Skelmersdale is a market town in West Lancashire with 35,000 people as of 2021.
Understand
[edit]Skelmersdale means Skjaldmarr's valley, and in the Domesday Book was recorded as Skalmeresedel. Skem is the shortened/slang name for Skelmersdale, and locals will use that commonly.
In 1961 Skelmersdale was designated a new town, designed to house overspill population from the north Liverpool conurbation. The River Tawd runs through Skelmersdale. It is unsafe to drink from the river.
Get in
[edit]
By plane
[edit]The nearest airports are Liverpool John Lennon (LPL IATA), Leeds/Bradford Airport (LBA IATA) and Manchester (MAN IATA). Overall, Manchester has better flight connections.
By rail
[edit]A nearby train station is Ormskirk, where you can then transfer.
By road
[edit]The M58 and A577 lead into Skelmersdale.
By bus
[edit]There are bus stops around. Buses in the North West typically make stops in Skelmersdale.
Skelmersdale Bus Station is in Concourse Shopping Centre, but there are other minor stations littered around.
Get around
[edit]By bus
[edit]Transport via bus to The Concourse is the most common in Skem.
By taxi
[edit]Skem Express Cars is the official taxi service. It has an office in the Conny, an app to request taxis and its phone number is: ☏ +44 169550005.
On foot
[edit]Skelmersdale has many hidden wooded paths, and pedestrian walkways to get around the town on foot. Most places are walking distance from the Concourse Shopping Centre.
See
[edit]
- 1 Delph Waterfall and Forest, near 12 Eskbrook (down through the path at the end of the road, and there is a two-path diverge; pick either to enter the nature).
Do
[edit]- 1 Beacon Country Park, Beacon Ln, Up Holland, Wigan WN8 7RU, ☏ +44 1695622794. Open 24 hours every day but services there will be closed. Wooded area with a playpark for the kids. Free.
- 2 Skelmersdale Thai Boxing, The Klub, 62 Birkrig, Digmoor, WN8 9HP (near Digmoor in Skelmersdale). M-F 9:30AM–7PM, Sa 10AM–2PM, Su closed. Thai Boxing Club - Teaches kids, teenagers and adults. Food and drink are sold inside the gym. £6 per person, per session.
Buy
[edit]
- 1 Concourse Shopping Centre. The main shopping centre. Locals will call it the "Conny"
- 2 Tawd Valley Centre. Has a B&M, Lidl and Poundstretcher.
- 3 ASDA Superstore. Has a Post Office inside.
- 4 Target Stores.
Eat
[edit]
The local specialties are Lancashire Hot Pot and Black Pudding. Sit-down restaurants are not commonplace here.
Bakeries
[edit]- 1 Michelle's Cakes. Bakery in Digmoor.
Takeouts
[edit]- 2 Bella Donner, 3 Pikelaw Pl, WN8 9PP, ☏ +44 1695727777. Daily 4:15–11PM. Doner, pizza and burger restaurant. £15. .
- 3 Yummies Take Away, 24-26 Sandy Ln, WN8 8LQ, ☏ +44 1695556600. Daily 4:30–10:45PM. £20.
- 4 Planet Chicken, Unit 10 Gladden Pl, WN8 9SX, ☏ +44 1695 661999. Daily 4–11PM. £5.
- 5 OnlyScrans, Unit 32 Sandy Ln, WN8 8LQ, ☏ +44 7934 504037. Daily 9AM-10PM. Scran refers to a quick meal. £10.
- 6 Whisk And Pickle, 242 Ormskirk Rd, WN8 9AA, ☏ +44 7934 504037. LGBT-friendly. Menu at https://goodeats.io/WHISKANDPICKLE £15.
- 7 Dine-A-Mo, 94 Sandy Ln, WN8 8LQ, ☏ +44 1695 51511. Daily 4:30–10:30PM. £15.
- 8 Tony's Pizza and Grill (Tony's), 97 High St, WN8 8AT, ☏ +44 1695 227350. £10.
Sit-downs
[edit]- 9 Red Dragon, 64-66 Birkrig, Digmoor, WN8 9HP, ☏ +44 1695 729559. Daily 4:15–11PM. Chinese sit-in restaurant £15.
Drink
[edit]The most popular alcohol is lager beer. Pubs often have darts, pub gardens and live sports including darts, cricket and football.
Pub
[edit]- 1 Duck Pub, 11 Birleywood, Digmoor, WN8 9HR, ☏ +44 1695 228488. M-Th noon–11PM, F Sa noon–2AM, Su noon–11PM.
- 2 The Derby Arms, 188 High St, WN8 8AF, ☏ +44 1695 229682. Closing down 30-10-2025 £15.
- 3 The Elmridge Arms, 1 Elmridge, Tanhouse Rd, WN8 6DF, ☏ +44 1695 724885. Daily 11AM-midnight.
Cafe
[edit]- 4 Baked Cafe, 97 High St, WN8 8AT, ☏ +44 1695 227350. M-Sa 8:30AM–1PM, Su 9AM–1PM. High street cafe. £5.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Lancashire Manor Hotel (Best Western), Prescott Road East, WN8 9QD (by M58 jcn 5), ☏ +44 1695 567260. Well-run comfy place just off motorway. B&B double £100.
- 2 Secret Garden, Holland Moss, WN8 9PZ (off Nipe Lane), [email protected]. Glamping. Double tent £170.
Cope
[edit]There are various churches in Skelmersdale. Catholicism is the most worshipped religion in Skem, althought other Christianities and Islam are worshipped.
- 1 Skelmersdale Baptist Church, 43 Flimby, Birch Green, WN8 6PD, ☏ +44 7704 481737.
- 2 St Mary Queen of Apostles Church, 58 Irwell, WN8 6JZ, ☏ +44 1695 720095.
Laundry in Skem is avaliable in 2 launderettes.
- 1 DAS Cleaners, 9 Lyndale, WN8 6UJ, ☏ +44 1695 555335. M Tu Th F 10AM-3PM.
- 2 Launderrette Revolution, Ormskirk Rd, WN8 9AH. 24 hours. Automatic launderette, outside.
Stay healthy
[edit]Tap water is safe to drink in Skelmersdale, but pipes can stop working. If a pipe stops working, let your taps run for a while before using them again. There are various doctors offices in Skelmersdale, including a walk-in centre. The nearest hospital is Ormskirk.
Skelmersdale can be blistering cold in the winter, Be sure to take a jacket and stay warm.
Stay safe
[edit]Skelmersdale is prone to knife and drug crime. Gang activity is not uncommon, especially in Digmoor. Exercise high caution at night. Its crime rate is 71 out of every 1000 people, which is low but still unsafe.
Connect
[edit]Skelmersdale has 5G and all UK Mobile Carriers. Internet Services is average in Skelmersdale, The Post Office is inside ASDA Superstore.
Go next
[edit]- Ormskirk is a Historic Market Town in the heart of Lancashire. (Enter via the M58)
- Liverpool is a Port City with a shopping district.
- Blackpool is a Lancastrian coastal town with a nice beach, busy nightlife and highest tower in North England - "The Vegas of England"
- Roby Mill is a nearby quaint village - Literally 20 minutes!
- Southport is a miniature Blackpool in Merseyside, hosting airshows and funfairs galore!