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in the county of Cheshire

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About Runcorn

Runcorn is a lively urban town at the side of the great Mersey River. It began in the 10th-century when Alfred the Greats' daughter, Aethelfleda, built a fort at a site along the Mersey, calling it Runckhorn. The Normans settled here, and Runcorn developed into what was then a large town which was to eventually become self-governing.

The full potential of the town was not to be reached until several centuries later when a barge dock was built in the 18th-century, this was at the time of the completion of the newly opened Manchester-Liverpool canal waterway. At this time quarrying gave the town much of it's importance - Runcorn sandstone was used to build the docks of New York.

At the end of the 19th-century chemical factories contributed to the town's stability, and later in the 20th-century Runcorn was designated as a new town. Today whilst still being heavily involved with production industries Runcorn is also a place of business and commerce, it is an attractively laid out town which attracts many visitors.

Amongst the urban sprawl visitors can see some famous sights, these include fabulous riverscapes of the Mersey, graceful Runcorn Bridge, Norton Priory Museum and Gardens - the largest excavated Monastic site in Europe with its giant St.Christopher statue, the Bridgewater Canal and the Manchester Ship canal. The town has a stunning loft War memorial set against an attractive flower decked garden, and is dedicated to the citizens of Runcorn who lost their lives in the 1914-1918 War.

For pleasure there is boating, fishing in Town Park Lake and other places, and Runcorn Hill Nature Reserve offers an abundance of flora and fauna. Also of interest are the 11th-century ruined remains of Halton Castle, these can be found on a hillside overlooking the River Mersey. Whilst the graceful spire of Runcorn's parish church of All Saint's stands stark against a backdrop of industry on the opposite side of the Mersey.

Runcorn has excellent shopping and leisure facilities, good hotels, cafe's, restaurants, and pubs. Its place on the Mersey banks gives visitors the opportunity to explore the Mersey estuary, famous canal waterways and the fine city of Liverpool.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Runcorn

Halton Castle	(0.9 miles, 1.5 km)	Pictures
Norton Priory Museum & Gardens	(1.7 miles, 2.7 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Walton Hall	(5.0 miles, 8.1 km, direction E)	Pictures
20 Forthlin Road	(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction W)	Pictures
Delamere Forest Park	(6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction S)	Pictures
Speke Hall	(6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction W)	Pictures
Mendips	(6.9 miles, 11.0 km, direction W)	Pictures
Ellesmere Port Boat Museum	(7.9 miles, 12.6 km, direction W)	Pictures
Blue Planet Aquarium, Ellesmere Port	(8.4 miles, 13.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Friends Meeting House	(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction N)	Pictures
The Anderton Boat Lift	(8.7 miles, 13.9 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Marbury Country Park	(8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction E)	Pictures
Knowsley Hall & Safari Park	(9.1 miles, 14.7 km, direction NW)	Pictures
Rivacre Valley Country Park	(9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction W)	Pictures
Arley Hall	(9.3 miles, 15.0 km, direction E)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Runcorn

Widnes, in the county of Cheshire (2.0 miles, 3.2 km, direction N)
There is much that is Victorian about Widnes, this can be seen in the splendid public library building and the park named after a great Queen and Empress.
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Helsby, in the county of Cheshire (4.4 miles, 7.1 km, direction SW)
Helsby is famous for Helsby Hill which rises to a height of 462ft, and has traces of an Iron-Age camp.
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Warrington, in the county of Cheshire (6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction NE)
This town can claim to have something made for Queen Victoria, which was famously rejected by her - this is the pair of Golden Gates made in 1850 for Sandringham House.
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Delamere, in the county of Cheshire (8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction S)
The village of Delamere can be found in the midst of beautiful Cheshire countryside in an area of forests and rivers. It is...
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St Helens, in the county of Merseyside (8.9 miles, 14.3 km, direction N)
Having transcended the Industrial Revolution and shaken off its old image, St.Helens is rapidly developing into a place of culture and style.
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Port Sunlight, in the county of Merseyside (11.1 miles, 17.9 km, direction W)
The centre-piece of the village is the Lady Lever Art Gallery and Museum, this was built as a memorial to Lady Lever and was opened in 1922.
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Tarporley, in the county of Cheshire (11.8 miles, 18.9 km, direction S)
Attractive large village which developed as a coaching stop on the main London to Liverpool road during the 17th and 18th-centuries.
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Chester, a Historic City in the county of Cheshire (11.9 miles, 19.2 km, direction SW)
Chester, the county town of Cheshire, is one of the oldest and most complete walled cities with fantastic architecture and history.
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Rainford, in the county of Merseyside (12.3 miles, 19.9 km, direction N)
Rainford is a small village attractively set in open countryside between St. Helen's and Wigan.
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Liverpool, a Historic City in the county of Merseyside (12.8 miles, 20.5 km, direction NW)
From early humble origins Liverpool, over the centuries has grown and developed to become one of the most exciting cities to...
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Wirral Peninsula, in the county of Merseyside (13.4 miles, 21.5 km, direction W)
The Wirral Peninsula is an area of Merseyside approximately 60 square miles (160 square Km) known as 'The Wirral'
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Aintree, in the county of Merseyside (13.9 miles, 22.4 km, direction NW)
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Knutsford, in the county of Cheshire (14.3 miles, 23.0 km, direction E)
Its name derives from Canute, the great Danish King who is said to have journeyed this way when he quite possibly forded the local stream.
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Wigan, in the county of Greater Manchester (15.4 miles, 24.7 km, direction N)
Wigan is a sociable town with a long history, it received it's Royal charter in the middle of the 13th-century, but prior to that the Roman's had built a settlement here.
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Altrincham, a Historic Market Town in the county of Greater Manchester (15.6 miles, 25.2 km, direction E)
First developed as a quiet hamlet on the edge of the sweeping Cheshire Plain, where life went quietly on.
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Nearby travel help

M56 Junction 12	(1.3 miles, 2.0 km, direction SE)
Runcorn Station	(1.3 miles, 2.1 km, direction NW)
Frodsham Station	(2.2 miles, 3.5 km, direction S)
M56 Junction 11	(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction E)
Liverpool John Lennon Airport	(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction W)
Manchester Airport	(18.6 miles, 29.9 km, direction E)
Runcorn to London	(166.7 miles, 268.2 km, direction SE)

Hotels & Accommodation in Runcorn

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Runcorn center
Lawson House Hotel & Conference Centre	(0.8 miles, 1.2 km)
Campanile Hotel Runcorn	(1.2 miles, 2.0 km, direction NW)
Forest Hills Hotel	(2.9 miles, 4.7 km, direction S)
De Vere Daresbury Park Hotel	(3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction E)
Heathercliffe Country House Hotel	(3.1 miles, 5.0 km, direction S)
Everglades Park Hotel	(4.0 miles, 6.4 km, direction N)
The Hillcrest Hotel	(4.7 miles, 7.6 km, direction N)
Tall Trees Lodge	(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction SE)
The Park Royal - A QHotel	(6.0 miles, 9.7 km, direction E)
Village Hotel Warrington	(6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction NE)
All hotels in Runcorn