All Sorts of Things in Southport

In Brief.

Southport is a substantial seaside resort on the Irish Sea, though on my visit the tide was out, and it was hard to see the sea over the expanse of sand, even from the end of the Pier! Is it a tired throw-back to another era (think Every Day is Like Sunday)? Well, it's a British seaside resort, so not everything on show was invented in the last 20 years, but near the front there is a modern cinema with associated restaurants alongside artefacts from Victorian times. So, if you are open to the British seaside experience, the beach is vast, the pier is long, the entertainments are numerous, and a modest amount of effort may also uncover some lower profile things to like, such as the distinctive eateries, independent shops, a modern cultural centre ... and perhaps even the shiny new crazy golf course that was being completed in time for the school holidays.

As well as reaching out to sea, the Pier goes some way inland!

What's Here?

With a population of over 90,000, Southport is a sizeable town, not dominated by the seafront.  Indeed, although there is a long promenade and an impressive Victorian Pier, the seafront itself seems quite low key. However, immediately inland is a substantial leisure area adjacent to Marine Lake, which itself plays host to assorted boating activities and numerous ducks, swans and geese. Among the leisure activities are a fairground, a cinema, restaurants, crazy golf, an adventure playground and a model railway village. These were pretty quiet on a Friday morning, but are no doubt much more bustling at weekends and during school holidays.

Shopping and eating on Lord Street

The town centre is a short distance inland, with Lord Street running parallel to the coast and providing the centre of gravity. This is a long wide boulevard, with shops running along one side. While these include a department store, most are small, and many are independent, and could be a useful antidote to online shopping for anyone who likes to browse. There is also a decent cafe and restaurant scene, with a wide range of outlets, and many places to sit out on the wide pavement. 

Also on Lord Street is The Atkinson, a recently renovated arts and culture venue that occupies several late Victorian buildings.  This includes a theatre, and for day trippers provides an arts space with changing exhibitions (the two when I was there were well curated and worth seeing) and a museum. The museum features unstuffy exhibits on the history of the town and a compact but impressive Egyptian area based on the collection of a single individual.

With a view to seeing something a little off the beaten track, I also visited the Botanic Gardens. This includes both a fernery (not something you see every day) and an aviary (of rescued birds) alongside a collection of gardens that surround a pond. Perhaps this is not a big enough draw to attract most day trippers away from the centre, but it does benefit from its adjacency to Botanic Road, with whitewashed shops and eateries, including art, whisky and chocolate shops. The bijou chocolate shop also serves cake and coffee, to set you up for the journey home.

Practicalities.

Distance from Manchester Town Hall: 43 miles.

Drive Time: 70 minutes.

Price: Free (or more...)

Parking: There is plenty car parking. I walked in from the Esplanade Park & Ride Car Park, Southport, PR8 1RR, £2 all day.

Food and Drink: There are lots of options, in particular along Lord Street, where there are numerous cafes and restaurants, some with street tables. I had a nice, freshly made, sandwich with polite service in the traditional surroundings of the Westminster Tea Rooms.

Retail therapy: Southport is a substantial town, and seems to have more than its fair share of independent shops along and around Lord Street. 

Child Friendly: This is a seaside resort, and although lots of places were closed during my weekday visit in July, in principle there are lots of activities for kids near the beach ... such as the beach, a play park, a fun fair, crazy golf, boating, ...

Toilets: At the seafront and in The Atkinson.

Do it justice in: A full day.

Inside-Outside: 40:60



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