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Looking for the best things to do in Wirral, specifically Birkenhead? Birkenhead and neighbouring Oxton pack in more history, culture, and character than many realise. This corner of the peninsula boasts world-famous heritage, award-winning galleries, thriving independent businesses, and some of the region's nicest places to eat. Here's our guide to the essential attractions worth your time.
1. Birkenhead Park
There's a strong case that this Grade I listed landscape changed urban planning forever. Opened in 1847 and designed by Joseph Paxton, Birkenhead Park was the world's first publicly funded park, because its influence stretches across the Atlantic.
Frederick Law Olmsted visited in 1850 and went on to design Central Park in New York, drawing heavily on what he saw here. The CEO of Central Park famously said in 2013 during his visit, “Without Birkenhead Park, there would be no Central Park and without Central Park, there would be no New York City.”
Covering 140 acres, the park features lakes, woodlands, and meadows alongside Victorian architectural gems, including the Swiss Bridge, Roman Boathouse, and Grand Entrance Gateway.
The visitor centre and café are open daily from 9:00 am to 4 pm. The park underwent an £11.8 million restoration in 2002. Free to enter and open around the clock, it remains very much a 'park for the people'.
2. Birkenhead Priory & St Mary's Tower
Founded around 1150, this Benedictine monastery is the oldest standing building on Merseyside. Really, it's a remarkable survivor sitting among shipyards and industrial buildings on the banks of the Mersey.
The monks here supervised the first regulated ferry crossing to Liverpool for nearly 400 years, and the site was visited twice by Edward I due to its strategic importance near the Welsh border.
The medieval Chapter House features a stunning vaulted roof and original Norman window embrasures, while St Mary's Tower and what remains of Birkenhead's first parish church offer panoramic views of Liverpool and Cammell Laird shipyard from its 101 steps.
The tower now serves as a memorial to the 99 men lost on the submarine Thetis which sank in 1939 in Liverpool Bay.
3. Williamson Art Gallery & Museum
Tucked away on Slatey Road on the edge of Oxton village, this purpose-built gallery has been at the heart of Wirral's cultural life since opening in 1928.
Funded by Cunard director John Williamson and his son Patrick, the Neo-Georgian building houses an impressive collection, including Victorian oil paintings, English watercolours, and Liverpool porcelain.
It's home to the UK's largest public collection of Della Robbia pottery. This is Birkenhead's own contribution to the Arts and Crafts movement. Maritime history enthusiasts will appreciate the extensive ship model collection focusing on Cammell Laird shipbuilders and Mersey Ferries.
Admission is free, with a vibrant programme of temporary exhibitions and a café on site. The building is fully accessible on one level and has an upcoming Paul O' Grady exhibit in the winter, among other exciting ones.
4. Future Yard
Argyle Street is home to one of the most exciting grassroots music venues in the UK. Future Yard opened in 2020 with a mission to shape a new music future for Birkenhead, and it's delivered.
It has hosted artists from Doves and OMD to Black Country New Road and The Coral. The 280-capacity venue includes artist rehearsal rooms, a bar serving locally sourced Neapolitan-style pizza, and runs Sound Check, a free training programme introducing young people to careers in the live music industry.
In March 2026, work began on their second performance space for the outdoor garden area, bringing in 12 more studio and teaching spaces.
5. Hamilton Square & The Hamilton Quarter
This Georgian gem was designed by Edinburgh architect James Gillespie Graham as part of an ambitious plan to create a new town rivalling the Scottish capital.
Though the wider scheme never materialised, Hamilton Square remains stunning. It features a huge selection of Grade I listed buildings and has the largest concentration outside London.
At its centre stands Birkenhead Town Hall, completed in 1887 in Scottish granite and local sandstone. The square is home to the Birkenhead War Memorial and Queen Victoria Monument, with gardens that were opened to the public in 1903. Several independent pubs surround the square, and Hamilton Square railway station provides easy connections across the Wirral Line to Liverpool, with the train ride being five minutes to Lime Street, if that!
6. Oxton Village
This Victorian conservation area pre-dates Birkenhead and retains genuine village character; it's just that charming.
Once home to wealthy Liverpool and Wirral merchants, Oxton's sandstone and brick houses line leafy streets radiating from a compact commercial centre at the junction of Village Road, Rose Mount, and Claughton Firs.
The area is now home to restaurants, independent shops, cafés, and bars – including Merseyside's only Michelin-starred restaurant, Daise by Tony Parkin. Daise will set you back a pretty penny, but it hosts a tasting menu experience that changes per season.
The village's name derives from Old Norse, meaning 'a farm where oxen are kept'. Well-preserved 19th-century architecture and a thriving community of independent businesses make it worth an afternoon's exploration. It's also very desirable, so you know, take a trip.
7. Visit The Refreshment Rooms (One of Birko's best)
Perched on the waterfront in Rock Ferry, The Refreshment Rooms is one of Wirral’s most distinctive dining spots, occupying a historic building that originally served passengers using the cross-Mersey ferry route in the 19th century.
Dating back to at least the 1820s, the venue combines period charm with sweeping views across the River Mersey towards Liverpool. After years of operating as The Admiral pub, it was restored and reopened under its original name in 2012, with many original features preserved, including historic photographs and reclaimed fittings from notable Liverpool landmarks.
