I'm a Southport local. I've also been to Blackpool enough times to have a view. This comparison comes up regularly — 'where should we go, Southport or Blackpool?' The honest answer is that they're not really in competition. They're doing different things. But since you're asking, here's the proper breakdown.
The fundamental difference
Blackpool is a traditional British seaside resort — maximalist, unapologetic, built for a certain kind of fun. Rollercoasters, illuminations, the Pleasure Beach, hen parties, stag dos, fish and chips at 11pm. It delivers this with complete commitment and it's genuinely excellent at what it does. Southport is a Victorian spa town that happens to be by the sea — broader shopping, better restaurants, quieter beaches, a more relaxed pace. Neither is trying to be the other.
Beach
Southport has the better beach for families — vast, flat sand, safe for children, less crowded. The catch is that the sea is far out at low tide (sometimes a mile away). Blackpool's beach is more immediately accessible and has more seafront activity. For actually paddling and swimming: Blackpool. For space, sand, and relative peace: Southport.
Food and restaurants
Southport, by some margin. The independent restaurant scene on and around Lord Street is significantly better than what's available in central Blackpool. This isn't anti-Blackpool sentiment — it's just that Southport has developed a genuine food culture that Blackpool's tourist-volume model doesn't prioritise in the same way. For a proper sit-down meal at the end of a day, Southport wins clearly.
Attractions for families
Blackpool wins on volume — the Pleasure Beach alone is an all-day destination. The Blackpool Tower, the Illuminations, the Sea Life Centre. For a pure family thrill-seeking day, Blackpool offers more concentrated options. Southport's family offer (Pleasureland, Silcock's, Marine Lake, Adventure Golf) is solid but smaller in scale. If you've got children who want rides and more rides: Blackpool. If you want a more varied family day with some peace included: Southport.
Shopping
Southport. Lord Street is genuinely one of the finest shopping streets in the North of England — independent boutiques, covered Victorian walkways, Wayfarers Arcade, a proper mix of local and national brands. Blackpool's shopping is primarily tourist-focused. Not a contest.
Accommodation
Different quality profiles. Blackpool has enormous accommodation volume — tens of thousands of rooms at various price points. Southport has better quality at the top end (The Grand, The Bold, The Vincent) but less volume. For budget accommodation: Blackpool. For quality stays: Southport.
Events
In 2026, Southport wins this category by a significant margin. The Open Championship, the Flower Show, the Comedy Festival, the new cultural events programme, and the MLEC arriving in 2027. Blackpool has the Illuminations (always spectacular) but Southport's event calendar this year is exceptional.
The verdict
For maximum seaside thrill, rides, and a full-noise British holiday: Blackpool, no question. For a more relaxed long weekend, better restaurants, better shopping, and one of the biggest sporting events in the world this summer: Southport. Personally, I know which one I'm biased toward. But I'll say this: the kind of person who reads a thoughtful local guide to help them choose is probably the kind of person who'd enjoy Southport more.
🏆You don't have to choose. Liverpool is 45 minutes from both. Do a Southport–Liverpool–Blackpool triangle and you've covered three very different experiences in a few days. The train connections make it easy.
Convinced? Here's everything worth doing in Southport — every beach, attraction, golf course, and neighbourhood — in one honest local guide.
Things to Do in Southport →Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk — Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
