Best Things to do in Southport, Merseyside
England's Classic Seaside Resort has Shopping, Dining, Hotels, Golf
Aug 12, 2009
Southport has been a popular English holiday destination since at least the 19th century, and has always been thought of as a more refined and upmarket resort than its near-neighbour, Blackpool. Blackpool is about 10 miles north of Southport along the coast as the crow flies, but at least three times that by road as the road has to go inland around the River Ribble's estuary. Liverpool is about 20 miles to the south, making Southport an easy day trip by train or car.
Best Things to do in Southport
- Splash World, water fun park and recreation centre
- Southport Pier, and the Penny Arcade at the end
- Lord Street, some of the best shopping in town
- Southport Beach, a great family beach
- Silcock's Funland Amusements, Southport's biggest family amusement centre
- Marine Lake, for strolling, admiring, or rent a boat for yourself
- Enjoy the public art along Marine Drive
- Ocean Plaza, with 10-pin bowling, multiplex cinema, restaurants
- New Pleasureland, free fun park and rides
- Southport Eco Visitor Centre – fun and educational too: it is easy being green
- The Southport Lawnmower Museum
- The Southport Model Railway Village
Southport's Parks
- Southport is also blessed with lots of green spaces, with numerous parks and gardens making it one of England's most attractive and floral seaside towns.
- Hesketh Park, the town's biggest park, designed by the people who designed New York's Central Park
- Victoria Park, with a narrow-gauge railway, boating pond and flower displays, it is also home to the annual Southport Flower Show, the largest independent flower show in the UK
- Princes Park and Kings Gardens, surrounding the Marine Lake
- Lord Street Gardens, make the perfect place to take a break from all that shopping
- The Botanic Gardens, with award-winning flower displays, a museum, shops, lake and Victorian Fernery
Southport's Top Golf Courses
Southport is surrounded by good golf courses, and is an ideal resort for anyone wanting a golfing holiday. The Open Championships are often held at one of the golf courses in or near Southport, which are some of the best courses in England:
- The Royal Birkdale Golf Club, host to nine Open Championships, the latest in 2008
- The Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake has hosted the Open 11 times, the last in 2006
- The Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club has hosted no fewer than 10 Open Championships and will host again in 2012
Southport: the Paris of the North
Many people are amused when they first hear Southport, a classic English seaside resort, referred to as the Paris of the North. But the claim is not as fanciful as it might sound. The main shopping street, Lord Street, is very reminiscent of some Parisian streets, being wide and tree-lined and with its many canopies and arcades. From 1846-8 Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte lived in exile in Southport, before returning to France to eventually become Emperor of the nation. It was during Napoléon's reign that he worked with the acclaimed architect Baron Haussmann to rip out the Parisian slums and replace them with wide tree-lined boulevards. Perhaps Paris is the Southport of France?
More Information on Things to Do in Southport
For further travel and tourist information on Southport, England's Classic Resort, visit the official travel website: www.visitsouthport.com
Where to Stay in Southport
Read about the Vincent, Southport's stylish new boutique hotel.
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