Birkenhead sits on the western bank of the River Mersey on the Wirral Peninsula in England, directly opposite Liverpool. It is well known for Birkenhead Park, one of the world’s first publicly funded parks which inspired New York’s Central Park, and for the grand Georgian-era Hamilton Square. Transport links are a defining feature too: the Woodside ferry terminal, the Queensway Tunnel and the Merseyrail Wirral Line all connect the town closely with the city across the water.
Historically an industrial and shipbuilding centre, Birkenhead grew rapidly in the 19th century - the former shipyard Cammell Laird remains a notable landmark - and the docks and ferry traffic shaped its character. Today it combines pockets of Victorian architecture, museums such as the Williamson Art Gallery, social diversity and ongoing regeneration projects like Wirral Waters, which aim to reinvent its waterfront and economy while keeping a strong local community identity.