Runcorn

Bridge Deli

Family run coffee shop serving excellent fresh sandwiches, baked potatoes and cakes.

Mon-Fri 8AM-2PM, Sat Sun closed

Chambers

Runcorn's only nightclub, Chambers is open on Fridays and Saturdays till late.

Devonshire Bakery

Popular independent bakery making fresh sandwiches, pies, cakes and bread baked fresh everyday using traditional methods. Quite expensive but good for a treat!

Mon-Fri 8:30AM–4:30PM, Sat 8:30AM-3PM, Sun closed

Esposito's Deli

Cafe set in Runcorn Hill Park so very popular on a sunny day - especially for iced cream.

Daily 9AM-5PM

Evenwood Farm, Dining & Carvery

Large pub/restaurant serving British dishes and a carvery, with children's indoor play area.

Mon-Sat 9AM-11PM, Sun 9AM-10:30PM

Halton Castle

One of only two Norman castles in Cheshire, Halton Castle sits atop Halton Hill near the geographical centre of the town. Only ruins of the castle survive, but there are widespread views from the top of the hill. Incorporated into the castle walls is 'The Castle' pub, which used to be a Georgian courthouse. The castle is only open to the public at special times of year but for the price of a pint the pub will let you in their beer garden and you'll have free rein of the castle.

Halton Miniature Railway

A 7 1/4" gauge miniature railway runs through Town Park in the east of the town for almost a mile. First opened in 1979, Halton Miniature Railway is staffed entirely by volunteers and operates services most weekends.

£1 per person

Melenio

Cosy family run restaurant serving fresh authentic Italian food. Popular with diners before heading to the Brindley Theatre.

Tue-Sat 4-10PM, Sun 1-10PM

Monks Delicatessen

A family run delicatessen that has been selling fine food since 1884. Bacon, sausage, pies, cheese, cooked meats, sandwiches, biscuits, jam, chutney.

Mon Wed 8AM-2PM, Tue Thu-Sat 7:30AM-4PM, Sun closed

Norton Arms

Traditional, friendly and lively little pub in Halton Village. Serves a good range of beers and home cooked food.

Norton Arms

At the base of Halton Castle, the Norton Arms is ideal if you don't fancy a trek up Halton Hill. It serves a good range of drinks, pub food and often hosts live music.

Norton Priory Museum & Gardens

Norton Priory is the most excavated monastic site in Europe. Boasting the ruins of an abbey, 12th century undercroft and an 18th-century walled garden, it is located within an oasis of tranquil woodland and wildflower meadows. The museum displays thousands of artefacts from Norton’s 900-year history, including the internationally significant 14th century statue of St Christopher. The museum is open year round but the Walled Garden closes for the winter from 1st November–1st April.

Adult £6.70, child £4.75, concession £5.95, family £19.25

Norton Water Tower

Another landmark is Norton Water Tower, built of Runcorn sandstone, 112 feet (34 m) high, which holds 672,000 imperial gallons (3 million litres) of water and supplies it to Liverpool. It is a major feat of Victorian engineering and can be viewed from impressive vistas in Town Park in the east of the town.

Old Town

The Old Town area of Runcorn hosts smaller independent retailers such as a butcher, book shop, bakery and picture framers. The main areas are High Street, Regent Street and Church Street.

Quigley's Bakery

Busy with locals from breakfast to lunchtime, this small, cheap bakery serves up a range of pies, warm baps and even takeaway Sunday lunch.

Mon-Fri 8AM-3PM, Sat 9AM-3PM, Sun closed

Ring O Bells

Rustic-chic pub, with contemporary fittings and a tiled floor, serving steaks and global dishes.

Daily noon-11PM

Runcorn Hill Park

Runcorn Hill Park and Local Nature Reserve is in the centre of the western part of the town, partly on a dis-used nineteenth-century quarry. It incorporates natural woodland and heathland with more formal landscaping, playing fields, a bandstand, model boating lake, sporting facilities and cafe. A Chirotherium dinosaur footprint discovered in the quarry can be viewed in the cafe.

Runcorn Promenade

A stroll along the promenade in Runcorn Old Town offers views across the River Mersey, the Manchester Ship Canal and the three bridges that cross it. There is also a cantilevered walkway on the Silver Jubilee Bridge which offers good views over the waterways and the town. The town plays host to the largest free fireworks show in the North West on Bonfire Night every 5th November which can be viewed from the promenade.

Runcorn Ski Centre

There is a privately operated outdoor dry ski slope, also in Town Park. It consists of three dry ski slopes: an 85-metre main slope, a 45-metre extended nursery slope and a 25-metre nursery slope. The centre offers skiing and snowboarding lessons as well as children's 'tubing' parties.

Runcorn Town Hall

Completed in 1856 as a mansion for Thomas Johnson, a local industrialist, Runcorn Town Hall is a Grade II listed building in the Italianate style set in a small parkland. It is modelled after Osborne House, Queen Victoria's residence on the Isle of White. As a working office, the building is only open to members of the public at certain times of year, usually at Christmas time, but the park is open year round.

Shopping City

Runcorn Shopping City is the main shopping location in the town. It comprises over 60 stores, including banks, eateries, clothing shops, hardware, electronics and department stores, supermarkets and more. In addition to big name stores like Argos, The Range, Specsavers, Wilko and Boots, the centre hosts many smaller retailers and has introduced an incubator for local start up outlets in 'The Box'. The centre is complemented by surrounding developments, including large supermarkets, drive through fast food restaurants, and the adjacent Trident Retail Park and its multiplex cinema. Local amenities like the main library and Council 'Direct Link' centres are also attached to the Shopping City in the civic quarter. However, it is not a major shopping destination regionally and its main purpose is as a local shopping mall. Parking here is free and it is well served by local buses.

Society Ltd

Contemporary bar with beer garden underneath the railway arches in Runcorn Old Town. Serves a wide range of keg and cask lines, ciders, wines, cocktails and street food.

Tandoori Night

Indian restaurant with cool, modern decor offering Indian classics, tandoori specials and takeaway.

Sun-Thu 5-10:30PM, Fri Sat 5-11:30PM

The Bake House

Serving breakfast, lunch, gin, coffee and cakes. Dog friendly and near to Runcorn Hill Park.

Tue-Thu 8AM-3PM, Fri 8AM-5PM, Sat 9AM-5PM, Sun 10AM-4PM, Mon closed

The Barley Mow

Popular with locals of a weekend, this listed building hosts open mic karaoke. One to avoid if you're looking for a quiet night.

The Brindley Theatre

The Brindley is an award winning theatre, arts centre, bar and cafe in Runcorn Old Town aside the Bridgewater Canal. It hosts everything from stand up comedy to musicals and film showings.

The Castle

The big draw here is the spectacular views across Cheshire from atop Halton Hill and the cosy fireplaces in winter. The pub is teeming with history - the beer garden is within the grounds of Halton Castle and the pub itself is a former Georgian courthouse. Don't drink too many though or you may struggle to get back down the hill!

The Ferry Boat Wetherspoons

Located in the Old Town, this is the busiest pub in Runcorn and offers a range of cheap eats. It is named after the old ferry boat which brought passengers across the River Mersey from Widnes.

The Ferry Boat Wetherspoons

Located in the Old Town, this is the busiest pub in Runcorn and offers a range of real ales and craft beers. It is named after the old ferry boat which brought passengers across the River Mersey from Widnes.

The Halfway House

Community pub with Premier League football, a large beer garden and live music at weekends.