The River Mersey

The River Mersey is a picturesque waterway in the north of England, which stretches a total of 70 miles between Stockport and Liverpool Bay. If you want to visit this majestic river, you’ll find a great selection of Liverpool city centre hotels, all of which will put you within easy reach of the banks of the Mersey.

Historically, the River Mersey has long formed a natural boundary line between the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. The river has three main tributaries, namely the River Goyt, the Tame and the Etherow. The Mersey begins where the Goyt meets the Tame, in the Stockport area of Greater Manchester.

After this the Mersey flows through a number of scenic rural towns, including Stretford, Didsbury and Urmston. At Irlam the Mersey meets the Manchester Ship Canal, which used to form an important trade route for this part of the country before the advent of railroads.

One particularly pleasant spot to visit along the path of the River Mersey, is the picturesque area known as the Runcorn Gap. Near Halton the river narrows, as it passes between the towns of Widnes and Runcorn. Here the river is crossed by two dramatic constructions, the Runcorn Railway Bridge and the Silver Jubilee Bridge.

After that, the Mersey finally reaches its estuary at Liverpool Bay. Reaching a total width of 5km at the point near Ellesmere Port, the mouth of the Mersey lies a little way west of Liverpool, and just east of the Wirral Peninsula. Here there is a large area of wetland that provides a thriving natural habit to a wide range of flora and fauna, and as a result the area is a popular attraction amongst birdwatchers and naturalist alike.

For a chance to admire the dramatic Mersey estuary, check in to a Liverpool centre hotel, and you’ll be just a stone’s throw away. Alternatively, there are some great options for heading upstream, and enjoying the picturesque river valleys that spread along the path of the Mersey.