Port Sunlight has been crowned the prettiest village in Merseyside, according to a new ranking by Love Exploring. The garden village, founded by industrialist William Lever in the late 19th century, placed 37th in the overall England rankings, beating out other Merseyside contenders such as Crosby, Woolton, and Thornton Hough.
What Makes Port Sunlight Special
Love Exploring praised Port Sunlight for its combination of tree-lined avenues, meticulously maintained gardens, and green open spaces, which create a serene environment. The village was established by Lever to house his soap factory workers, and its design reflects his belief that better living conditions lead to happier, more productive workers.
Thirty different architects were employed to design the village, resulting in a diverse mix of architectural styles ranging from Arts and Crafts worker's cottages to Tudor revivalist façades. This gives visitors over 900 Grade II-listed buildings to admire, with no two streets looking the same—a rarity for worker housing of that era.
Attractions in Port Sunlight
The Lady Lever Art Gallery houses Lever's personal art collection, including works by Turner, Rossetti, and a strong collection of Wedgwood pottery. The gallery is free to enter and is considered a genuinely good gallery, not just a local curiosity. The Port Sunlight Museum tells the social history of the village and the working lives of its residents, featuring original preserved worker cottages that visitors can walk through.
Unlike a preserved-in-amber museum piece, people still live in the houses today, giving the village a living, breathing feel. This distinguishes it from properties managed by organizations like the National Trust.
Other Beautiful Merseyside Villages
Merseyside is home to several other attractive villages. Crosby, located about eight miles north of Liverpool, is a quiet, rural village with no streetlights and nearly 30 listed historic buildings. Woolton Village, five miles southeast of Liverpool city centre, is an affluent, leafy area featuring stone cottages, award-winning 'Village in Bloom' displays, and historic pubs. It is also home to St. Peter's Church, where Paul McCartney and John Lennon first met. Thornton Hough, about 10 miles south of Liverpool, is a picturesque, heavily protected village featuring Arts and Crafts architecture, timber-framed buildings, and a village green.
England's Prettiest Villages Ranking
Love Exploring's ranking of the prettiest villages in England includes a diverse range of locations. The top spots include Clovelly in Devon, Ilam in Staffordshire, Castle Combe in Wiltshire, and Mousehole in Cornwall. Other notable entries include Haworth in West Yorkshire, Bournville in West Midlands, Lavenham in Suffolk, and Thornton-le-Dale in North Yorkshire. Port Sunlight is the sole representative from Merseyside on the list, underscoring its unique appeal.
