Business Details
30 Years
experience
Your Historic Venue in Liverpool's Sefton Park
Palm House Sefton Park stands as a testament to Liverpool's rich heritage and commitment to community enrichment. Established in 1896 as a gift to the city, this Grade 2* listed Victorian glasshouse has been meticulously restored to preserve its historical and botanical significance. Our mission revolves around fostering connections between people, plants, and place through free public access, cultural events, and educational programs. The Palm House serves as a vibrant hub for heritage preservation, hosting weddings, corporate events, and community celebrations while maintaining its living collection of exotic plants. Under the stewardship of the Palm House Sefton Park Preservation Trust, a registered charity, we combine historical conservation with modern community engagement.Our team of professionals and volunteers ensures the building's upkeep and delivers initiatives that promote wellbeing, environmental awareness, and cultural enrichment. With over 25 years of dedicated service since reopening in 2001, we continue to welcome visitors from all backgrounds to experience this unique blend of architectural marvel and natural beauty. The Palm House remains a beacon of accessibility, offering year-round free entry to its grounds and glasshouse, ensuring this iconic landmark remains a cherished resource for generations to come.
Services
Venue Hire
Guided Tours
Community Events
Educational Programs
Botanical Conservation
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We offer free year-round access to Liverpool's most iconic heritage site
- Our Grade 2* listed building hosts unique weddings and corporate events
- We deliver community-focused wellbeing and educational programs
- Our living botanical collection spans continents and centuries
- We combine historical preservation with modern cultural programming
Associations and certifications
- Registered Charity 1059957
- Company Limited by Guarantee 3272897
What people say
Beautiful historic venue
Wonderful community events
Stunning botanical collection
Accessible year-round
Excellent educational programs
Services
Venue Hire
Host weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations in our historic glasshouse. The venue combines Victorian architecture with modern amenities, offering a unique setting for up to 200 guests. Our dedicated events team provides comprehensive support for planning and execution.
Guided Tours
Explore the Palm House's rich history and botanical collection with expert-led tours. Learn about Victorian engineering, exotic plant species, and conservation efforts. Tours cater to groups, schools, and special interest visitors throughout the year.
Community Events
Enjoy free cultural and wellbeing activities including garden tours, music performances, and seasonal festivals. Our calendar features events for all ages, promoting community engagement and environmental awareness in a heritage setting.
Educational Programs
Access curriculum-linked educational resources and workshops for schools. Our programs focus on botany, history, and environmental science, delivered by experienced educators in our unique Victorian glasshouse environment.
Botanical Conservation
Support the care and maintenance of our living plant collection spanning global ecosystems. Conservation efforts focus on historic specimens and educational displays, combining horticultural expertise with heritage preservation in Liverpool's iconic glasshouse.
People
David Ellis
Interim Chair
Over 25 years in voluntary sector leadership, fundraising, and community development. Former Deputy Chair focused on preserving Palm House's heritage while expanding community engagement and educational programs.
Charlotte Smith
Trustee
Cultural attractions specialist with 20+ years' experience. Currently leads education programs at Chester Zoo, advocating for nature-focused wellbeing initiatives and sustainable practices in heritage conservation.
Natalie Dickson
Trustee
Legal professional and community fundraiser with extensive board experience. Passionate about preserving Liverpool's heritage while supporting local community initiatives through pro bono and charitable work.
Pam Wilsher
Trustee
Former tourism development leader with 30+ years in Liverpool's visitor economy. Instrumental in major cultural projects including European Capital of Culture 2008 and International Garden Festival.
Kate Rodenhurst
Trustee
Arts and heritage consultant with expertise in strategic planning and fundraising. Former National Museums Liverpool community engagement specialist, evaluating major cultural initiatives including Liverpool's European Capital of Culture year.
Questions
What are the Palm House's opening hours?
The Palm House is open Sunday-Wednesday 10am-5pm, Thursday 10am-3pm. The grounds open at 8am daily. The cafe closes an hour before building closure.
Is entry to the Palm House free?
Yes, entry to Sefton Park Palm House is free for all visitors year-round, including access to the glasshouse, grounds, and botanical collection.
Can I host an event at the Palm House?
The Palm House is available for weddings, corporate events, and private hire. Our events team provides full support for planning and executing special occasions in this historic venue.
How can I get involved with the Palm House?
Volunteer opportunities, membership programs, and donation options are available. We also welcome seasonal staff applications for events and hospitality roles throughout the year.
What facilities are available at the Palm House?
Facilities include the main glasshouse, botanical gardens, cafe (open Mon-Wed & Sun), guided tours, educational resources, and accessible pathways throughout the grounds.
Is the Palm House accessible for visitors with disabilities?
The Palm House has level access throughout with ramps where needed. Accessible toilets and seating are available. Detailed accessibility information can be found on our website.
Videos
Reviews (7)
J. T. McAndrew
Jan 01, 2020
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Amazing time tonight at the palm house but it was a special night with the lantern company putting on the habitats, the palm house itself is amazing peaceful and beautiful to look at with all the tropical plants you would expect, we'll worth a visit especially if they have an event like tonight's.
Jenny Meah
Dec 12, 2019
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Nice victorian glass house in Sefton park. Great to get some clean fresh air. 2 Donation suggestion. I missed out of Tea though as no one was serving at the time.
Jan
Nov 24, 2019
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Beautiful. Tea dance on whilst visiting. A tranquil place to see beautiful flowers etc and sit and drink watching the world go by
Zoe Amber Powell
Oct 05, 2019
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Absolutely beautiful and very well kept! The perfect place to visit on a sunny day. I would love to have my wedding in here!!
Rooftopstills Rooftopstills
Sep 21, 2019
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What a wonderful place to spend an hour or two!
Enjoyed one of Liverpool's finest attractions today. Met some wonderful volunteers who made us feel welcome and gave us a brief history of the Palm House. Then we enjoyed a nice cup of tea and cake in the pop-up coffee shop! It was smaller than I imagined but a real little treat. And as seen on Football Focus!
Enjoyed one of Liverpool's finest attractions today. Met some wonderful volunteers who made us feel welcome and gave us a brief history of the Palm House. Then we enjoyed a nice cup of tea and cake in the pop-up coffee shop! It was smaller than I imagined but a real little treat. And as seen on Football Focus!
G. B.
Jul 02, 2019
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Absolutely gorgeous palm house. Worth a visit if you're in the area, the surrounding park is gorgeous as well, the Palm House itself has many events going on all the time, check out their website for more details.
Eliot Collins
Sep 25, 2018
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A very Victorian looking glasshouse, full of palm trees, bougainvillea and a good few bromeliads. The Palm House is small, but well maintained. Free to enter, the Palm House plays host to a variety of events, concerts and dance classes.
