Southport Pier is the second longest pier in England at 1,108 metres. That is a long pier. Long enough that they run a miniature railway to the end of it, which tells you something about the commitment required. I've walked it hundreds of times. Here's everything worth knowing.
What's actually on the pier
At the landward end: the pier entrance, a café, and the Victorian shelter buildings that are worth a look for the architecture alone. The pier stretches out across the sands and shallow water, with benches at intervals and a handful of heritage interpretation panels along the way. At the seaward end: the pier pavilion, which hosts events and has café facilities, and the views back toward Southport's seafront that are genuinely impressive on a clear day.
The miniature railway
The Pier Tramway runs from the shore end to the pier head — about a 1,100-metre journey that takes a few minutes. For children, this is immediately the highlight of the entire pier visit. For adults with tired legs on the return journey, it's quietly excellent. It doesn't run all year round — check the pier website for operating times before you go.
Walking the whole length
The walk to the end of the pier and back is about 2.2km. In decent weather, it's genuinely enjoyable — the views open up as you get further out, you can see up and down the coastline, and there's something meditative about walking out over the sea. In strong wind, it's bracing in the way that only a long Victorian pier on the Lancashire coast can be. Dress accordingly.
Best time to visit
Clear evenings in spring and summer. The light on the water at sunset from the end of the pier is one of the better free views in Southport. Avoid windy days if you're taking young children — the exposed sections can be genuinely gusty. Weekday mornings are quieter than weekends, which matters if you want the contemplative pier experience rather than the family day out version.
The tide and the beach
One of the more startling features of Southport Pier is that at low tide, you can walk on the sand beneath most of its length. The tide here goes out an extraordinary distance — sometimes more than a mile. The pier, from below, is a completely different experience. Worth timing a visit to coincide with low tide if you're curious about the structure itself.
🌊Always check tide times before walking on the beach at the base of the pier. The tide comes back in faster than it goes out, and the flat beach gives a false sense of security. Especially important with children.
History
Southport Pier opened in 1860 and has been through fires, storms, and several major restoration projects. The current pier is largely a 20th-century structure, though the heritage character has been preserved throughout the restorations. It's a listed building, part of Southport's identity in a way that residents sometimes forget to appreciate until someone threatens to close it.
Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk — Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
