Botanic Gardens Southport

Botanic Gardens in Churchtown is one of those Southport places that locals take completely for granted and visitors discover by accident. It opened in 1874, has a proper heated fernery, an aviary, formal gardens, and a cafe. Entry is free. It is calm in a way that most visitor attractions are not, because it was designed for that purpose. The surrounding Churchtown village is worth an extra half hour — it is the historic heart of Southport, older than the town itself.