Just across from Liverpool and over the River Mersey lies Birkenhead, famously the birthplace of Paul O’Grady, the inspiration behind New York’s Central Park, and the home of the first street tramway.
Now, it’s having a property renaissance, as a new study shows that it’s experiencing some of the highest house price gains across England.
The North West has been touted as the ‘hottest’ housing market, with cities like Manchester and Liverpool seeing gains between 2.5% and 3% since May 2024.
But Birkenhead has grown even further at 4.1%, while Blackburn has soared by 5.8% and Wigan 4.4%, all changes that have been attributed towards employment growth and affordability by Zoopla’s latest house price index.
Across the UK, May 2025 marked the busiest month for home sales since 2021, with properties selling for £16,000 below the average asking price.
House prices in Birkenhead
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Thinking about moving to Birkenhead? House prices in the area are considerably under the going rate across the UK, which is currently £268,250, according to Zoopla data.
Over the last year, the average property in the Wirral town went for £159,176, more than £100,000 cheaper, with a saving of £109,074.
That’s a little bit of extra money for the interiors pot, right?
Things to do in Birkenhead
Birkenhead might often be overlooked by its Liverpudlian neighbour across the water, but there’s plenty of culture to be found here.
For starters, there are 140 acres of space at Birkenhead Park, which famously inspired the design of Central Park in New York City.
As the world’s first publicly funded park, architects in the Big Apple took notes on Birkenhead’s lakes specifically, as well as the concept of creating a calm oasis right in the middle of an urban area.
It’s perfect for enjoying a walk and a coffee, with daily doses of caffeine available at the Birkenhead Park Café.
To learn more about local history, there’s the aptly named Wonders of Birkenhead Walk. Spanning two miles, it crosses 10 of Birkenhead’s most notable historical attractions, including the Tramway, the Transport Museum, the old Town Hall, and the Shore Road Pumping Station.
There’s also the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum, which will no doubt be on the radar of pottery fanatics as the home of the largest public Della Robbia collection in the UK.
And for an extra helping of culture, Future Yard hosts everything from gigs to comedy and arts, with its bar and coffee shop keeping audiences well hydrated with a choice of coffee, cocktails and beers.
What locals are saying about Birkenhead
Birkenhead might’ve gathered some mixed opinions from the locals who live there, but it’s acquired plenty of praise, too.
Over on the r/AskUK Subreddit, one Wirral resident described Birkenhead as ‘excellent for links to Liverpool,’ with their favourite thing being the view of the city, which is ‘pretty great from Woodside or along the circular trail.’
‘The Wirral in general is lovely, with some very posh areas and is in a great location for access to other areas of the UK,’ they added.
Meanwhile, @ItsGoodToChalk likes ‘the vibe’ and says that ‘people are friendly,’ while @Mossby-Pomegranate described Birkenhead as ‘super convenient’ and ‘Oxton village in the centre’ as ‘delightful.’
On the other hand, though, @avacassandra said that it’s ‘pure luck of the draw.’
‘The local shops are great, transport is great using bus or train, and downtown is a big plus,’ they penned.
‘You just have to know where to cross the roads.’
Transport links in Birkenhead
Wondering how long it takes to commute?
Birkenhead is just nine minutes (or four stops) from Liverpool Lime Street on the Merseyrail, or a 10-minute drive through the Queensway Tunnel.
Wigan is also just over an hour away, with a direct line from Lime Street through to Wigan North Western taking just 50 minutes. That beats the Central Line during rush hour, right?
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