Welcome| How to contact us | Latest news | Events | Animal adoption scheme
Hiring the Hall | Friends of Walton Estate | Music society | Leaflets/guides | Map
Facilities | Dog owners

Welcome to Walton Hall & Gardens

Green Flag award winning park for the fifth year running

Walton Hall Gardens was originally part of a much larger country estate purchased in 1812 by the Greenall family, famous for their success in the brewing industry. The Hall itself was built in Elizabethan style during the 1830s, designed by Edmund Sharpe of Lancaster, who later became famous for the Gothic revival in architecture.

The Estate was bought by Warrington Borough Council in 1941 and has been enjoyed as a park since 1945.

The park today

Today it is the ideal place for a family day out with spacious lawns, picnic areas, play area, children's zoo, heritage centre and outdoor games. The mature parkland and ornamental gardens remain beautiful throughout the year with trees and shrubs from all over the world.

Home to much more than just our busy squirrels, you may even be lucky enough to spot a weasel. More easily seen are woodland birds such as nuthatches, tree creepers and woodpeckers. Evening visitors include bats, foxes and owls.

If you enjoy country walks you'll find the gardens an ideal starting point. Footpaths are waymarked to local beauty spots such as Hill Cliffe, Appleton Reservoir and the Bridgewater Canal. Those wishing to explore further will find OS Explorer maps 275 and 276 useful. The Rangers lead regular walks throughout the year.  The Circular Walk  leaflet is available to view/download.

Notes for visitors

To ensure the safety of all park users, we regret that the following are NOT permitted within the grounds:

• Barbecues 
• Use of hard cricket/rounders balls 
• Golf (except within designated areas) 
• Cycling                           

Access for all

At Walton Hall Gardens we have endeavoured to open up the park to people of all abilities and continue to involve disability information organisations in the planning of improvements.

• In the car park, parking bays for disabled visitors are situated close to the park entrance and parking is free for blue badge holders.
• The main toilet block, close to the entrance, includes a toilet with hoist and plinth for the disabled (accessible by radar key) and a baby changing area.
• For Hall visitors, a lift provides access to the first floor for those with reduced mobility. The Hall also has a toilet for the disabled.
• Within the park, many paths are surfaced with tarmac making them accessible to wheelchair users and suitable for prams. Regular resting points are provided wherever possible. The Easy Access garden has raised aromatic beds and wheelchair-accessible picnic benches.
• Out and about on the footpaths around Walton, many stiles have been replaced by kissing gates for the less agile walker.
• Each year Walton Hall Gardens plays host to the Annual Disability Awareness Day where information can be found on all aspects of living with disability.  For further information please contact the Warrington Disability Partnership on 01925 240064.                   

You are now able to request online the free use of a wheelchair for your visit to Walton Gardens.

Further information on Walton Hall can be found in the Heritage section.

Click here to visit the official website for english tourism - enjoyEngland

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How to contact us

Walton Hall Gardens, Walton Lea Rd, Higher Walton, Warrington, WA4 6SN

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Latest news from the "Walton Warbler"

To catch up with the latest news and reports on past events at Walton Gardens have a look at our latest newsletter by clicking on the link below 

If you would like to join our mailing list please email your request to rangers@warrington.gov.uk

Please state whether you would would prefer mailed paper copy or would like an emailed version.

• Walton Warbler 6 published December 2007 (559kb)
• Walton Warbler 5 published November 2006
• Walton Warbler 4 published October 2005
• Walton Warbler 3 published October 2004
• Walton Warbler 2 published January 2004
• Walton Warbler 1 published May 2003                   

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Events

To find out what's on at Walton Hall from April to September, view our events pages.  To see what's going on in the rest of Warrington's parks in our downloadable booklet (2.3MB)

Farmers Market at Walton Gardens. 

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Animal adoption scheme 

The animals available for adoption are: our herd of African pygmy goats, the peacocks, Bo-Bo the donkey, our Shetland ponies – Lotty and Pebbles, our collection of rabbits, ferrets and the miniature pot bellied pigs. For further information and an application form please visit the Animal Adoption Scheme page.

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Hiring the hall

For information on the available facilities and hiring of the hall please visit the venues for hire page.

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Friends of Walton Estate

Due to public interest the ‘Friends of Walton Estate’ was formed in December 2002. Today the group is made up of people from a wide variety of backgrounds and interests have a particular love of Walton Hall Estate. The agreed aims of the group are to:

• Promote improvement of both the wildlife and amenities at Walton Estate for the enjoyment of present and future generations of all ages and abilities 
• Encourage volunteers, particularly young people, to participate in the Ranger’s events and activities 
• Organise fund raising for the restoration and upkeep of the Estate & buildings                          

The Friends work with the council and Estate staff in a variety of ways. Over the last year the Friends have helped with a number of successful events such as Disability Awareness Day and have been involved in practical working parties including bulb planting, digging ponds and painting fences. The members have met with other friends groups to share ideas and are well on their way to preparing funding bids for restoration projects in the Estate.  One of our most successful projects at the moment is the Animal Adoption Scheme.

Friends of Walton Hall Estate

Diary dates 2008

How can you join the Friends? 
To join, or if you want to simply come along and meet us please complete the online form 

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Friends of Walton Hall Music Society 

The Society (established in 1990) promotes recitals in Walton Hall's Music Room in order to provide experience for young musicians from local music colleges, especially students from the Royal Northern College of Music. These recitals have already brought the Society many members, but there is usually room for a few more. The recitals provide an excellent opportunity to make new friends over wine and refreshments.

Currently, tickets cost £6, and there is a membership subscription of £5 per annum which includes refreshments plus a Christmas party and spring and autumn newsletters.

For further details please contact: 
The Secretary, Tom Beecroft on 01925 264297, or if you wish to join please write to:

The Treasurer, Mrs A. Timms, Hilton House, 512 Manchester Road, Paddington, Warrington WA1 3TZ

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Leaflets/guides

The full leaflet/guide is available to download from our publications section (under Environment>Parks).

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Map of Walton Hall

To view a map of this park, please visit the location maps section. Alternatively, a Multimap  version is available to view.

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Visitor facilities

For facility and car park opening and closing times please see the facility opening times page.  The car park at Walton Gardens operates on a "pay and display" basis. The charges for the current year are shown on the car park charges page.

Walton Hall has an 18 hole municipal golf course.  More information can be found at the Walton Hall Golf Course  website.

Functions at Walton Hall

Information on weddings, family celebrations and catering can be found in the venues for hire section.

Children's zoo

One of the park's most popular attractions, the children's zoo, boasts a colourful array of birds and animals. You can visit any day of the year and entry is free of charge. Christmas Day and New Year's Day open from 10.30am to 12noon only. Feeding time is 2.00pm in summer and 1.00pm in winter.

The 'Adopt an Animal' scheme has recently been launched with a variety of animals including peacocks and pygmy goats waiting to be adopted. The money raised will all be spent on improvements to the zoo helping to provide better facilities for animals, birds and visitors. For more information and an application form please visit the Animal Adoption Scheme page.  The Rangers are always on hand to answer questions and are happy to give advice on animals.  We run "Keeper for the day" events if you would like to find out what the Children's Zoo is all about.

Heritage centre, gift shop & coffee shop

Situated in the old stable yard, the Heritage Centre contains a fascinating historical exhibition showing life as it used to be on the Walton Estate in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. There is also a small Lewis Carroll exhibition tracing the works of this locally born author and his links to Walton Hall, as well as a natural history room with a bird viewing window overlooking our feeding station. Local guides and maps are also available. Gifts and souvenirs, including Alice in Wonderland merchandise are on sale in the shop.

The Coffee Shop in the Heritage Yard area, adjacent to the Bridgewater Canal, serves a selection of hot and cold drinks, snacks and confectionery. There are both indoor and outdoor eating areas. 
Assistance dogs only in this area please.

Outdoor games

Traditional games for everyone to enjoy. Test your golfing skills on our nine hole pitch 'n' putt course, have fun on the crazy golf or the putting green or enjoy a game of bowls (summer season only). Click the link for more information on outdoor games and charges 

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Dog owners