It takes about a decade to properly know a town. After four decades in Southport, I'm still finding things I'd missed. These are the places that don't make it onto the tourist maps — the spots that locals mention in the kind of hushed tone that says 'don't tell everyone about this.'
Churchtown — the village within the town
I live in Churchtown. I'm biased. But Churchtown is genuinely Southport's most underrated neighbourhood — a proper village feel, the Botanic Gardens, the Hesketh Arms, and the Swan restaurant. Most visitors never make it here. It's five minutes from the town centre by car. Go.
The Botanic Gardens
Free, beautiful, and almost always quiet. The Botanic Gardens in Churchtown have a lake, walking paths, a café, and glasshouses. On a weekday morning, you might almost have them to yourself. They're the kind of place that restores something in you when you've been staring at screens too long.
The backstreets of Birkdale village
Birkdale village is known for its proximity to Royal Birkdale golf course, but the village itself rewards a wander. There are independent shops, good cafés, and a residential character that feels distinct from the town centre. Less touristy, more genuinely local.
Marine Lake at dusk
Everyone goes to Marine Lake in the daytime. Fewer people go at dusk, when the light goes gold and the water reflects the sky and the whole thing looks like somewhere you'd use as a screensaver. Walking around the lake at that time of day is one of those small pleasures that Southport does genuinely well.
The covered Victorian market arcade
Wayfarers Arcade, off Lord Street. I've mentioned it in other posts. I'll keep mentioning it until everyone has been. It's one of the most beautiful indoor spaces in this part of England and most visitors walk past it without a second glance. The ironwork. The glass roof. The independent shops. Go in.
Crossens — the overlooked corner
Crossens is at the northern edge of Southport, heading toward the RSPB reserve at Marshside. It's not a tourist destination. It's a quiet residential area with a marshland backdrop that's genuinely striking in autumn. If you want to understand the landscape around Southport — the flatness, the big skies, the coastal marshes — a walk out toward Crossens does it better than anything else.
🗺️None of these places are secret in the grand scheme of things. They're just not on the main tourist trail. Which is exactly why they're worth finding.
Hidden gems are part of a bigger picture. Here's our full guide to everything worth doing in and around Southport — beaches, nature, culture, golf, and more.
Things to Do in Southport — The Complete Guide →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk — Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
