landmark
Chester Zoo
The UK's most-visited zoo housing over 35,000 animals across 128 acres with award-winning conservation programs.
18 km · about 20 min drive
England, United Kingdom · Europe
Widnes is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Hale, 50km from Horseshoe Pass.
Widnes is a town located in England, United Kingdom. With a population of 61,464, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Widnes sits in United Kingdom, where you drive on the left. It's in the Europe/London time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Widnes to your route.
Widnes ( WID-nəss) is an industrial town in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England, which at the 2021 census had a population of 62,400.
Historically in Lancashire, it is on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town ofRead more
Runcorn. Upstream 8 miles (13 km) to the east is Warrington, and 4 miles downstream to the west is Speke, a suburb of Liverpool.
Before the Industrial Revolution, Widnes was a small settlement on marsh and moorland. In 1847, the chemist and industrialist John Hutchinson established a chemical factory at Spike Island. The town grew in population and rapidly became a major centre of the chemical industry. The demand for labour was met by large-scale immigration from Ireland, Poland, Lithuania and Wales. The town continues to be a major manufacturer of chemicals, although many of the chemical factories have closed and the economy is predominantly based upon service industries.
Widnes and Hough Green railway stations are on the Liverpool–Manchester line. The main roads through the town are the A557 in a north–south direction and the A562 east–west. The disused Sankey Canal terminates at Spike Island. The Silver Jubilee Bridge crosses the River Mersey west of Warrington. In 2017, the Mersey Gateway Bridge opened to relieve congestion at the older bridge. The Catalyst Science Discovery Centre is the United Kingdom's only museum dedicated solely to the Chemical Industry and is inside Hutchinson's former administrative building. The town's sport stadium hosts Widnes Vikings rugby league club.
The motto of Widnes is the Latin phrase Industria Ditat ("Industry Enriches").
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Widnes offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Widnes is located in England, United Kingdom, Europe. The coordinates are 53.3618 latitude, -2.7341 longitude.
Widnes has a population of approximately 61,464 people, making it a town in United Kingdom.
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Full driving guide for United Kingdom8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
The UK's most-visited zoo housing over 35,000 animals across 128 acres with award-winning conservation programs.
18 km · about 20 min drive
racetrack
Historic circuit inside Aintree Racecourse that hosted five British Grands Prix in the 1950s-60s, where Stirling Moss took his first home GP win. Club sprints still run on the old track.
19 km · about 20 min drive
racetrack
A picturesque Cheshire circuit winding through parkland with dramatic elevation changes, a favourite of British club and national racing.
22 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
Manchester's cycling culture hub offering specialty coffee, kit, and a community space for riding enthusiasts.
36 km · about 40 min drive
landmark
Exclusive guided tours of Bentley's Crewe factory where master craftspeople build the world's finest luxury cars.
36 km · about 40 min drive
cafe
A legendary biker stop high on the Horseshoe Pass above Llangollen with panoramic views across the Welsh valleys.
49 km · about 55 min drive
mountain pass
Sweeping A542 mountain pass curling above Llangollen in a giant horseshoe, climbing to 417m past the Ponderosa Cafe with wide views over the Dee Valley. A classic North Wales driving and biking road.
50 km · about 55 min drive
cafe
A historic pub near the summit of the A537 Cat and Fiddle Road between Buxton and Macclesfield, once named Britain's most dangerous road and a famous biking destination.
51 km · about 60 min drive
April to October
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