Warrington

Warrington is in Cheshire. It is best known for its transport links, night life, shopping and industry. It lies within The Historic County Boundaries of Lancashire, with small parts in The Historic County Boundaries of Cheshire.

Warrington has had an industrial past, but nowadays, the town is more famed for its commercial areas. While it isn't high up on the list of places to go in the UK, most visitors who travel through/within the North West pass through it either on the motorway or the railway. It is worth a visit if you have a spare day, even if just to go shopping and wander around the town centre, although there are many more worthwhile places to visit in this area.

• Warrington Town Hall and Gates.
• Parish Church. some parts dating from 12th century. The church is the 12th tallest in England at 292 feet
• Bewsey Old Hall. Not open to the public - no funds for restoration!.
• Victoria Park. Pleasant park beside the River Mersey
• Walton Hall and gardens, Walton Lea Road, Higher Walton, Warrington, WA4 6SN, +44 1925 262908. Old manor house, children's zoo, walks by the canal, crazy golf, 9 hole pitch and putt, bowls, putting green, children's play areas
• Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, Bold Street. Mon - Fri 10:00am - 4:30pm Sat 10:00am - 4:00pm. Museum founded in 1857, with local history, natural history archaeology and art collections. free.
• Pyramid - Cultural Quarter, Palmyra Square. Centre for the arts and live music. Comedy is also hosted here with The Comedy Store on regular, plus stand up acts with their own full shows
• The Parr Hall. located within the Cultural Qaurter this is a live entertainment venue
• Risley Moss Nature Reserve, Ordnance Avenue, Birchwood.
• Lymm Dam. Dam built in 1824 in a 17 acre nature reserve.
• Arley Hall. Stately home and gardens. Adjacent is Stockley Farm, a popular place for children to visit.
• Sankey Valley Park, Bewsey Farm Close.
• The Amazing Maize Maze, Stretton Road, Appleton. 5-acre maze for you to try and complete

Warrington Town Hall and Gates.

Parish Church. some parts dating from 12th century. The church is the 12th tallest in England at 292 feet

Bewsey Old Hall. Not open to the public - no funds for restoration!.

Victoria Park. Pleasant park beside the River Mersey

Walton Hall and gardens, Walton Lea Road, Higher Walton, Warrington, WA4 6SN, +44 1925 262908. Old manor house, children's zoo, walks by the canal, crazy golf, 9 hole pitch and putt, bowls, putting green, children's play areas

Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, Bold Street. Mon - Fri 10:00am - 4:30pm Sat 10:00am - 4:00pm. Museum founded in 1857, with local history, natural history archaeology and art collections. free.

Pyramid - Cultural Quarter, Palmyra Square. Centre for the arts and live music. Comedy is also hosted here with The Comedy Store on regular, plus stand up acts with their own full shows

The Parr Hall. located within the Cultural Qaurter this is a live entertainment venue

Risley Moss Nature Reserve, Ordnance Avenue, Birchwood.

Lymm Dam. Dam built in 1824 in a 17 acre nature reserve.

Arley Hall. Stately home and gardens. Adjacent is Stockley Farm, a popular place for children to visit.

Sankey Valley Park, Bewsey Farm Close.

The Amazing Maize Maze, Stretton Road, Appleton. 5-acre maze for you to try and complete

• Warrington Wolves Rugby League, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Winwick Road, WA2 7NE.
• Drivetime, Centre Park, Slutchers Lane. 60 bay floodlit driving range
• Walton Hall Golf Course, Warrington Road, Higher Walton. 18 hole golf course
• The Trans Pennine Trail.
• LA Bowl, Chetham Court, Winwick Quay, +44 1925 639222. Chetham Court, Winwick Quay, ). Large entertainment complex with music, arcade games, bumper cars, food, drink and most importantly, bowling. On-site pub with a big screen for match days.
• Gulliver's World. Theme park - not exactly Disneyland but OK for smaller kids
• The North West Face. Climbing Centre located within the old St. Anns Church on Winwick Road
• Speed Karting, Unit 2 Bank Quay Trading Estate. it is the largest indoor karting circuit in the UK
• The Fun Zone. Above Lazer Quest is a play area for 2-10 year olds

Warrington Wolves Rugby League, Halliwell Jones Stadium, Winwick Road, WA2 7NE.

Drivetime, Centre Park, Slutchers Lane. 60 bay floodlit driving range

Walton Hall Golf Course, Warrington Road, Higher Walton. 18 hole golf course

The Trans Pennine Trail.

LA Bowl, Chetham Court, Winwick Quay, +44 1925 639222. Chetham Court, Winwick Quay, ). Large entertainment complex with music, arcade games, bumper cars, food, drink and most importantly, bowling. On-site pub with a big screen for match days.

Gulliver's World. Theme park - not exactly Disneyland but OK for smaller kids

The North West Face. Climbing Centre located within the old St. Anns Church on Winwick Road

Speed Karting, Unit 2 Bank Quay Trading Estate. it is the largest indoor karting circuit in the UK

The Fun Zone. Above Lazer Quest is a play area for 2-10 year olds

Warrington has all the typical British High Street chains as well as a wide selection of independent stores. The major shopping areas are:

• Golden Square, which has recently been expanded and renovated, and now has 145 shops, including Debenhams, and Marks and Spencer. There are also the obligatory Starbucks and Costa Coffee. The bus station is also accommodated within the Golden Square.
• The Market including a large number of small shops under cover, including a food hall with several butchers, delicatessens and similar food shops.
• Town Centre, while most stores are boarded up due to relocation to the Golden Square, there are still some independent stores, including Hancock and Woods (tagged as Warrington Own Department Store, though it now specialises in women's clothing), Edwin Allen (the towns oldest shop, founded in 1884, for arts and crafts) and a wide selection of charity shops.
• Hatters Row, about 200m from the bus station, offering a selection of independent stores and a cafe
• Alban Retail Park, Manchester Road. PC World etc. plus a Pizza Hut and KFC.
• Riverside Retail Park, Wilderspool Causeway. Offering a wide selection of out of town stores including Next - plus McDonalds and Pizza Hut.
• Cockhedge Shopping Park, Fennel Street. Including ASDA, Argos, Wilkinsons and a few smaller stores and larger retailers such as Dixons.
• Gemini Retail Park, Westbrook. A large out of town shopping park, offering Toys R Us, Next, Boots, Marks and Spencer and most notably, IKEA Warrington, the first IKEA in the UK.
• Birchwood Shopping Centre, Birchwood. A small suburban shopping centre, with an ASDA, as well as various fashion stores, a cafe, two fast food chains and a newsagents.
• Dawsons Music, Sankey Street. The biggest music shop in the town centre. Instrument repair and lessons also take place here.

Golden Square, which has recently been expanded and renovated, and now has 145 shops, including Debenhams, and Marks and Spencer. There are also the obligatory Starbucks and Costa Coffee. The bus station is also accommodated within the Golden Square.

The Market including a large number of small shops under cover, including a food hall with several butchers, delicatessens and similar food shops.

Town Centre, while most stores are boarded up due to relocation to the Golden Square, there are still some independent stores, including Hancock and Woods (tagged as Warrington Own Department Store, though it now specialises in women's clothing), Edwin Allen (the towns oldest shop, founded in 1884, for arts and crafts) and a wide selection of charity shops.

Hatters Row, about 200m from the bus station, offering a selection of independent stores and a cafe

Alban Retail Park, Manchester Road. PC World etc. plus a Pizza Hut and KFC.

Riverside Retail Park, Wilderspool Causeway. Offering a wide selection of out of town stores including Next - plus McDonalds and Pizza Hut.

Cockhedge Shopping Park, Fennel Street. Including ASDA, Argos, Wilkinsons and a few smaller stores and larger retailers such as Dixons.

Gemini Retail Park, Westbrook. A large out of town shopping park, offering Toys R Us, Next, Boots, Marks and Spencer and most notably, IKEA Warrington, the first IKEA in the UK.

Birchwood Shopping Centre, Birchwood. A small suburban shopping centre, with an ASDA, as well as various fashion stores, a cafe, two fast food chains and a newsagents.

• Anmol Restaurant, 62 Warrington Road, Penketh, +44 1925 790877. Monday - Thursday 5:30PM til 11:30PM, Friday & Saturday 5PM til 12AM, Sunday 5PM til 11PM. Penketh. Excellent food, well served. Take a bus (110, 30, 32) or taxi (under £5), car park at rear.
• Royal Bombay, 9-31 Church Street, +44 1925 232647. Monday-Thursday: 5:30PM -12:00AM Friday-Saturday 5:30PM-1AM Sunday 3:30PM-12AM.
• Efes Brasserie, 137 Sankey Street, +44 1925 632987. Tuesday-Sunday 5:30PM - 11PM. A wide range of Indian and Greek cuisine
• The Cottage, 90 Church Street, +44 1925 241888. Dedicated to authentic Indian food, cooked using the finest fresh ingredients, herbs and spices.

Anmol Restaurant, 62 Warrington Road, Penketh, +44 1925 790877. Monday - Thursday 5:30PM til 11:30PM, Friday & Saturday 5PM til 12AM, Sunday 5PM til 11PM. Penketh. Excellent food, well served. Take a bus (110, 30, 32) or taxi (under £5), car park at rear.

Royal Bombay, 9-31 Church Street, +44 1925 232647. Monday-Thursday: 5:30PM -12:00AM Friday-Saturday 5:30PM-1AM Sunday 3:30PM-12AM.

Efes Brasserie, 137 Sankey Street, +44 1925 632987. Tuesday-Sunday 5:30PM - 11PM. A wide range of Indian and Greek cuisine

The Cottage, 90 Church Street, +44 1925 241888. Dedicated to authentic Indian food, cooked using the finest fresh ingredients, herbs and spices.

• Choy Hing Village, Grappenhall. Superb banquets.

Bus or Taxi - less than £5 from town centre, car park at front.

• Hoi Tin Chinese Restaurant, located in the town centre at 6 Bold Street
• East Orient - All you can eat Chinese buffet, you can usually eat for less than £10, 54 Horsemarket Street, Visible from Warrington interchange.

• Khaza Tandoori, 44 Fairclough St, Burtonwood, +44 1925 225265. Well out of the town centre, but well liked by most in the local area
• Tayef, Buttermarket Street. Great food - but you'd better be pretty darned hungry! Can be a problem parking nearby.

Khaza Tandoori, 44 Fairclough St, Burtonwood, +44 1925 225265. Well out of the town centre, but well liked by most in the local area

• White Hart, in Hilden Square. Excellent and cheap Thai and Western food.
• Thai Inn, Bewsey Road. Great food and good value. Accommodation available.

• Valentinos - 139 Sankey Street. Freshly cooked authentic Italian cuisine
• Donatellos - 75 Orford Lane, very good food and staff
• Bella Roma - 9 Padgate Lane (only 1 mile from Town Centre)
• Delgados,19 Honiton Square, Penketh. +44 1925 790000 Freshly cooked authentic Italian cuisine Pizza, Pasta, Steaks, Fish and regional dishes . www.delgadospizzeria.co.uk
• Caffe Caruso, next to the Market.
• Sinatras, Sankey Street

• Danny's Kitchen - Bridge Street, Town Centre. Also offers Chinese food, does get very busy around lunchtime, and is fairly popular amongst students.
• Les's Fish Bar - Bridge Street, Town Centre
• Orford Fryer - Howson Road, Warrington. Although small and dingey it sells succulent fish and marvellous mushy peas. It is a great place for a Thursday night munch and is at a reasonable price.

• Le Frog Bistro - 7 Palmyra Square, Town Centre
• The White Apron - 27 Church Street, Town Centre. The White Apron is an authentic Mediterranean Restaurant
• Shellys Restaurant, 8 Bold street (cultural quarter town centre, +44 1925 654000. Traditional English home cooked food serving breakfasts, lunches, afternoon tea and evening meals

Shellys Restaurant, 8 Bold street (cultural quarter town centre, +44 1925 654000. Traditional English home cooked food serving breakfasts, lunches, afternoon tea and evening meals

• Andalucia, Bridge St. Lebanese cuisine.

• Toledo Tapas Bar & Restaurant - Tapas and Spanish cuisine. Located in the centre of Warrington at New Town House, Scotland Road. (THIS IS NOW AN INDIAN RESTAURANT)

• The Blue Bell - 27 Horsemarket Street (Town Centre)
• Chicago Rock Cafe - St Austins Lane (Town Centre)
• The Big Bar - 122-126, Bridge Street (Town Centre)
• The Postern Gate - St. Austins Lane (Town Centre)
• Yates - 41-43 Buttermarket Street (Town Centre)
• Barley Mow
• Wetherspoons - Friar Penketh, 4 Barbauld Street (Town Centre)
• Old Town House - Has an all you can eat lunch (self service) where you can get soup, jacket potatoes, salad bar, desserts, and hot drinks for £4.95. In the evening you can get stonegrilled meals where you cook your own steaks on your personal stone grill, one of the choices is an Aussie mixed grill.

A number of cafes in town, serving cheap food - e.g. the Market Cafe (in the Market!)

A selection of kebab and pizza places, Subway, McDonalds

Starbucks and Costa in Golden Square, Rhode Island Coffee House.

Most of Warrington's nightlife is found in and around Bridge Street, though the pubs are dotted all over the town centre

There are a large number of pubs and bars in the town centre including a Wetherspoons, Chicago Rock, Branningans, and Yates.

• Barley Mow - One of Britain's Oldest Pubs-Golden Square
• Cultural Quarter - End of Bridge Street
• The Tavern (formerly Wilkies Tavern) is near the town centre and serves excellent guest beers
• Friars Court Inn
• The Lord Rodney
• Last Orders
• The Bluebell
• The Borough Arms
• The White Hart on Sankey Street - plays rock music and hosts gigs upstairs in 'The White Room'.
• The London Bridge - Stockton Heath
• Ferry Inn, Penketh. Between the Mersey and the canal, on the Trans Pennine Trail and adjacent to the marina. Various events such as pop concerts or sportsmen's evenings.

• Panama Jacks - Bridge Street
• Funkybox - Bridge Street
• Reef - Bridge Street
• Voodoo- Friars Gate (just off Bridge Street)
• Eivissa- Bridge Street
• Dahli Bar - Bridge Street
• Late Lounge - Rylands Street
• The Lounge- Palmyra Square

• Reflex & Babylon, Bridge St, WA1 2HH, +44 1925 630047.

Reflex & Babylon, Bridge St, WA1 2HH, +44 1925 630047.

Warrington is a fairly safe place to be; yet like most of the country has problems with violent crime, usually by bored teenagers. The town centre is safe most of the time, but it is best be on your guard around 6-9pm (between shops closing and pubs becoming busy) and around closing time for clubs, as the area will fill up with drunk people.

Avoid groups of teenagers. Warrington is one of the most culturally and ethnically homogeneous areas in the country, so if you are non-white, gay or dress unconventionally then be sure to have your wits about you, especially in the estates closer to town. Be especially careful around Town Centre (in particular 'The Fountain' at Market Gate), Bewsey, Dallam, Orford (all parts), Longford, Old Hall, Howley and Watkin Street (near Tesco) estates. However, you will probably not encounter any trouble at all, but stay with a local who knows the area well, and you will be fine.

• Visit Quarry bank Mill, Styal. (Old Victorian Mill) (about 20 minutes by car)
• Wigan Pier (10 minutes by train)
• Liverpool (20 minutes)
• Manchester (20 minutes)
• Delamere Forest (About 30 minutes by car and an hour by train, changing at Manchester Piccadilly)
• Walton Hall and Gardens (About 10 minutes by car) Car park is pay and display but more often than not people leaving will give you their ticket