Woodside to Liverpool’s Pier Head terminal. Also, no need to book tickets in advance, unless for specially organised river cruises, just pay as you go.

For the under-river urban electric train network go to –
http://www.merseyrail.org

For a print-off plan of the local rail network go to -
http://www.merseyrail.org/documents/NetworkMap.pdf

Note – when travelling from any of the Birkenhead-side stations, get off at James Street (nearest station to both Temple and Mathew Streets) or Liverpool Central (for city-centre shopping). At peak times there are trains going either way every 20 minutes, off-peak the time gap widens to every 30 minutes. The network closes down at midnight and opens up again come 6am.

If ones first point of Merseyside arrival is Liverpool’s John Lennon airport, then between the hours of 5am and midnight catch the Arriva Bus 500 shuttle service from directly outside the airport’s arrivals exit and make it known you want to get off at James Street – current adult fare £2
http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/__80256E280053B5B6.nsf/vWeb/wpANWO6DEC6U?Open

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Possible Money Saving Tips –

If funds are an issue, avoid the temptation of taking too many taxi rides; due to rising road tax, insurance costs and high fuel prices, Liverpool black cabs are not cheap. However, if one gets marooned on the wrong side of the river (without a car) after midnight, then unless one wants to hang around until 6 the following morning waiting for Merseyrail to kick-off again, a taxi will be the only opinion for getting to one’s bed at a reasonable hour.

While on the question of “tips”. It’s not general British custom and practice to tip for services rendered. A well meaning ‘thank you very much’ is a sufficient display of appreciation, albeit with one specific qualification. When in a public house [pub] and if feeling so inclined, though, it’s by no means obligatory. Before being instructed how much needs to be forthcoming, one may say to the bar person who is taking the order, something along the lines of, “And while you’re at it, take for a drink yourself.” Don’t be then offended if the bar person proceeds to put an appropriate amount of one’s change in the likes of a designated pint-sized receptacle visibly located behind the bar. For when business as been concluded for the night and the doors have been shut to the general public, the resulting amount collected is normally the bar staff’s after-hours drinking money.

If intending to go on a day’s walkabout of the sights, before setting off and in an effort to keep drinking and eating costs under control. Get yourself to the nearest Supermarket (more than likely it’ll be TESCOs) and load up with some of their own-brand range of beer and soft drinks together with maybe an assortment of fresh fruit, crisps [potato chips], individual meat pies, pre-packed rolls, sandwiches and in-store bakery products for a day’s sustenance.

For all you smokers, I have no idea what the price a packet of ‘ciggies’ costs on the other side of the Atlantic but here in the UK, depending on the brand, we are currently paying £5 sterling and change for a legal packet of 20. So, if one can buy them cheaper elsewhere – bring your own.

Money Changing – well-known chains of high street travel agencies, as opposed to recognised banks, generally offer a more competitive service when changing relatively small amounts. Look for displayed nil-commission deals at the likes of Thomas Cook Travel and surprisingly, large General Post Office outlets. If asked, you’ll need to show a passport as means of ID when exchanging non-Euro currencies for Sterling.

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A further additional factor that a stay in Birkenhead presents to the visitor is easy transport links to other non-Liverpool areas of possible welcome diversionary attraction. Being previously local to the area, I have a particular fondness for the historically unique social experiment that is Port Sunlight. As one can see from the above local Merseyrail network PDF map, the village of Port Sunlight is located on the main Birkenhead to Chester line.

http://www.portsunlightvillage.com

And, let’s not forget the ‘olde-worlde’ atmosphere of the City of Chester itself. Whose foundation dates from a long ago time before the establishment of Britain’s far-flung colonies and the resulting trading evolution of both Liverpool and Birkenhead as important twin seaports. If one is at all interested in what an English Public House [Pub] should be, then go to Chester. For within the historic city walls are some of the finest examples of these types of drinking establishments.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester

[13_temple_street]

Nice work Peter,I think also there is a double decker bus service through the Kingsway Tunnel which takes you to and fro underneath the River Mersey.NICE ONE PETER.

[hamilton_square]

Geoff – thanks for pointing that out. I knew there was a regular bus service going through the Tunnel but I had problems ferreting out the exact hypertext page link to the timetable so, I gave mention of it a miss. Had another go at it today and finally came up with this monster of a string.

http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/__80256E280053B5B6.nsf/vWeb/wpDNOS65CK6C?Open&region=North%20West%20and%20Wales&town=Liverpool

To be negative, in comparison to cross-river Merseyrail services, this Arriva 437 bus route is only of real benefit for one-stop Liverpool City Centre bound passengers travelling from and to the West Birkenhead districts of Greasby and West Kirby.

However, to be positive, it does focus accommodation attention on the charms of West Kirby and vistas across the River Dee to Flintshire’s North Wales shoreline - and in particular on this B&B below.

http://www.iknow-northwest.co.uk/accommodation/9891-21_park_house-wirral.htm

While, not knowing anything about this hostelry, I most certainly know Park Road, West Kirby and the adjoining Ashton Park. Turn left or right out of either end of Park Road and walk a further 250 yards onto Grange Road and one is near directly on top of the combined West Kirby Merseyrail and Arriva Bus terminuses.

A quick check of the Merseyrail search engine tells me 35 minutes is the scheduled travelling time between West Kirby and Liverpool Central while the bus should get one there some 15 minutes slower. Going south towards either Port Sunlight or Chester and from West Kirby it’s change at Hamilton Square [Birkenhead].