Wirral barely scrapes a paragraph in Lonely Planet’s latest Great Britain guidebook

May 27 2009 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

IF you arrived in Merseyside armed with Lonely Planet’s latest Great Britain guide, you may believe there’s nothing more to see in Wirral than Port Sunlight.

The eighth edition of the global travel series hit the shelves last week, but while 12 pages are devoted to our friends across the water in Liverpool, Wirral barely scrapes a paragraph.

No mention is made of Hamilton Square, despite its boast of being home to the most listed buildings per square mile outside London.

Birkenhead Park, the inspiration for New York’s Central Park is forgotten, Hilbre Island doesn’t even garner a footnote, while the seaside resorts of New Brighton and West Kirby are also ignored.

Even the peninsula’s rich ship-building history was deemed undeserving of a mention on one of the book’s 1,000 pages.

Co-ordinating author David Else told the News the omission was “because we feel it doesn’t have enough drawcards”.

But Wirral residents may beg to differ.

Wirral Society chairman, Rod Tan said: “Historically, Lonely Planet guides seem to have been content to include Port Sunlight, but it seems to suggest that whoever does their research has not really been to the area.

“Wirral has a lot to offer.

“Being a peninsula there is so much water around us and we have a most fascinating coastline.

“It’s just a short hop from Liverpool to then travel from Birkenhead, past Wallasey, round New Brighton and into the North West Coastal Park and then down to Red Rocks and Hilbre Island, where visitors could have the chance to walk along the beach to Caldy and Heswall.

“There are so many interesting locations.”

Port Sunlight, the only attraction mentioned – in the Around Liverpool section – is referred to as a “picturesque 19th Century village”, while the Lady Lever Art Gallery is lauded for housing “some of the greatest works of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Movement”.

But there may be some hope for Wirral in future editions.

David Else added: “There isn’t space to include everywhere in Great Britain in the guidebook.

“But authors update it every two years so they will be back soon to research for the next edition.

“If they feel that Wirral has something more to offer, they may include it in the next book.”

Where would you like to see included? Email newsdesk@wirralnews.co.uk or write to Wirral News, Po Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB