Marine Lake is the stretch of sheltered water between the town and the open beach. It is tidal, connected to the sea, and in summer it is the most active bit of the Southport waterfront. Here is what is there, what it costs, and the honest verdict on when to go.
Sailing and Watersports
Southport Sailing Club operates from the lake and runs adult and junior sailing sessions through the summer. If you want to get on the water rather than just watch it, this is the main option. The club runs taster sessions for visitors. It is worth looking at their programme if you are here for a few days and want something different to do.
Paddleboarding and kayaking operators also work from the lake in peak season. Check the waterfront boards when you arrive. Availability changes depending on conditions and tides but from late June through August there is usually something running.
The Miniature Railway
The Southport Miniature Railway runs along the seafront from Pleasureland down toward the lake. It is genuinely one of those things that works for both small kids and people who just want the view. The ride takes about fifteen minutes end to end. It runs in peak season from late morning through the afternoon.
Worth doing once. Not a major expedition. But if you have got a four-year-old and need something with a definite beginning, middle, and end, this is reliable.
The Seafront Walk
Marine Drive runs along the seafront from the funfair area to the southern end of the beach. Walking it in the evening in July is one of those free things Southport does well. The light over the Irish Sea in late summer evenings is worth the walk on its own.
The Marine Lake area is accessible by foot or bike. There is parking on Marine Drive but it fills by mid-morning on summer weekends. The postcode for Marine Drive car park is PR8 1RX. Early in the morning in July it is genuinely one of the best places to be in this town.
Eating and Drinking on the Seafront
The seafront has a couple of options but nothing that would make you drive specifically from the town centre for the food. Grab something on Lord Street or at Southport Market before you walk down. The seafront is where you go for the views and the water, not a destination restaurant.
Timing
Late June through August is when the lake is at its best. The light in the evenings in July is the main draw. Weekday mornings before 10am in July are the best time to have the lakeside relatively to yourself. Weekend afternoons in peak season are busy. That is not a reason to avoid it, but it is worth knowing.
What else to do in Southport this summer:
Things to Do in Southport →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk. Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
