The Venue
Steeped in history, Victoria Park is the main formal park in Widnes. Opened in 1900 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the park has seen many changes from its original design by William Barron.
In its early existence, the park was bounded by fields on its eastern boundary and had magnificent views of the Mersey Estuary, Childwall Valley and the Welsh mountains. Today, the park is surrounded by housing and is the main focus for a broad spectrum of recreational activities.
Victoria Park is located to the North of Widnes Town Centre. The park is accessible from Birchfield Road, Lockett Road, Appleton Village and Fairfield Road. Widnes Railway Station is situated at the northwest corner of the park.
Victoria Park is open all year round from 8am till dusk and provides:
Large play area
Interactive water feature (open during the summer months)
Ice Cream Refreshment Kiosk
Contemporary Park Pavilion
Bowling Greens
Cafe serving Starbucks coffee and snacks
Model boating lake
Tennis and basketball courts
Skate facility
Glasshouses with a pets corner
Butterfly house
Floral displays
Gladstone Fountain
Historic features
Site Based Ranger
Year Round Staff
Free Events and Activities
Between 2001 and 2004 improvements were carried out at Victoria Park, which included the installation of lighting, the upgrading of the glasshouse facility as a visitor attraction (which includes a pets corner and iguana house), the provision of a Skate/BMX facility and the creation of a dog exercise area.
In June 2002 Halton Borough Council made a stage 1 bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for money to restore Victoria Park to its former splendour and to put back the major features that had disappeared over the years such as the bandstand, fountain and lake. Halton was successful in this bid and progressed to a stage 2 bid which was accepted in late 2004. Restoration works commenced in 2005, progressing through to completion in September 2007.