Excursion Port sunlight and cream tea at lady lever art gallery tour at Liverpool

Venture ‘over the water’ (cross under the River Mersey via the tunnel) to the fascinating industrial garden village of Port Sunlight, ‘the village built on soap’.

This utterly charming Victorian village was built in 1888 by William Hesketh Lever, later Lord Leverhulme, for the provision of housing for workers at his soap factory. Every house has a unique design as Lever employed around 30 different architects to ensure the diversity of buildings that not only provided attractive housing for his employees, but also their recreational areas and community services.  Even today, many residents of Port Sunlight are descendants of the workers or their families and known affectionately as ‘Sunlighters’.

A drive around the village will show you the sites of the old hospital, swimming pool, the school, church hall, Bridge Inn pub and the delightful Christ Church; W.H. Lever’s most personal gift to his cherished workforce.

After your orientation by coach of this Idyllic village, visit Port Sunlight Museum. The museum’s exhibits tell the history of Port Sunlight and its workers throughout the decades. An informative film, ‘Sunlight Spirit’ features characters that lived and worked in the village throughout the late 19^th and early 20^th century.  The museum also houses a special exhibition gallery that changes annually.

Next door to the Museum, find the Edwardian worker’s cottage. Step inside to see an original Port Sunlight home as it would have been in the early 20^th century.

Further exploration of early 20^th century Port Sunlight takes you to the Lady Lever Art Gallery. Opened in 1922 by Princess Beatrice, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria.

View the collections at the Lady Lever Art Gallery, one of the most beautiful galleries in the country. Housing extensive and varied exhibits, it was built for, and dedicated to, W.H. Lever’s beloved wife, Elizabeth.  The gallery houses Lever’s renowned collection of Pre-Raphaelite works including masterpieces by Millais, Ford Madox Brown and Rosseti.  The art gallery is also home to magnificent collections of Wedgwood china, outstanding carved and inlaid 18th century furniture, rich tapestries, ancient Grecian urns, Roman statuary and Chinese porcelain as well as classical antiquities and memorabilia.

Bid farewell to beautiful Port Sunlight village and return to Liverpool.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Port Sunlight, Lady Lever Art Gallery

Note

Please note: This tour involves a minimal amount of walking of approximately 500 metres, mainly over flat surfaces. The tour is suitable to wheelchair users who are able to negotiate the steps on and off the coach. Wheelchair users must be travelling with a companion.