Bootle New Strand is served by the Merseyrail Electrics train service. It has a staffed ticket office, CCTV on both platforms, step-free access via steep ramps and cycle storage and rental facilities as part of Merseyrail’s Go Cycle initiative.
Bootle was home to many top-flight footballers in the past and is also known for its picturesque town centre with high street chains mixed with local shops along with pubs, snooker clubs and bars.
1. The Strand Shopping Centre
Founded in 1821, the Strand is more than just an enormous bookstore. It is a literary hub and a reminder of NYC’s history.
Sefton Council acquired The Strand in 2017 and has already begun acquiring adjacent sites to enable it to take forward the regeneration of the wider area. Its ambition is to create a thriving town centre that works for everyone, building resilience and confidence.
Bootle New Strand has a range of high street chain stores combined with a good collection of local shops. There are also pubs and snooker clubs, as well as a number of restaurants. Bus and train services operate regularly from the town centre. You can plan your journey with Moovit, our all-in-one transit app. Use it to find the best bus and train times to Bootle Strand Shopping Centre.
2. The Town Hall
The Town Hall contains a number of community activities including the Bootle Tool Shed, an innovative charity tackling social isolation. Eddy Flynn welcomes me into the building, a hive of activity where middle aged men make wooden flower planters, bird houses and other garden furniture. They then sell them, helping to cover the group’s running costs.
Bootle still has areas of grand Victorian terraced housing, built in high quality pressed brick, but most council housing was built after the war. The Royal Navy’s famous u-boat hunter Captain Frederic John Walker would rest in the Mayor’s Parlour at Bootle Town Hall and memorabilia associated with him, including his ship’s bell from HMS Stork and HMS Starling, are displayed here. The Town Hall is also home to the local council’s headquarters.
3. The Docks
Located in the heart of Bootle New Strand, the station is served by regular services along Merseyrail’s Northern Line. On weekdays trains depart every 15 minutes to Southport and Hunts Cross.
The town grew as a seaside resort in the 1800s and large areas of grand Victorian terraced houses, built from distinctive pressed brick can still be seen. Many were occupied by dock workers who lived in cramped conditions.
Bootle became a key naval port and the town was heavily bombed in World War II. The successful U-boat hunter Captain John Walker often rested in the Mayor’s parlour at Bootle Town Hall and his ship’s flags and bell are displayed there.
4. The Park
The town is also home to the 24 feet tall Bootle War Memorial, dedicated to those killed in World Wars I and II. During the latter, Bootle was one of the worst bombed boroughs in England and 90% of its houses were destroyed.
The Bootle New Strand train station offers services across the Merseyrail network, with trains departing every 15 minutes Mondays through Saturdays and on summer Sundays. It features a staffed ticket office, CCTV on both platforms, step-free access via steep ramps, cycle storage and rental facilities as part of the Merseyrail Go Cycle initiative, and customer information screens.
The quickest and most direct route to Bootle New Strand is to take the train. The journey from Liverpool Central to Bootle New Strand takes about 18 min.
5. The Beach
During half-term, children wrote their dreams and ambitions on stars and hung them on fruit trees at Bootle New Strand shopping centre to raise awareness of the need for foster parents in Merseyside. It was part of the Wish Tree Project by National Fostering Agency and is one of a number of activities to help boost the area’s reputation as an excellent destination for families.
The docks spread right up to Seaforth Sands and the town became heavily industrialised. Many dock workers lived in cramped terraced houses which are distinctive for their pressed red bricks. During World War II, the Borough of Bootle suffered more bombing than any other in England.
The best way to get around Bootle New Strand is on foot, but you can also use public transit or book a taxi. Use Moovit to get directions and compare bus, train and taxi prices and times in real time.
