Liverpool - A Walk in the Park ( South )

There are many green spaces in our city and outlying boroughs where one can sit and reflect either in the city centre or perhaps take a longer walk through parks and gardens which can take you from the city to the airport. Here are just some of the main attractions on a southern trek to Speke.

Walton Hall Park

Walton Hall Park is a 130-acre park containing two lakes which was opened to the public on the 18th of July 1934 by King George V when he visited Liverpool to open the Queensway Tunnel. The origins of the park date back to Henry de Walton, steward of the West Derby hundred in 1199. 

Stanley Park

Stanley Park is a 110 acres park designed by Edward Kemp, which was opened on the 14th of May 1870 by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joseph Hubback. It is significant among Liverpool's parks on account of its layout and architecture and is famous for dividing the home grounds of Liverpool and Everton Football clubs.

Everton Park

Everton Park  is the eye over the city of Liverpool with 40 hectares of green, open space just to the north of Liverpool city centre. Only a short distance from the city centre, it has unbeatable views of the city, docks, river and sea. It's a modern park containing the hidden gem that is Everton Park Nature Garden and also has lots of historical points of interest, including the famous lock-up featured on the crest of Everton Football Club.

Newsham Park

Newsham Park is set in 121 acres and this Grade II listed Victorian park is surrounded by fine period architecture and fishing lakes with roach, carp and tench. The Grade II listed Newsham House is where Queen Victoria once stayed and is now used as Judges lodgings.

Wavertree Botanic Garden

 

Wavertree Botanic Garden is a lovely 19th century public park with a walled botanic garden and a Grade II listed curator's lodge. Here you get a feel of the garden that once played a central role in the recreational and cultural life of Liverpool, before the destruction of the great glasshouses during World War 2.

Wavertree Playground

 

Wavertree Playground - This 104 acre park was given to Liverpool Corporation in 1895 by an anonymous city well-wisher — the reason why it is affectionately known as 'The Mystery'. Later, it was discovered the mystery donor was Philip H. Holt whose family fortunes were made from the shipping trade, and who also owned the Sudley Estate. 

Princes Park

Princes Park is a 45 hectare municipal park and a classic example of a Victorian park with a serpentine lake and a circular carriage drive. It was designed by Joseph Paxton and James Pennethorne in 1842. The plan was drawn by John Robertson and Edward Milner supervised the work.  

Sefton Park

Sefton Park is arguably the best known and most loved by locals. Classified as a Grade One listed park by English Heritage, the magnificent 200-acre Park looks like a natural landscape rather than a man-made park. Amongst the park's many features are a boating lake, replica statues of Eros and Peter Pan and a café. The park is also home to the famous Palm House, a fabulous glass-panelled building that has been restored to its former glory. 

Greenbank Park

Greenbank Park is a small but beautiful, tranquil park with an elegant, placid lake. Boasting mature trees and conservation area with a stone bridge at the northern end of the park it also has the dual distinction of having the first of the Old English Gardens in Liverpool’s Parks, and the first Boating Lake. The walled garden is all that remains of the Rathbone family's estate on the park. It is also home to The Watering Can, one of Liverpool's most popular Café Bistros.

Calderstone Park - Secret Garden

  

Calderstone Park is a stunning 94-acre family park in South Liverpool boasting woodland, lake and fields (and a one thousand year old oak tree), and beautiful Japanese and old English gardens. It is home to ancient megaliths that are said to be older than Stonehenge and incorporates the Harthill Botanical Gardens, founded in 1802. Almost 4000 species of plants are on show, brought from all over the world by merchants and other travellers.

Reynolds Park - Walled Garden

 

Reynolds Park is an award-winning park in Woolton that takes its name as the legacy of the Reynolds family. James Reynolds was a wealthy cotton broker, owning not only Reynolds Park but also a Welsh castle and Levens Hall, Cumbria. It features a stunning walled garden, a yew garden, informal woodland areas and rhododendron-lined paths. The walled garden is something of a hidden gem and a peaceful spot for families, dog-walkers and anyone wanting fresh air and a lovely view.

Woolton Woods & Camp Hill

 

Woolton Woods/Camp Hill is a wooded park in the city's leafy suburb. Woolton Woods formed part of the estate of Woolton Hall, which from 1772 was owned by the Ashton family, well known prominent Liverpool citizens. In the 1850s, ownership of the estate passed to William Shand and by 1870s the Gaskell family were resident at Woolton Hall. The Floral Cuckoo Clock in the Old Walled Garden was presented to the public in 1927 by the family of James Bellhouse Gaskell in memory of his connection with Woolton Wood.

Otterspool Promenade

Otterspool - The Promenade is a stunning riverside walk and accompanying area of parkland in South Liverpool.  With beautiful views across the River Mersey, the promenade is an ideal place to go for a stroll, walk the dog, cycle or kite flying. Venture inland to explore the wooded parts of the park and enjoy the children's playground, the adventure centre, the skate park and the café.

 

Speke & Garston Coastal Reserve Trail

 

Speke and Garston Coastal Reserve consists of 70 acres of land stretching from Garston Docks to Liverpool John Lennon Airport on the banks of the Mersey Estuary. With panoramic views across the estuary, it's a great location for walking, sailing, bird watching, cycling and plane spotting.

Hale Head Lighthouse

 

Hale Park is one of Merseyside's loveliest places when the sun shines, with views over to Wirral and the Welsh mountains beyond. With the options of Hale village where a giant rests, a Lighthouse sitting on a sandstone cliff overlooking the beaches and saltmarsh of the river that looks like it should be in Alaska, or take a path up the shoreline behind the airport and see remains of second world war defences. Beautiful no matter the weather.