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Ellesmere Port Tourist Information


Ellesmere Port is an industrial town on the Wirral Peninsula, eight miles north of Chester. This port town in Cheshire is on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal and is the northern terminus of the Shropshire Union Canal.

The manmade Ellesmere Canal was engineered by William Jessop and Thomas Telford to connect the rivers Dee, Mersey and Severn at Whitby Locks. The connection to the Severn was never completed, but the project created the port which became known as Ellesmere Port.

There had been small settlements in the area since the Domesday Book in the 11th century but the first houses in Ellesmere Port were built around the docks. The town gradually expanded with residential, retail and industrial buildings.

The first main street was Dock Street where the National Waterways Museum can now be seen.

By the 1920s the Stanlow Oil Refinery and the Manchester Ship Canal had attracted enough employment for Ellesmere Port to have expanded significantly. It incorporated the villages of Hooton, Great and Little Sutton, Overpool, Whitby and Riveracre and the former Stud Farm.

In the 1950s new housing estates were built to house workers at the Vauxhall Car Plant which continues to be a large local employer.


Present Day Ellesmere Port

At the 2001 census, Ellesmere Port had a population of 64,000 people. The town is mainly industrial with a large oil refinery at Stanlow and many factories.

The town is close to the M56 and M53 motorways. There is a bus station and a railway station which has frequent electric trains connecting Ellesmere Port with Liverpool.

The Port Arcades Shopping Centre was completed in the mid-1980s and the new Coliseum shopping Park includes a multiplex cinema.

Just outside the town is the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet Mall, one of the largest in Europe with 145 shops selling discounted sports goods, designer label clothing and household goods.


Things to Do Around Ellesmere Port

The National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port is situated where the Shropshire Union Canal joins the Manchester Ship Canal. It has the world’s largest collection of canal boats. It has informative displays on everything from the history of boat building to how locks work.

The Blue Planet Aquarium is one of Britain’s largest aquaria with both marine and freshwater species. Built in the shape of a wave, the aquarium features a 71 metre (233 feet) long underwater tunnel and its largest tank holds 4 million litres of water.

The Shropshire Union Canal offers walks along the towpath and opportunities for boating, kayaking and nature spotting.

The Wirral Country Park is an excellent family attraction with its own beach on the River Dee. Within the park the Wirral Way offers 12 miles of trails along the old railway.

The Ness Botanic Gardens were created in 1898 by Arthur Kilpin Bulley. Now owned by the University of Liverpool, they are one of the major botanical gardens in the UK in a beautiful situation overlooking the River Dee.

The Wirral Museum recalls the history of this area with a fine collection of exhibits and displays in the magnificent former Town Hall in Birkenhead.

 

Images of Ellesmere Port
Library © Dale Miles
Civic Hall © Dale Miles
part of shopping area © Dale Miles
Bus station © Dale Miles
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Directions
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Attractions near Ellesmere Port
Boat Museum (2 Miles)*
With its delightful waterside setting, flotillas of historic boats and fascinating displays housed in a fine collection of Victorian buildings, the National Waterways Museum is a great day out whatever the weather.
Chester Zoo (4 Miles)*
Visit world famous Chester Zoo A wild day out for all!
Chester Cathedral (6 Miles)*
The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary at Chester is a living symbol of continuous progress combined with constancy of purpose.
more attractions in Ellesmere Port and things to do in Ellesmere Port ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

What's near Ellesmere Port

Attractions:
  Blue Planet Aquarium  2 Miles
  Boat Museum  2 Miles
  Speke Hall  4 Miles
more attractions in Ellesmere Port...
 
Towns:
  Stanlow  1 Mile
  Great Sutton  2 Miles
  Little Sutton  2 Miles
more towns near Ellesmere Port...
 
Estate Agents:
  Beresford Adams  <1 Mile
  Beresford Adams  2 Miles
  Clive Watkin Partnership  4 Miles
Hotels:
  Holiday Inn Ellesmere Port/Cheshire Oaks  <1 Mile
  Woodhey House Hotel  2 Miles
  Premier Inn Wirral (Childer Thornton)  2 Miles
more hotels in Ellesmere Port area...
 
Bed and Breakfast:
  Court Farm Country House B & B  3 Miles
  Hazels Farm Bed & Breakfast  3 Miles
  The Drift Barn  3 Miles
more bed and breakfasts near Ellesmere Port...
 
Self Catering:
  Garden Cottage  3 Miles
  Court Lodge  3 Miles
  The Courtyard Helsby - The Stables  5 Miles
more self catering near Ellesmere Port...
 
Campsites:
  Acorns Caravan Park  13 Miles
  Bathafarn Hall Touring Caravan Site  19 Miles
  Plassey Leisure Park  19 Miles
TIC: Ellesmere Port Tourist Information Centre     Tel: 0151 356 7879  1 Mile



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Towns near Ellesmere Port
Stanlow Tourist Information (1 Mile)*
Great Sutton Tourist Information (2 Miles)*
Little Sutton Tourist Information (2 Miles)*
more towns near Ellesmere Port...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Hotels near Ellesmere Port
Woodhey House Hotel (2 Miles)*
This hotel is situated in rural surroundings, yet close to Chester city centre and junction 5 of the M53.
Brook Meadow Hotel (3 Miles)*
Escape for a relaxing stay at one of the South Wirral's superior 3-star hotels, close to the beautiful village of Childer Thornton.
Brook Meadow Hotel (3 Miles)*
The hotel is situated in a select area of rural South Wirral. Built in 1860 the Brook Meadow Hotel is set in 4 acres of private landscaped gardens. This elegant Hotel offers exquisite food with a relaxing atmosphere.
more Ellesmere Port hotels (and nearby)...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

Self Catering near Ellesmere Port
Court Lodge (3 Miles)*
Court Lodge is a charming detached barn conversion set in the tranquil hamlet of Ledsham on the Wirral Peninsular. The historic City of Chester is six miles to the south and Ellesmere Port four miles to the East.
The Courtyard Helsby - The Stables (5 Miles)*
The Courtyard Helsby offers flexible, luxury accommodation set within a beautiful 200 year old cobbled courtyard. As a converted barn with oak beams and vaulted ceilings it offers a unique place to relax and unwind.
Your property could be here
Advertising your self catering property or holiday cottage on AboutBritain.com will get you noticed by thousands of potential guests every day.
more self catering near Ellesmere Port ...
* Distances shown are in a direct line. Distances by road will be longer.

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