Toponymy
The most usual explanation for the origin of the name Widnes is that it comes from the Danish words vid, meaning wide, and noese, meaning nose and that it refers to the See more

Widnes is situated on the north bank of the River Mersey. The whole town is low-lying with some slightly higher areas in Farnworth and Appleton. To the south of the town a spur projecting into the river forms the West Bank area of Widnes; together with a spur … See more

The Silver Jubilee Bridge is a Grade II listed structure with Historic England. It was opened in 1961 and crosses to Runcorn. With a main arch spanning 330m, for many … See more

Local government
Widnes is unparished with the exception of Halebank. The local authority is Halton Borough Council for which the town is divided into nine See more

Population growth
Widnes was a small settlement until industrialisation in the nineteenth century which led to … See more

In 2020, the GVA for the Widnes Built-up Area was £1.18 billion.
Widnes is an industrial town and its major industry is still the manufacture of chemicals, although there has been diversification in recent years and the economy … See more

Widnes is on the southern route of the Liverpool to Manchester railway line. There are two stations in the town, Hough Green See more