Birkenhead is likely to be worth more than a second thought or two if you are considering investing in or moving to Merseyside to start a family or continue further education. Here are some of the reasons why you might make up your mind …
House Prices 🏠
- Most expensive property: £680,000
- Average house price in Birkenhead: £111,755
- Cheapest property: £77,000 (terraced, freehold).
Property Investment 🏠 🏠
- A higher proportion than the national average of Birkenhead’s population was born in the UK, with the area having no significant immigrant population
- Birkenhead also has a higher than proportion of home owners than the national average – suggesting an overall level of affluence
- Balancing this, however, is a higher than average rate of unemployment.
Economy ££
- The regeneration, growth and redevelopment of infrastructure in Birkenhead is central to the 5-year Wirral Growth Plan, which also looks as far forward as 2035
- The Plan describes Birkenhead as one of the country’s most dynamic small business sectors
- Plans are also afoot to revive one of Birkenhead’s past strengths, its docks system, to bring jobs and economic growth to the area.
Location and Transport 🚌
- Although situated on the Wirral peninsula, Birkenhead is connected directly to the city of Liverpool through two road tunnels (Kingsway and Queensway) and Junctions 1 and 2 on the M53, Birkenhead is connected to the national motorway network
- The town is also connected to the underground “Liverpool Loop” network on the Wirral
- The nearest airport is Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport, only 8 miles away.
Education 🎓
- There are two colleges of further education – Wirral Metropolitan College and Birkenhead Sixth Form College
- The principal state-funded secondary school is Birkenhead Park School and there are also two independent schools, Birkenhead School and Birkenhead High School Academy.
Environment 🌷
- Birkenhead is midway between the urban powerhouse of the city of Liverpool and the highly desirable residential areas of the Wirral peninsula – especially those overlooking the Dee estuary
- The most famous public park, Birkenhead Park, is right in the centre of the town and was created in 1844 by Joseph Paxton
- The oldest building still standing on the Wirral is Birkenhead Priory, founded in 1150 as a Benedictine monastery.
Trivia 🎬
Finally, did you know …
- With the home of the most icon pop group in the world just across the Mersey, Birkenhead has to claim at least one Beatles trivia – their tailor, Beno Dorn, was based in the town
- The first tramway in Europe was Birkenhead’s horse-drawn system opened in 1860 and electrified in 1901 – it closed in 1937
- The home ground of Tranmere Rovers football team is in Birkenhead.