Are you looking for something off the beaten path, where you can discover hidden treasures and experience the unexpected? Southport is bursting with hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. We have put together a top ten list for you to discover.
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Let's start with Wesley Street, a charming little street filled with independent shops and cafes, all brightly painted. It is known as the Village in the Town and is bursting with independent retailers and friendly faces!
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Next we go to Hesketh Park. The park features a lake, a miniature railway, a children's playground, a café, and various sports facilities including tennis courts, bowling greens, and a cricket pitch. It is known for its ornate Victorian architecture, including a large conservatory and bandstand, and is also home to a number of rare and exotic trees.
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We all know the iconic Pier in Southport but have you been to the hidden gem at the end? The Pier Pavilion at the end of the pier. Full of nostalgic charm, the pavilion has a vintage arcade with old penny slot machines - step back in time and have a go! And what a view! Almost a 360 view of the amazing coast! (the Pier Pavilion is currently closed due to the refurbishment of the Pier)
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Finish the day off with a cocktail on the Roof Garden and Bar of the Waterfront Hotel. Imagine watching the sun set, kicking back and chilling, cocktail in hand with striking views of Marine Lake!
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Award winning Southport Bijou Cinema must go on the list when you visit us. Winner of the Liverpool City Region’s “Best Hidden Gem” in the 2022 Tourism Awards, the not-for-profit community interest company who brings cinema to the community - they even have their own film suggestions board.
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Red Rum is a local legend. Three times winner of the Aintree Grand National, he was trained on Southport beach and stabled in nearby Birkdale. Wayfarers Shopping Arcade has a bronze statue of Red Rum and there is a huge wall mural on the Promenade painted by local artist, Paul Curtis.
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Rotten Row boasts one of the largest herbaceous borders in the country, Rotten Row runs parallel with Victoria Park and is an 'insta-worthy' historical street.
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The Model Railway Village is a great day out for the kids. Complete with operational railways, buildings and landscapes, wander round and look at the intricate details of the buildings and scenery, including a church, a castle, a farm, and even a working fairground.
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In the centre of Lord Street, The Atkinson is the cultural hub of Southport and is home of music, theatre, art, literature and history. It offers a fun, creative and varied day out with family or friends.
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Our final hidden gem is one that always slips in to the attention of the media! The British Lawnmower Museum is a quintessentially British attraction and now one of the world's leading authorities in vintage lawnmowers and specialists in antique garden machinery. Why wouldn't you want to visit?
