Port Sunlight

Port Sunlight is a charming village in the Wirral, England, and a must-see for any traveler. Founded in 1888 by William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme, it is an example of the ‘Garden City’ movement popular at the time

One of the major attractions of this little town is its striking architecture. Built on a grand scale with terraced streets, it has been aptly called ‘the happiest village in England’. Most buildings were designed by architects who had worked with Lever before and many are decorated with murals in the style of William Morris depicting scenes from rural life. The centrepiece of Port Sunlight is Lady Lever Art Gallery, home to one of the best collections of Pre-Raphaelite artworks

The village is also full of green spaces. There are large gardens laid out around many buildings, including public parks such as Port Sunlight River Park and Gladstone Park featuring exotic trees and plants brought from all over the world. Families can enjoy spending time at these parks or visit Clayhill Farm to get up close with animals such as llamas, goats and alpacas

In addition to its beauty and leisure opportunities, Port Sunlight also provides visitors with interesting historical facts about its past residents. Lever opened his first soap factory – which became famous worldwide – in Warrington but chose Port Sunlight to be his model village where he provided his workers with homes surrounded by attractive gardens while giving them access to recreational facilities like tennis courts, libraries and swimming pools. Some former workers’ cottages still survive to this day providing visitors a glimpse into life at that time in history for those who lived there.

Since then, the heritage site has evolved into a vibrant community packed with events throughout the year such as open days at local museums and galleries or performances every summer.

Port Sunlight has something for everyone making it well worth paying a visit if you find yourself travelling through the Wirral area – you won’t regret it!

Created: 24  December  2022  Edited: 29  November  2023