Things to Do inSouthport
Most people come for the beach. Locals know that's barely the beginning. Twenty-two miles of coastline. England's Golf Coast. Red squirrels at Formby. Antony Gormley's iron men at Crosby. A street that reportedly inspired the redesign of Paris. This is the guide the tourism boards don't write.
Terry's Take
Why Southport Surprises People
Walk down Lord Street on a summer evening and you're walking down one of Victorian England's greatest achievements — a mile-long, tree-lined boulevard 80 metres wide, with iron-and-glass verandahs over the shopfronts and architectural detail that would look at home in Paris. Which is apt, because it may have inspired it. Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte lived in Southport from 1846 to 1848. When he later became Emperor Napoleon III and commissioned Haussmann to redesign Paris, those boulevards looked remarkably familiar to anyone who had been to Southport.
But Southport's offer runs deeper than one brilliant street. Seven miles south, at Formby, red squirrels still live in the pine woodland above the dunes — one of only twelve refuges left in Britain. At Crosby, 100 iron figures face out to sea across three kilometres of tidal beach. Inland, WWT Martin Mere is 600 acres of wetland with otters and migratory birds that most people driving through Lancashire never know exists. And on the golf course side: Royal Birkdale, Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, Hesketh — four courses within two miles of each other, three of them ranked in the UK's top 100, collectively representing some of the finest links golf in the world.
The guide below covers all of it. We've been honest about what's worth your time and what isn't, and we've included the practical details that the official tourism sites tend to leave out. Southport is better than its reputation. Use this guide to find out why.
Southport's 22-Mile Coastline
The Beaches
Four very different beaches, each worth knowing about. Not all of them are in Southport, but all of them are within easy reach — and each one offers a completely distinct experience.
Formby Beach
22,200 searches/mo — the region's most searched beach
Seven miles of sand backed by pine woodland where native red squirrels still survive — one of only twelve refuges left in Britain. Walk the Lifeboat Road pinewood trails at dawn in spring or autumn and you'll see them. The beach itself is vast and backed by dramatic dunes; at low tide, prehistoric footprints from 8,000 BC occasionally emerge from the sand. One of the genuinely extraordinary days out within reach of Southport.
Southport Beach
9,900 searches/mo — Southport's famous main beach
Southport Beach is enormous — one of the widest in England. At low tide the sea can be a kilometre away, making it a landscape to walk through rather than a swim spot (though the tide does come in). The best time to visit is at sunset, when the light across the flats is genuinely spectacular. The beach sits alongside Marine Lake, Adventure Coast, and King's Gardens — you can easily make a full day of it without touching the sea at all.
Ainsdale Beach
6,600 searches/mo — the local's quieter choice
Two miles south of Southport, Ainsdale is backed by one of north-west Europe's most important dune systems — a Site of Special Scientific Interest home to natterjack toads, sand lizards, and great crested newts. Blue Flag awarded. Noticeably quieter than Southport Beach, with a more natural feel. The beach here is genuinely wide even at higher tide, making it the best choice when you want sand underfoot rather than a hike across the flats.
Crosby Beach
18,100 searches/mo — the art installation that stops people in their tracks
One hundred cast-iron figures, each weighing 650 kilos, spread across three kilometres of tidal beach — all facing out to sea. Antony Gormley's *Another Place* is one of the most quietly powerful pieces of public art in England. Each figure is a cast of Gormley's own body. They're most visible at low tide, at their most dramatic at sunset. Technically 14 miles south of Southport, but an obvious pairing for any visit to the area.
21-Mile Walking Route
The Sefton Coastal Path
A 21-mile signed walking and cycling route running from Crosby Beach in the south to Southport in the north, passing through Formby, Ainsdale, and the Sefton Coast SSSI dunes system. You can walk any section of it independently.
With Kids
Family Days Out
Southport has a strong case as the best family seaside destination in the North West. A summary of what actually exists, with the practical details.
Adventure Coast Southport
Formerly Southport Pleasureland
30+ rides across four themed lands — Cartoon Boardwalk, Viking Landing, Steampunk Bay, and Pirate Cove. Free to enter; pay per ride or buy a wristband. Open weekends and selected weekdays, late March to end of September, 11am–5pm. The Enigma thrill ride, Ghost Train, and Loki's Log Flume are the headline acts; there's plenty for toddlers too.
Marine Drive, PR8 1RX · 15 min walk from Southport station · Free entry
King's Gardens
17 acres · Completely free
Southport's best free afternoon. The 17-acre gardens include a large adventure playground (with a separate fenced area for under-5s with baby swings), fountains, crazy golf, pedalos, the Victorian Venetian Bridge, and plenty of grass for a picnic. Fully accessible paths. Right on the seafront, next to Marine Lake.
Marine Drive, PR8 1RX · Free entry · Accessible · Open year-round
Splash World
Indoor water park — all weather
The answer to the inevitable Lancashire question. Splash World is Southport's indoor water park, with slides, pools, and water play for all ages. Fully under cover, which makes it the obvious backup plan when the weather turns.
Esplanade, PR8 1RX · Near Adventure Coast · Check opening times online
Marine Lake
140 acres · Motorboats · Pedalos
One of the largest man-made lakes in the UK, right in the heart of Southport. Hire motorboats, jet skis, or swan pedalos by the hour. Lake cruises run in summer. Pram-friendly paths run around the whole perimeter — good for a walk with younger children even without getting on the water.
Marine Drive · Boat hire from Marine Lake · Accessible pathways
Southport Model Railway Village
UK's first model railway village
The first model railway village ever built in the UK. 45mm G-gauge trains run through a miniature village built to replicate south west Lancashire architecture. Niche and wonderful — ideal for a couple of hours with children or grandchildren who have any interest in railways.
Kings Gardens, Marine Drive · Check seasonal opening times
British Lawnmower Museum
The world's strangest museum
Genuinely the most peculiar museum in England. Over 200 vintage and celebrity lawnmowers — including machines owned by Nicholas Parsons, Brian May, and HRH Prince Charles. Inexplicably compelling. Allow 45 minutes and come with an open mind.
106 Shakespeare Street, PR8 5AJ · Small admission charge · Year-round
Beyond the Beach
Nature & Wildlife
Two of the best wildlife experiences in the North West — both within 10 miles of Southport, both almost entirely overlooked by visitors who come for the beach.
Formby Red Squirrel Reserve
🐿️One of twelve red squirrel refuges in Britain
The red squirrel population at Formby nearly collapsed after a squirrelpox outbreak in 2008. It has since recovered, and Formby remains one of the last places in England to see native red squirrels in the wild. The pine woodland above the dunes is their habitat — walk quietly on the signposted trails and you'll often spot them, especially in the early morning. Spring and autumn are the best seasons.
Practical Information
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre
🦆600 acres · 10 miles from Southport
One of the best wildlife experiences in the North West, yet almost entirely unknown to people visiting Southport. Martin Mere's 600 acres of wetland attract thousands of migratory birds each year — pink-footed geese in winter, breeding lapwing and redshank in spring, marsh harriers and avocets through summer. Year-round otters, kingfishers, and canoe safaris on the waterways. Guided walks run Tuesday to Thursday. Free parking; discounted entry if you arrive without a car.
Practical Information
History & Culture
Culture & Heritage
Southport has a Victorian heritage that most seaside towns can't match. The Napoleon connection, the Atkinson's Egyptology collection, the medieval village hidden in plain sight — these are the things that reward a slower look at the town.
Victorian boulevard · Paris connection
Lord Street
A mile-long, tree-lined Victorian boulevard 80 metres wide — so wide because it was built across marshy ground between two sandhills. Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte lived in Southport from 1846 to 1848. When he later became Emperor Napoleon III, he commissioned Baron Haussmann to redesign Paris. The grand, wide, tree-lined boulevards of Paris are widely believed to have been inspired by Lord Street. Walk it with that in mind.
Museum · Gallery · Theatre
The Atkinson
Originally Cambridge Hall (built 1874), donated to Southport by cotton manufacturer William Atkinson with £40,000. Now the town's cultural hub: over 3,500 artworks on rotation, 25,000 pieces of social history, the Goodison Egyptology Collection (one of the largest outside London), the Between Land and Sea coastal history museum, a 400-seat theatre, café, library, and tourist information. Gallery and museum entry is free.
Medieval village · Botanic Gardens
Churchtown
The oldest part of Southport — a village within a town. Most visitors to Southport never find it. St Cuthbert's medieval parish church, Botanic Gardens (opened 1875, established by working men who raised £18,000, now celebrating its 150th anniversary), Botanic Road independent shops, and a pace of life entirely at odds with the seafront. Ten minutes from the town centre by car or bus.
England's second longest · 1,108 metres
Southport Pier
The second longest pier in England (Southend takes the title, but requires a train). Victorian, restored, and worth the walk. From the end you get a proper sense of the scale of this coastline — the estuary, the dunes, the wide sky over the Irish Sea. On a clear day you can see Wales. Allow 40 minutes for a relaxed return walk.
Grade II listed · Victorian · 125 years old
Wayfarers Arcade
Lord Street's hidden gem. A Grade II listed Victorian shopping arcade, around 125 years old, tucked off the main boulevard. Independents, antiques dealers, a coffee shop, and the particular atmosphere that only a covered Victorian arcade can provide. Worth 20 minutes.
Independent boutiques · Village atmosphere
Birkdale Village
A village within the town — and the locals' preference for a quieter afternoon of coffee and shopping. Birkdale has a strong concentration of independent food, fashion, and lifestyle shops along Liverpool Road and the surrounding streets. Two minutes from Royal Birkdale Golf Club.
England's Golf Coast
Golf in Southport
England's Golf Coast encompasses 14 courses, 8 ranked in the UK & Ireland Top 100, and 3 Open Championship venues. From Southport you can play four world-class links courses without getting back in the car.
Royal Birkdale
World Top 25
Widely regarded as the finest links course in England and consistently ranked in the world top 25. Hosting The Open Championship for the 11th time in July 2026. The course is famous for its willow scrub rough, towering dunes, and the relentless challenge it presents to the world's best players. Green fees from £210.
Open from April · Green fees from £210
DetailsHillside Golf Club
UK & Ireland Top 100
England Top 100. UK & Ireland Top 100. And yet Hillside has never hosted The Open Championship — a fact that golfers find bewildering and locals take mild satisfaction in. The back nine, running through towering dunes alongside Royal Birkdale's fairways, is as good a stretch of links golf as you'll play anywhere in Britain. Host of the 2019 British Masters. Green fees from £110.
Members & visitors · Green fees from £110
DetailsSouthport & Ainsdale
Open Championship Qualifier
Classic links, across the railway line from Hillside. S&A serves as an Open Championship Qualifier course when the Open is at Royal Birkdale. Sir Nick Faldo described the cluster of Birkdale, Hillside, and S&A as 'tough to beat for true links golf anywhere in the world.' Underrated and often underbooked — good value relative to its neighbours.
Members & visitors · Green fees from ~£60
DetailsHesketh Golf Club
Founded 1885 — Southport's oldest club
The most underrated course in the area. Founded in 1885, making it Southport's oldest golf club. Sir Henry Cotton described the 16th hole as 'Lancashire's best Par 3.' Green fees start from £50 — exceptional value for a course of this quality and history. Often the easiest to book, and worth seeking out specifically.
Members & visitors · Green fees from £50
DetailsJuly 2026
The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale
The 154th Open Championship. 12–19 July 2026. The biggest sporting event in Southport's modern history. Accommodation is limited — if you're attending, plan now.
Sport & Outdoors
Activities
The coastal setting means the outdoor offer extends well beyond the beach itself.
Marine Lake Watersports
Mersey Watersports Centre on Marine Lake offers wakeboarding, sailing, kayaking, and powerboating. The 140-acre lake is sheltered enough for beginners and technical enough to challenge experienced water sports participants.
Wild Swimming & Sailing
Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, near the Gormley installation, offers sailing lessons, wild swimming, and kayak hire. A good option for a half-day activity alongside a visit to Another Place.
Coastal Cycling
NCN Route 62 runs along the Sefton Coast. The Sefton Coastal Path is also suitable for cycling in sections. Flat, scenic, and largely off-road — one of the better cycling routes in the North West.
Walking
The Sefton Coastal Path (21 miles, Crosby to Southport) is the headline walk, but shorter options are plentiful — the Formby dune walks, the Lord Street heritage trail, and the Churchtown to Botanic Gardens loop are all worth doing.
Horse Riding on the Beach
Seasonal beach rides operate from the Southport area — the wide, flat beach at low tide makes for an exceptional riding surface. Contact local stables for availability.
Crazy Golf & Leisure
Multiple crazy golf courses across the town — in King's Gardens and along the Promenade. Traditional seaside amusements at Funland and Fun Palace on the seafront.
Shops & Markets
Shopping in Southport
Southport has more independent businesses per square metre than most English towns, with Lord Street at the heart. Each area has a distinct character.
Victorian boulevard · 1 mile long
Lord Street
The main event. A mile of Victorian iron-and-glass verandahs sheltering an unusually high concentration of independent boutiques — particularly strong for jewellery, fashion, gifts, and homeware. The street is also simply beautiful; it deserves a slow walk even if you don't intend to buy anything.
Independent · Village atmosphere
Birkdale Village
The locals' preference. Liverpool Road in Birkdale has a strong independent retail scene — coffee shops, food, fashion, and lifestyle stores with a neighbourhood feel that Lord Street's scale doesn't always deliver.
Grade II listed · 125 years old
Wayfarers Arcade
Lord Street's hidden interior. A Grade II listed Victorian arcade — around 125 years old — with independent traders, antiques, and a café. The architecture alone is worth the detour.
Street food · Independent traders
Southport Market
Southport's indoor market hall, with street food vendors alongside independent market traders. Good for a lunch stop while exploring the town centre.
Design · Local makers
Churchtown / Botanic Road
Botanic Road in Churchtown has a cluster of design-led independent shops — homeware, fashion, accessories, and local makers. Often overlooked by visitors who don't venture out of the town centre.
High street brands · Parking
Ocean Plaza & Central 12
Southport's retail parks for high street brands. Ocean Plaza is on the seafront; Central 12 is off the main ring road. Both have parking. Neither is the reason to visit Southport, but useful to know.
Year-Round
Events in Southport 2026
2026 is exceptional. Ten major events running from February to October — including The Open Championship, the Air Show, the Flower Show, and a full cultural programme under the Southport 2026 banner.
Lightport
World-class light installation on Lord Street.
Cristal Palace
French street theatre — 15m flying chandelier on Lord Street.
Big Top Festival
International circus arts. Circa and Gandini Juggling.
Food & Drink Festival
Best food weekend of the year.
The Open Championship
The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
Southport Flower Show
One of England's most prestigious flower shows.
Southport Air Show
Free. Southport Beach. One of the UK's best.
British Fireworks Championship
Victoria Park. Multiple displays over two nights.
Southport Comedy Festival
The Atkinson and venues across town.
Books Alive! Literature Festival
Storytelling installations and author workshops.
Plan Your Visit
What Kind of Trip?
Different visitors want very different things from Southport. Here's the guide by type.
Southport with Kids
King's Gardens (free), Adventure Coast (free entry), Marine Lake pedalos, Splash World, Model Railway Village, and 22 miles of beach. Southport is one of the best family destinations in the North West.
Full family guide →Free Things to Do
King's Gardens, Southport Beach, Ainsdale Beach, Antony Gormley's Another Place, The Atkinson gallery, Botanic Gardens, the Promenade, and the 21-mile Sefton Coastal Path. A full day out costs nothing.
See free days out →Rainy Day Options
The Atkinson (free), Splash World, Funland arcades, Southport Market street food hall, Wayfarers Arcade, and Southport's independent shops on Lord Street. Lancashire weather builds character.
Rainy day guide →Southport for Adults
Golf at England's Golf Coast, cocktails on Lord Street, The Atkinson theatre, spa days, coastal walks, and an events calendar that runs from February to December. Southport without children is a very different experience.
Bars & restaurants →Complete Your Visit
Where to Eat & Stay
Common Questions
Things to Do in Southport — FAQs
What is there to do in Southport?
More than most people expect. Southport has 22 miles of coastline across four distinct beaches, England's Golf Coast with 14 championship courses including Royal Birkdale, the National Trust red squirrel reserve at Formby, Antony Gormley's Another Place at Crosby, The Atkinson cultural centre, the Victorian boulevard of Lord Street (which reportedly inspired the redesign of Paris), WWT Martin Mere wetland, and a year-round events calendar running from Lightport in February to a Comedy Festival in October.
Is Southport good for a family day out?
Excellent. King's Gardens is free — 17 acres with a large adventure playground. Adventure Coast Southport (the former Pleasureland) has free entry with pay-per-ride. Marine Lake has pedalos and motorboats. Splash World is the indoor water park option for wet days. And there are 22 miles of beach. You can comfortably fill a full day without spending much at all.
What is Southport famous for?
Southport is best known for its pier (England's second longest at 1,108 metres), its Victorian boulevard Lord Street (reportedly the inspiration for Haussmann's redesign of Paris), the Southport Flower Show, the Air Show, and above all its golf — England's Golf Coast, home to Royal Birkdale, Hillside, and several other courses ranked in the UK's top 100. In 2026, Southport will host The Open Championship for the 11th time.
Is Southport Beach worth visiting?
Yes, but go with realistic expectations. Southport Beach is enormous — one of the widest in England — but at low tide the sea can be a kilometre away. It's a coastal landscape for walking rather than swimming. The best time to visit is at sunset, or at mid-tide when the water is closer. The beach is most rewarding as part of a wider day combining Marine Lake, King's Gardens, and the Promenade.
How far is Formby from Southport?
About 7 miles south of Southport town centre — approximately 15 minutes by car, or you can take the Merseyrail Northern Line direct to Formby station, then a short walk to the beach. The National Trust red squirrel reserve is accessed via the Lifeboat Road car park (currently the main car park while Victoria Road is closed for conservation works).
What is free to do in Southport?
Quite a lot. King's Gardens (free), Southport Beach (free), Ainsdale Beach (free), Crosby Beach and Another Place (free), The Atkinson gallery and museum (free), Botanic Gardens in Churchtown (free), walking the Sefton Coastal Path (free), walking Southport Pier (free entry, though there may be charges for the tram), and the 2026 events Lightport, Cristal Palace, Big Top Festival, Food & Drink Festival, and the Air Show are all free to attend.
How long does it take to walk Southport Pier?
About 20 minutes each way at a relaxed pace, making the return trip roughly 40 minutes total. The pier is 1,108 metres long. A tram used to run its length but currently walking is the main option. The views from the end are the reward — on a clear day you can see Wales across the estuary.
What is the best time to visit Southport?
Summer (June to August) for the beach and outdoor events, including the Air Show and Flower Show. Spring and autumn are best for Formby red squirrels and quieter beaches. July 2026 is unmissable for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The town has a solid year-round events calendar — even February has Lightport, one of the best light installations in the North.
Are dogs allowed on Southport Beach?
Yes. Dogs are welcome year-round on most sections of Southport Beach and on Ainsdale Beach. There are seasonal restrictions on some sections during peak summer months — follow the signage on site. At Formby, dogs must be on leads in the red squirrel reserve but can run on the beach itself.
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