Churchtown

What is Churchtown?

Churchtown is the oldest part of Southport, a village that existed centuries before the rest of the town was built. While Southport developed as a Victorian seaside resort in the 18th and 19th centuries, Churchtown was already there, centred on St Cuthbert's Church, which dates back to the 13th century.

Today Churchtown feels like a genuine village, quieter than the town centre, with its own cluster of shops, pubs, and a community that's been here longer than most. The Botanic Gardens are the main draw for visitors. Hesketh Park is underrated. St Cuthbert's is worth a look if you're interested in local history.

It's the kind of place where Southport residents take out-of-town guests when they want to show them the town properly, rather than just the seafront and Lord Street. Most day trippers never make it here.

Churchtown Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens are the best reason to visit Churchtown. Founded in 1874, they're now over 150 years old, one of the oldest municipal botanic gardens in the north-west. Entry is free, they're open every day, and they're genuinely good.

The Victorian glasshouses are the visual highlight, well maintained and stocked with tropical and subtropical plants. There's also a formal rose garden, a lake, children's play area, and a small museum covering local history. The café does decent coffee and straightforward food.

Best visited on a weekday morning if you want to avoid families at weekends. In summer, the gardens are at their best. In winter, they're quieter but still worth the trip for the glasshouses alone.

Hesketh Park

Hesketh Park is a Victorian public park opened in 1868, about 10 minutes' walk from the Botanic Gardens. It has a boating lake, formal gardens, a bandstand, a café, and tennis courts. Free entry. Postcode: PR9 9NB.

It's popular with dog walkers and families, well-maintained, and genuinely pleasant on a decent day. The boating lake is working, rowing boats available in summer. A good stop if you're combining a few things in Churchtown.

St Cuthbert's Church

St Cuthbert's is one of the oldest churches in Merseyside. The current building has 13th-century origins, though much of what you see is later. It's the focal point of Churchtown village and surrounded by old gravestones that give some sense of how long people have been living here.

Worth a look if you're in the village, it's in the centre of things, not out of the way. The graveyard has interesting local history for those who look.

Where to Eat and Drink in Churchtown

Churchtown has a handful of good local pubs and cafés centred on the village. The pace is slower than the town centre, these are places where locals come for a proper lunch, not tourist-facing operations.

• →The Hesketh Arms, traditional village pub, good for lunch, reliable food. On the main village road.
• →The Bold Arms, another solid local option in the village.
• →Botanic Gardens Café, good for coffee and a bite while you're in the gardens. Nothing fancy but fine.

For more options, Southport town centre is 10 minutes by car. Churchtown itself is a village, the dining offer reflects that.

Getting to Churchtown

Frequently Asked Questions