Birkenhead Priory

Laura Harris
Birkenhead Priory
Courtesy of Birkenhead Priory

On a visit to Birkenhead, a great port of call is the Birkenhead Priory – the oldest standing building in Merseyside. The Priory was founded way back in 1150 for the Benedictine Order, and today it stands in a remarkedly good shape. Walls that have tipped over into ‘ruins’ mark out the space while the windows that remain in place beautifully catch the sun. Birkenhead Priory has a history that includes royalty, the birth of a city, and a religious life. Sitting on the banks of the Mersey, the Priory is the gateway to understanding how the Wirral grew over almost 1,000 years.

Birkenhead Priory is easy to visit on a daytrip from Liverpool – the two places are separated by the River Mersey making for an unusual sense of being close together, and far apart. The most popular way to cross the River Mersey is to go under it. Cars can drive through the tunnels for the price of a small toll, and buses regularly make the trip. The more adventurous way to go is to take the ‘Ferry Across the Mersey’ – made famous by the 1965 hit from Scouse band Gerry and the Pacemakers. Ferries have been making this trip since the 12th century, and it’s still a crowd-pleasing way to travel.

However you cross the Mersey, be sure to take a walk around the priory. If you’re lucky and time it just right you could catch an amazing sunset casting the ancient Priory in golds and reds. In recent years Birkenhead Priory has been animated with contemporary culture. Liverpool photography gallery Open Eye has installed exhibitions in its spaces, and culture magazine Bido Lito hosted their first music festival, Future Yard, partly in the Priory in 2019. Even without these events, a walk round Birkenhead Priory is charged with history and the enduring romance of ruins.

Priory StreetBirkenheadCH41 5JH View map
Telephone: 01516663537 Visit Now

Opening Hours

  • Wednesday12:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Thursday12:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Friday12:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Saturday10:00am - 4:00pm
  • Sunday10:00am - 4:00pm

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

What's on near Birkenhead Priory

Craft Beer Tour Around Manchester
Until
ActivityManchester
Craft Beer Tour Manchester

Join Craft Beer Tour Manchester for a journey through some of the cities best local breweries and artisanal beer serving bars. Discover the personality of Manchester’s beer through a diverse range of pints.

from £35
Until
ActivityLiverpool
Old Dock Tours, Liverpool

The Old Dock tour is a treat for younger and older visitors alike, fans of Liverpool’s maritime past, and anybody curious about local history.

£8.50 with concessions
Until
ComedyManchester
Creatures of the Night Comedy Club

An insanely committed seven-nights-a-week, Creatures of the Night Comedy Club opens its doors (20.30-22.30 typically, though please check) for evening after evening of side-splitting comedy.

from £5.00

Where to go near Birkenhead Priory

A 350-capacity space, permanent live music venue at 75 Argyle Street. This community venue will bring some of today’s most exciting new national and international artists to Wirral, while at the same time providing key early performance opportunities for emerging local musicians.
Wirral
Event venue
Future Yard

Future Yard is the Wirral’s most exciting music venue providing a stage and opportunities for musicians and the local community.

food and drink
Restaurant
Chamber 36 City Centre

Serving excellent Pan-Asian dishes and quirky cocktails, Chamber 36 is a stylish restaurant on the edge of Liverpool’s China Town.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
Manifest

Manifest is a casual fine dining restaurant and wine bar in the Baltic Triangle, serving seasonal dishes and delicious wines from small scale producers.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
Sanskruti

Sanskruti is a vegetarian and vegan Indian restaurant, serving an array of fresh, brightly coloured dishes in Liverpool’s Business District.

food and drink
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Brass Monkey

Brass Monkey is a quirky bar with swings serving delicious drinks, tucked away down a quiet street in the centre of Liverpool.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
The Botanical Gin Garden

The Botanical Gin Garden is a seasonal outdoor gin bar, open six months a year, serving a wide selection of delicious gin drinks.

food and drink
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Cafe Tabac

Cafe Tabac is the longest running café bar in Liverpool, serving food and drinks to arty locals and curious newcomers.

food and drink
City Centre
Bar or Pub
McGuffie’s

Formerly a vintage chemist, McGuffie’s is a cosy cocktail bar located in a historic venue on Liverpool’s Castle Street.

record shop
Liverpool
Shop
Dead Air Records

Dead Air Records is a vinyl shop in Liverpool, offering a perfectly curated selection of records and a friendly space for music lovers.

City Centre
Shop
Root House Plants

The ultimate destination for seasoned plant lovers and beginners alike, Root sell a wide selection of gorgeous houseplants.

shop
Liverpool
Shop
Resurrection

Resurrection is a long-established clothes shop, selling quirky items from both larger and niche brands to Liverpool’s fashion lovers.

Culture Guides

Raver Tots at Escape to Freight Island
Family things to do in the North

We might be past the holiday season, but Manchester and the North's arts and cultural calendar is still packed with brilliant events and activities for families

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

From contemporary dance to ballet classics, and cult rock ‘n’ roll musicals to new writing, take a look at our latest theatre picks.

A man and a woman stood in front of a window at night look into each others' eyes
Cinema in the North

Hollywood greats and early bird film fest tickets are on our horizon as we head into the new year.

Music in the North

Warm, intimate storytelling is the thread connecting our new picks, which include a number of brilliant folk artists.

A sculpture of a dark brown dog looks to the right, hanging out of its middle and the back are what appears to be its insides (in cream) spilling out.
Exhibitions in the North

From genre-defying art film to vibrant embroidery and Surrealist sculpture, check out the best winter exhibitions to see right now.