10 best Liverpool commuter towns for city, countryside, and culture

As one of the largest cities in North West England, Liverpool benefits from excellent transport links to its surrounding areas by road, rail, and even ferry, giving you plenty of options for commuting to Liverpool for work or study. We look at ten of the most popular Liverpool commuter towns and villages for you to consider for your next move in Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire, many of which have exciting developments of new Bellway homes near Liverpool with fantastic transport connections on your doorstep.

Top commuter towns near Liverpool

Litherland

Just five miles outside of Liverpool city centre and a short distance from Crosby beach, Litherland is one of the best commuter towns near Liverpool for enjoying everything that the area has to offer. The Liverpool and Leeds canal flows through Litherland too, and the canal towpath is a popular and picturesque walking route taking you through the Rimrose Valley Country Park.

Litherland’s proximity to both city, coast, and countryside makes it one of the most family-friendly places to live near Liverpool, and Bellway's St Wilfrid’s Place development of new homes in Litherland is ideally located for commuters to Liverpool; the city centre is around 15 minutes away by car, or by Merseyrail from Seaford and Litherland station, just a mile from the development.

Birkenhead

Located directly over the River Mersey from Liverpool, Birkenhead offers direct access into the city via the Mersey Tunnel as well as from Birkenhead Hamilton Square railway station, both with journey times of under 10 minutes, or you can take the ferry across the river for a more scenic commute. 

However, Birkenhead has so much more to offer than a speedy trip to Liverpool; it’s part of the Wirral Peninsula, which is renowned for its spectacular coastline and rich wildlife, and the town has a vibrant cultural scene with several museums, galleries, independent music venues and restaurants, plus Birkenhead Park, the world’s first public park which inspired the creation of Central Park in New York City.

Halewood

Halewood is renowned for being one of the more affordable towns near Liverpool for home buyers, as well as for having a friendly community spirit and plenty of open green spaces, yet excellent road and public transport connections. The town is about 10 miles, or 30 minutes’ drive from Liverpool, and Halewood railway station whisks you to Liverpool Lime Street in under half an hour.

Halewood Oaks, Bellway’s development of new-build homes in Halewood is situated within walking distance of the town’s amenities and is less than a mile from Halewood station for commuting into the city by train, while the nearby Knowsley Expressway connects to the M62 to facilitate a smooth drive into Liverpool or around Merseyside. If you need to travel further for work, Liverpool John Lennon Airport is just 10 minutes’ drive away, and provides domestic and international flights to an array of destinations.

Southport

While it is perhaps best known as a traditional seaside spot, Southport is also gaining recognition as one of the best Merseyside commuter towns thanks to its fantastic local amenities and Liverpool transport links via road and rail. Outside of its bustling beachfront and iconic pier, Southport has many appealing neighbourhoods to suit every type of home mover and boasts its own railway station on the Merseyrail line with journey times to Liverpool taking under an hour.

Knutsford

Cheshire’s picturesque market village of Knutsford is a coveted postcode among professional footballers and first-time home buyers alike, as hopeful residents look to take advantage of its lush and leafy surroundings, buzzing town centre packed with independent businesses, and exceptional transport links to Liverpool as well as Greater Manchester and the wider North West. 

Whether you’re commuting for work, study or an intense day of Premier League training, Liverpool is about 50 minutes from Knutsford by car; Bellway’s development of new homes new Knutsford, Park Gate Village, is just a short distance from the M6 motorway to make this journey reassuringly straightforward.

Lydiate

The pretty canalside village of Lydiate offers an attractively laid-back lifestyle in the heart of Merseyside, and an easy 30-minute journey to Liverpool city centre by car. Its tranquillity and lush, semi-rural surroundings attract families with young children and people seeking a slower pace of life, while its great local transport connections draw in first-time buyers and professionals commuting to Liverpool.

Bellway’s Lydiate Gate development of brand-new homes near Lydiate is situated just a mile from the village, and just off the A59 for Liverpool via Switch Island junction. For direct train services to Liverpool, Maghull railway station is just a few minutes’ drive away.

Formby

Offering an unbeatable mix of picturesque coastal charm with commutable convenience, Formby is among the most sought-after towns near Liverpool to live – you'll have the National Trust-protected Formby Beach to the west, and the Formby Bypass to the east, linking you to the city centre with a journey time of about half an hour. Closer to home, Formby offers great local amenities and leafy streets, and a Merseyrail train station with journeys to Liverpool Central taking around 30 minutes.

Mossley Hill

Arguably the most famous of the suburbs of Liverpool, Mossley Hill is where all four members of the Beatles grew up – and it’s where you’ll find the real-life street of Penny Lane. Outside of its pop culture history, Mossley Hill is an affluent and highly desirable residential area just four miles from central Liverpool, with a commute time of about 15 minutes by car, and under ten minutes on the train.

Warrington

Located in the charming county of Cheshire, Warrington benefits from its proximity to both Manchester and Liverpool while residents can bask in bucolic beauty closer to home. It’s earned its reputation as one of Liverpool’s best commuter towns as travel time from central Warrington is around 25 minutes by train, or about 40 minutes by car.

From Bellway’s development of new homes in Warrington, The Landings, your journey could be even shorter with junction 8 of the M62 close by, so you could be arriving at your desk in about half an hour. If you do prefer to commute by train, Warrington West and Sankey for Penketh railway stations are both five minutes’ drive away from The Landings and provide direct services to Liverpool Lime Street.

Ormskirk

Although at first glance Ormskirk appears to be a quaint and richly historic Lancashire market town (with a reputation for its gingerbread), you’ll soon discover that it has a buzzing atmosphere thanks to its large student population attending Edge Hill University. 

The vibrancy of Ormskirk combined with its great transport connections to Liverpool gives it broad appeal to first-time buyers and families alike; at Lathom Pastures, Bellway’s collection of new-build homes near Ormskirk you’ll have all the town’s attractions just a few miles from the development, and excellent transport links for Liverpool close by including the M58 motorway and Ormskirk railway station.

Why choose Bellway homes in the Liverpool area?

Look forward to a shorter, easier commute, a better work-life balance, and even lower utility bills when you choose a new home near Liverpool with Bellway. Our developments of energy-efficient new-build homes are situated in some of the most sought-after locations in the North West of England including popular Liverpool commuter towns and villages that you’ll love to call home; so whether you’re a first-time buyer looking for a smart apartment close to a railway station, or a family searching for your dream ‘forever home’ in Merseyside, you’ll find your perfect property with Bellway.

The Mason showhome at Lydiate Gate

The location for every new Bellway development is carefully chosen to ensure that you have excellent amenities, including schools, shops and local services within reach, as well as proximity to key transport links to make commuting straightforward and stress-free. What’s more, when you move into your new Bellway home everything will be brand new, immaculately clean and ready for you to begin making memories right away, as part of an exciting new community that will grow with you.

Tips for commuting to Liverpool

• Research rail vs car commuting - Merseyside is well-connected to central Liverpool by the Merseyrail commuter train service, and the wider National Rail network links Liverpool with the surrounding counties and major cities in the North West; there are also excellent road routes and plenty of parking available in the city centre, although if you regularly commute by car the costs can begin to add up. Before settling on a new home near Liverpool, research your options for commuting by rail or car, as well as by bus to find out which would be the most viable and affordable route for you.

• Look for park-and-ride options - Many railway stations with services to Liverpool, including several on the Merseyrail line, offer free ‘park and ride’ facilities so you can leave your car and use public transport to complete your journey into the city – giving you greater flexibility with travel and a broader choice of locations for living near Liverpool.

• Visit towns during commute hours - When considering locations for your new home near Liverpool, make sure to visit the area during peak traffic times to see what your commute could be like before you commit.

Ready to begin your search for your new Bellway home near Liverpool? Explore all of our current and forthcoming developments in your preferred locations, and read about the many great reasons to consider a new-build Bellway home for your next move. You can also find out about the unmissable buying schemes and incentives that are available to make your new home more affordable, and even sell your current property faster, if you have one.

We also have many helpful articles to support you through the buying process, from a guide to the stages of building a new-build home, to a breakdown of the costs of moving house; if you’re looking for inspiration for your new home, read inspiring stories from real Bellway homeowners like Alex and Ollie, who made their Scrivener home into a peaceful retreat, and Helen and Alan, who downsized to a wonderful Watchmaker.