Port Sunlight

Port Sunlight is unique and those who visit for the first time are usually astonished at what they discover. It is argued to be the finest surviving example of early urban planning in the UK. The late 19th Century village was built by William Hesketh Lever (later Viscount Leverhulme) to house his soap factory workers at Lever Brothers which eventually turned into the global giant Unilever. Lever was a philanthropist with a passion for art and architecture and Port Sunlight is an enduring testament to the achievements of this remarkable man. The sheer scale of his philanthropy was unprecedented and the whole of Port Sunlight is now a Conservation Area and a major tourist attraction for Wirral.

The village is set in 130 acres of what can only be described as beautifully maintained parkland with a mature treescape. Approximately 900 houses have been built along with some larger "principal" buildings. Nearly every building in the village is Grade II listed and two sections of the landscape are included in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. Lever employed over 30 different architects in the building of the village and the result is an intoxicating mix of architectural styles enhanced by the parkland setting giving tranquil scenes of great beauty. Add to this some excellent public sculpture, one of the finest and largest war memorials in the UK and you have a truly amazing visit to look forward to.

Set in the heart of Port Sunlight Village sits Port Sunlight Museum. Just a stones throw from the world famous Lady Lever Art Gallery, this fascinating museum hold’s the story of the social history of the village within this interactive exhibition. Suitable for groups and individuals, the museum is the best place to start on your arrival to the village. The museum will take you on a journey into life for a ‘Port Sunlighter’ from early 1900’s. Step back in time and imagine what it was like living in this beautiful spacious village, with residents enjoying a front and back garden, a vegetable plot, plus a beautiful cottage to live in, (unheard of in 1888), come and meet a resident, and a gardener who will take you through their day to day life,

Every block of houses is different in both style and layout, and all have stunning views to enjoy, so much so, that today, the houses are very sought after, there is always a waiting list for the availability of Port Sunlight Village Trust rented houses and apartments.

If you wondered what it was like to live in the village, you can now find out! The Trust offers Holiday Cottages located in prime spot that can be booked for short breaks or much longer. The highly popular holiday homes are finished to a very high specification with ‘Four Star Tourist Accreditation’.

With so much to offer, Port Sunlight Museum & Garden Village receives thousands of visitors every year. With a friendly front of house team ready to welcome you, make sure you visit Port Sunlight Village.