Knotty Ash

Knotty Ash sits in the east of Liverpool, roughly five miles from the city centre. The area is primarily residential, with terraced streets, semi-detached houses and pockets of post-war housing. East Prescot Road runs through Knotty Ash and carries most of the local shops, takeaways and small businesses. There are primary schools, a public library and community centres that serve nearby estates. Several bus routes link the neighbourhood to Liverpool city centre and to neighbouring suburbs, providing the main public transport connections.

Knotty Ash is closely associated with comedian Ken Dodd, who used the area’s place names and the Diddy Men in his routines; that association lives on in local storytelling and community memory. Local green spaces provide football pitches and play areas used by youth clubs and amateur teams. Working men’s clubs and social halls remain part of the neighbourhood’s fabric, hosting meetings, bingo and local fixtures. The area is best experienced on foot, along the residential streets and the parade on East Prescot Road.