Late May half-term runs from around 26 May to 30 May depending on your school. Southport is one of the better options for a day out or a short stay with kids at this time of year. The beach is wide and free, the weather is usually reasonable, and there's enough variety that you can fill two or three days without burning through a budget.
I've got four kids. I've done this town in half-term more times than I can count. Here's what actually works and what isn't worth bothering with.
📅Late May half-term: approximately 26-30 May 2026. Bank Holiday Monday 25 May means some venues are closed or running reduced hours. Worth checking before you travel.
Southport Beach
Marine Drive car park is the one to use. Postcode PR8 1RQ. It fills up by 10am on a sunny half-term Saturday. If you're arriving on a weekday you should be fine up to about 11am. Free entry. Dogs welcome.
At low tide the sea retreats over a kilometre, so if you want actual water you need to check the tide times before you go. The sand itself is clean and wide regardless of the tide. Good for football, kite flying, sandcastles, and just letting kids run. There are toilets at the car park end.
🌊Check tide times at tidetimes.org.uk before visiting the beach. Low tide can leave you a 15-minute walk from the water. High tide brings the sea right in, which is more dramatic but means less beach space.
Southport Market
On Market Street, about a five-minute walk from Lord Street. A covered market with street food stalls and a good atmosphere. Better for lunch than for shopping, but the kids tend to like it. It's undercover so it works on a wet day too. Not expensive.
Splash World
The indoor water park on East Bank Street. This is the one thing in Southport that will reliably occupy kids for three hours regardless of what the weather is doing. Book online in advance for half-term because it sells out. Slides, wave machine, the usual. Not cheap but worth it if the weather is bad.
🏊Splash World: East Bank Street, PR8 2HN. Book at splashworldsouthport.com. Half-term slots go quickly. Check online for session times and availability before you travel.
Southport Zoo and Conservation Trust
A small but decent zoo on Prince's Park. Nothing on the scale of Chester or Knowsley but manageable for a half-day with younger children. Penguins, meerkats, red pandas. Predictably popular at half-term so go early.
Crazy Golf and Amusements
Southport is well stocked with amusement arcades along the seafront near Pleasureland. The crazy golf options near the pier are fine for a cheap hour. Pleasureland itself has rides suited to younger children. Older kids tend to find it a bit limited.
The Atkinson
The cultural centre on Lord Street. Free to enter the gallery. Good for a rainy afternoon, especially with older kids who have an interest in art or local history. The cafe is decent. Worth an hour.
Eating
For a family lunch, Southport Market is the least stressful option. Most places on Lord Street are fine but get busy at half-term. La Favorita on Lord Street is good pizza and reasonable for families. Mr Chips in Churchtown for fish and chips if you want a classic seaside lunch.
All things to do in Southport:
Things To Do →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
