Bootle is part of the Liverpool urban district but has never been absorbed into Liverpool. Bootle is bordered by the Leeds and Liverpool canal, the longest canal in England. Bootle's unusual name comes from the Anglo Saxon word Botle which meant a 'dwelling house' or 'lord's hall'. The town was recorded as 'Boltelai' in the Domesday Book. During the 19th century, Bootle became known as Bootle-cum-Linacre, the town hall has "Welcome to Bootle-cum-Linacre" inscribed in its stonework. Linacre is an area within Bootle.
Bootle has a population of over 77,000 people. It is just four miles north of Liverpool and historically lies within the county of Lancashire. Bootle's docks line the River Mersey and have been an important part of the town's growth.
Until the mid-19th Century, Bootle was just a small hamlet on the outskirts of Liverpool. The town became well known to visiting businessmen and grew as a bathing resort in the 19th Century due to its golden beach. Bootle was also famous for its pure spring water which it supplied to Liverpool. With the arrival of the railway in the 1840's, Bootle began to expand. The docks provided a wealth of employment opportunities in the town throughout the 19th Century onwards and the town also became heavily industrialised.
The town of Bootle is currently undergoing significant regeneration. New housing projects aim to improve the housing situation in the town and to encourage people to settle in Bootle. The railway station is to be improved and Bootle town centre aims to become a popular retail centre following the regeneration projects.
The Bootle New Strand shopping centre is the town's main shopping area. It provides many jobs within the town and is home to a number of high street retailers. There are plenty of things to do within Bootle. The town has a number of restaurants, cafes, public houses and clubs. It also has its own leisure centre which has sports halls, a gym and a swimming pool.
Bootle is well situated for those wishing to work in Liverpool, which is just on the doorstep of Bootle. The town itself has two railway stations which provide easy access to the rest of the UK. The bus station can be found under The Strand Shopping Centre and provides comprehensive transport to the surrounding areas.