The Best Independent Shops on Lord Street

Lord Street is one of the great Victorian boulevards of England. People from outside Southport are often genuinely surprised when they see it for the first time — the width of it, the tree canopies, the covered walkways. Napoleon III supposedly used it as inspiration for the Champs-Élysées. Whether that's true or not, it makes a good story, and the street lives up to it.

Wayfarers Arcade

The Victorian arcade off Lord Street is the first stop. Ornate ironwork, glass roof, independent traders selling jewellery, antiques, clothing, and collectibles. It's the kind of place you can browse for an hour without intending to buy anything and leave with something you didn't know you needed. There's always something surprising in here.

Independent fashion and boutiques

Lord Street has a genuine mix of independents alongside the chains. The covered sections have a concentration of clothing boutiques — the kind of places that get new stock regularly and have an actual buyer making decisions, rather than a central buying team in a head office. Worth a browse if you're after something you won't find on every high street.

Food shops and delis

There are a handful of independent food shops and delis within easy reach of Lord Street. Good for local produce, gifts, and the kind of specialist stock you can't get in Tesco. Worth hunting out if food shopping is your version of retail therapy. Southport's independent food scene is stronger than its size would suggest.

Galleries and gifts

The Atkinson on Lord Street has a gallery shop attached. There are also a couple of independent galleries selling local artwork — prints, photography, ceramics. Good for gifts that have some connection to the place rather than being generic tourist tat.

The charity shop circuit

This is the underrated one. Southport's charity shops punch above their weight. There are several along and adjacent to Lord Street, and they get good quality donations because of the demographics of the town. If you're a vintage or second-hand shopper, factor in an hour. You won't always find something, but when you do it's worth it.