Birkenhead Park

Vehicle access to Birkenhead Park is temporarily restricted to emergency services and park staff only, to protect the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

Opening hours

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

View on a map

Visitor Centre

Open 9am to 4:30pm, seven days a week
Closed 25 and 26 December and 1 January

Accessibility for people with disabilities

Full accessibility information about Birkenhead Park can be viewed on the Accessable website.

The PDF file below may not be suitable to view for people with disabilities, users of assistive technology or mobile phone devices.

Birkenhead Park access statement (PDF, 5MB)

Facilities and things to do

visitor centre with café
children’s playground and play boulder
two lakes available for angling - permit required
grade 1 historic landscape
Swiss bridge, Roman boathouse and grand entrance
football pitches and bowling greens
fitness trail
public toilets and baby changing in visitor centre
beautiful woodland walks

Reasons to visit

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

Birkenhead was a major influence on Frederick Law Olmsted's design of Central Park, New York. The two parks are closely linked and during a visit to Birkenhead Park, Doug Blonsky, CEO of Central Park Conservancy, referred to it as the ‘father’ park to the famous Manhattan green space.

Visit Birkenhead Park's website

Volunteering

The Friends of Birkenhead Park works in partnership with Wirral Council to ensure that the park is well maintained and preserved for future generations.

Find out more about the Friends and the volunteering opportunities that they offer.

Contact us

Birkenhead Park Visitor Centre
Park Drive
Birkenhead
Wirral
CH41 4HY