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 miles35 km
- Liverpool 8.1 miles13 km
- Birkenhead 14 miles22.5 km
- St. Helens 5.2 miles8.4 km
- Wigan 12.4 miles19.9 km
- Warrington 5.8 miles9.3 km
- Bolton 19.3 miles31.1 km
- Stockport 23.5 miles37.8 km
- Salford 19.8 miles31.8 km
- Southport 21.3 miles34.3 km
- Chester 14.2 miles22.9 km
- Chester Castle 14.6 miles23.4 km
Neighbouring places
- Halton View Ward 0.5 miles0.9 km
- Central & West Bank Ward 1 mile1.5 km
- Highfield Ward 1.1 miles1.7 km
- Farnworth Ward 1.3 miles2.1 km
- Birchfield Ward 1.5 miles2.5 km
- Hough Green Ward 1.9 miles3 km
- Bankfield Ward 2 miles3.2 km
- Cuerdley Parish 2 miles3.3 km
- Cronton Built-up area 2.1 miles3.4 km
- Bridgewater Ward 2.4 miles3.8 km
- Halton Castle Ward 2.5 miles4 km
- Penketh and Cuerdley Ward 2.5 miles4 km
Example postcodes in Widnes
WA8 9BS, WA8 8BU, WA8 4TS, WA8 9BN, WA8 9NE, WA8 0SP, WA8 8HR, WA8 6RJ, WA8 9BE … See all
Transport links
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport 5.9 miles9.4 km
- Manchester Airport 18.5 miles29.8 km
- Widnes Railway Station 0.7 miles1.1 km
- Hough Green Railway Station 2.2 miles3.5 km
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 miles12.8 km
- Haydock Park Racecourse Recreation 8.5 miles13.6 km
- Delamere Forest Forest 9.7 miles15.5 km
- Cheshire Oaks Shopping centre 9.8 miles15.8 km
- Marbury Hall Estate 9.9 miles15.9 km
- Arley Hall Estate 9.9 miles16 km
- Anfield Stadium 10.7 miles17.1 km
- World Museum Liverpool Museum 11 miles17.7 km
- Goodison Park Stadium 11.1 miles17.8 km
- Liverpool Echo Arena Stadium 11.3 miles18.1 km
- Maritime Mercantile City Historic site 11.5 miles18.5 km
- Aintree Racecourse Recreation 11.7 miles18.9 km