Widnes in the borough of Halton, England, sits on the northern bank of the Mersey and grew rapidly in the 19th century as a powerhouse of the chemical industry - famously dotted with alkali works and salt- and soap- related factories. The industrial past left a strong imprint on the townscape, but areas such as Spike Island (a reclaimed industrial site) and riverside parks now offer green space, while the Silver Jubilee and Mersey Gateway bridges link Widnes closely to Runcorn and beyond.
Today the economy is more mixed, with manufacturing, logistics and service firms alongside efforts at regeneration and heritage-led attractions like the Catalyst science centre that celebrate the town’s chemical history. Locally there’s a lively sporting and community identity - exemplified by the rugby league club Widnes Vikings - and good transport links towards Liverpool, Warrington and the wider North West, even though many residents still recall its roots in Lancashire.
Postcode districts covering Widnes
Most populated places nearby
- Manchester 21.8 miles
- Liverpool 8.1 miles
- Birkenhead 14 miles
- St. Helens 5.2 miles
- Wigan 12.4 miles
- Warrington 5.8 miles
- Bolton 19.3 miles
- Stockport 23.5 miles
- Salford 19.8 miles
- Southport 21.3 miles
- Chester 14.2 miles
- Chester Castle 14.6 miles
Neighbouring places
- Halton View Ward 0.5 miles
- Central & West Bank Ward 1 mile
- Highfield Ward 1.1 miles
- Farnworth Ward 1.3 miles
- Birchfield Ward 1.5 miles
- Hough Green Ward 1.9 miles
- Bankfield Ward 2 miles
- Cuerdley Parish 2 miles
- Cronton Built-up area 2.1 miles
- Bridgewater Ward 2.4 miles
- Halton Castle Ward 2.5 miles
- Penketh and Cuerdley Ward 2.5 miles
Example postcodes in Widnes
WA8 5QN, WA8 7QZ, WA8 0TF, WA8 3LZ, WA8 0ST, WA8 6RW, WA8 9WL, WA8 5BL, WA8 8DU … See all
Transport links
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport 5.9 miles
- Manchester Airport 18.5 miles
- Widnes Railway Station 0.7 miles
- Hough Green Railway Station 2.2 miles
Hotels in Widnes Ad
Schools in Widnes
- All Saints Upton C of E Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary
- Ashley High School Special
- Brookfields School Special
- Chesnut Lodge Special School Special
- Fairfield Primary School Primary
- Farnworth C of E Controlled Primary School Primary
- Lunts Heath Primary School Primary
- Moorfield Primary School Primary
- Oakfield Community Primary School Primary
- Ormiston Chadwick Academy Secondary
- Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Catholic Primary School Primary
- Riverside College Halton Further education
- Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School Secondary
- St Basil's Catholic Primary School Primary
- St Bede's Catholic Infant School Primary
- St Bede's Catholic Junior School Primary
- St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School Primary
- St John Fisher Catholic Primary School Primary
- St Michael with St Thomas CE Primary School Primary
- … See all
Local points of interest
- Stanlow Abbey (England) Historic site 8 miles
- Haydock Park Racecourse Recreation 8.5 miles
- Delamere Forest Forest 9.7 miles
- Cheshire Oaks Shopping centre 9.8 miles
- Marbury Hall Estate 9.9 miles
- Arley Hall Estate 9.9 miles
- Anfield Stadium 10.7 miles
- World Museum Liverpool Museum 11 miles
- Goodison Park Stadium 11.1 miles
- Liverpool Echo Arena Stadium 11.3 miles
- Maritime Mercantile City Historic site 11.5 miles
- Aintree Racecourse Recreation 11.7 miles