Birkenhead Park

Birkenhead Park is a public park covering roughly 81 hectares in Birkenhead, England, containing lakes, wooded areas, grassland sections, and walking paths. Several decorative bridges link the different sections of the grounds together.

The grounds opened in 1847 as the first public park in Britain financed entirely through municipal funds. This funding method marked a turning point in British urban planning and set a new standard for public green spaces.

The influence of this place reaches across the Atlantic, where an American landscape architect studied the layout of paths and water before creating his most famous project. Today visitors walk the same routes laid out over 170 years ago, still following their original form.

The paths through the grounds suit walking and jogging, and the lakes offer opportunities for boating. Most Wednesday mornings see guided tours starting from the main entrance at no charge.

Seven entrance lodges surround the grounds, each built in a different architectural style and classified as examples of Victorian design. The cricket club on the grounds was founded in 1846, making it one of the oldest still active clubs of its kind in England.

Location: Birkenhead

Inception: April 5, 1847

GPS coordinates: 53.39300,-3.04100

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:26