Get your cultural fix in Halton

Halton holds its own when it comes to arts and culture and has a varied and rich offering; whether it is stepping back in time and discovering the stunning Undercroft and the many objects and artefacts found in Norton Priory Museum and Gardens. From the historical to the current, catch the newest shows and performances at the award-winning Brindley Arts Centre, from comedians to live music and theatre and everything in between, you will find it at The Brindley.

A visit to Spike Island is a must for any music fan, as this man-made island, at the centre of Britain’s chemical industry hosted the Stone Roses’ 1990 gig which ‘defined a generation. Whilst at Spike Island you should also pay a visit to The Catalyst Museum, to find out about the science and technology behind the chemical revolution.

Discover up and coming artists at The Studio in Widnes and get your finger on the pulse of the live grassroots music, comedy and theatre scene in Halton.

One place that is firmly part of Runcorn’s recent culture is The Society Taphouse, located under a railway bridge you will find this quirky and eclectic microbrewery featuring craft and cask ales, real cider, music, comedy nights as well as a delicious street food menu from bao buns to hot sticky wings.

A different food culture is Esposito’s Ice Cream, a family business whose origins date back more than four decades selling a range of delicious ice creams and Italian coffee from their outdoor cafes in Victoria Park, Widnes, and Runcorn Hill Park.

Festivals are also a firm fixture in Halton’s cultural scene – the dance festival Creamfields, which takes place in Halton yearly over August bank holiday is a must do for the hedonistic dance lovers. Also, in August you will find the Eco Fest taking place in Victoria Park which will feature a large-scale bamboo parade highlighting bamboo as a sustainable building material of the future; running alongside the Fest there’ll be stalls from local creatives, veggie and vegan food and lots of eco crafts. September brings us Halton Heritage Open Days, where there are lots of opportunities for free walks, tours and venue openings.

Lewis Carroll was born in Daresbury, where his father was the Vicar of the All Saints Church and is now home to the Lewis Carroll Centre, where you can see the stunning stained glass Lewis Carroll window in the Church and find out lots of fascinating facts as well as take a walk along the route that Lewis would have walked in his childhood. Whilst doing so, you can stop off at Daresbury Ice Cream farm for a freshly made artisan ice cream.

Come and discover Halton’s art and cultural offering and be delighted and inspired in this diverse offering.

• The Brindley Arts Centre – Opened in 2004 this multi-purpose, state-of-the-art Theatre and Arts Centre. With a 420 seat Theatre, 108 seats Studio venue, Gallery, Workshops Spaces and Terrace Cafe overlooking the Bridgewater Canal. The award-winning cultural hub is currently being re-imagined with plans for a piazza where pop up events can be staged.

• Esposito’s Ice Cream Esposito’s Ice Cream is a family business whose origins date back more than four decades selling a range of delicious ice creams and Italian coffee from their outdoor cafes in Victoria Park, Widnes, and Runcorn Hill Park.

• Lewis Carroll Centre – An attraction dedicated to the famous writing and work of the famous, local author. Visitors can take a self-guided walk around ‘The Birthplace’ of Lewis Carroll. Carroll’s birthplace is marked by the National Trust, wander Woodland Trust’s Lewis Carroll Centenary Wood and explore the story, told in an all-year-round exhibition along-side All Saints Church where his father was a much-loved vicar. The church itself is beautifully kept with fine examples of Jacobean carving, a ‘Green Man’, search out the Alice in Wonderland stained glass memorial window. Visitors can also grab a scoop of delicious Daresbury Dairy Ice Cream enroute, made with love and care on the farm nearby.

• Norton Priory Museum & Gardens is one of Halton’s hidden gems, once home to a medieval church and is the most excavated monastic site in Europe. Visitors can be wowed by the 12th century Undercroft with beautiful, vaulted ceiling and the Priory ruins showing the layout of the medieval buildings. Discover fascinating facts and objects in the museum and wonder in the woodland and walled gardens with secret summer houses, a stream glade and sculptures.

• Spike Island – Go and explore the island with its footpaths, cycle paths, canal walks, woodland and wetlands. Take in the views of the River Mersey or also extend your visit with a trip to Catalyst Museum.

• The Studio – Based in Widnes, hosting Live Music events along with offering rehearsal rooms and recording studio, fostering talent, and promoting events also nod to the original vibrancy of music at The Queens Hall

• Society Tap House – Tap house and Microbrewery featuring Craft and Cask ales, real cider, cocktails, music, a street food kitchen and an all-round good time.