Local authority district in Lancashire, England
| Coordinates: | 53.6, -2.87 |
|---|---|
| OS grid ref: | SD 42 11 |
West Lancashire sits on the low-lying coastal plain between Liverpool and Preston, with the district administered from the market town of Ormskirk. It combines small towns and villages with wide tracts of farmland, reaching towards the Ribble and Mersey estuaries and offering a clear sense of countryside close to the cities.
The district is noted for its wetland and country-park landscape: the Martin Mere Wetland Centre at Burscough is an important reserve for wintering wildfowl, while places such as Rufford Country Park and historic halls reflect a deep local past. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal threads through the area and Ormskirk retains a lively market-town character.
Economically there is a mix of horticulture on the fertile plains - vegetables, root crops and bulb growing - alongside light industry and services, notably in the post-war new town of Skelmersdale. Good road and rail links mean many people commute to Liverpool or Preston, while community groups, farmers’ markets and conservation work play a big part in local social life.