From walking and cycling to kite flying and family adventures, the Southport coastal area has plenty to offer those looking to get outdoors and embrace a healthy lifestyle including 22 miles of beaches, parks, lakes and dunes.
Many fun things to do in Southport involve outdoor activities and taking advantage of its beautiful green and coastal places. Family holiday ideas for visitors can include cycling, Southport nature trails and water sports, all of which can be enjoyed in and around the town as part of summer activity holidays.
King’s Gardens is located next to the Marine Lake and is one of the best parks in Southport. The gardens have seen significant investment in recent years and feature a striking Venetian bridge and beautiful flowers alongside a brilliant children’s play area and giant swan pedalos, a great idea for family adventures.
Elsewhere, Victoria Park can be found close to Southport’s centre and is full of lush green spaces. If you are looking for the perfect spot for a fun family picnic, a relaxing sunny afternoon or just somewhere to enjoy outdoor games, then this park is a must. It is good for dog-friendly activities and the location for some great events including the Southport Flower Show and Southport’s British Musical Fireworks Championship.
The Victorian Botanic Gardens in Churchtown is about two miles north of Southport and offers a more colourful park experience, full of flowers, a lake, pathways and even an aviary for visitors to delight in.
If walking is what you want from your outdoor activities, then there are plenty of Southport nature trails for your fun family adventures. A stroll around Churchtown will let you take in the Botanic Gardens’ lake, allowing visitors to connect with nature and local history.
The Queen’s Jubilee Nature trail is easy to access and features a fantastic platform where visitors can enjoy stunning views of the coast, beach and local wildlife. A walk alongside Southport’s seafront will let you take in many of the town’s charms, including the promenade and Pleasureland theme park.
The Sefton Coastal Path offers more than 20 miles of walking opportunities that can be enjoyed over a couple of days. Some of the highlights of this Southport coastal walk include the Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve, and Ainsdale Discovery Centre. If you venture further afield, then Formby’s Red Squirrel Reserve also has wildlife too.
Cycling is an excellent way to explore Southport and the surrounding area with many well-maintained cycling routes providing fantastic countryside and scenery to visit. The mostly-flat landscape means Southport’s cycling routes can be enjoyed by many, regardless of their proficiency on a bike.
Some of the most popular include the Marram cycle route, a short and mostly off-road journey that takes cyclists along what was the Cheshire Lines Railway and past the Royal Birkdale Golf Course.
The Shrimp cycle route is another easy route and takes in the Marine Lake, King’s Gardens and the Lakeside Miniature Railway. For those looking for something more challenging, then the route running from Maghull to Aintree could be perfect. This follows the towpath of the Leeds–Liverpool Canal, offering cyclists rural views and maybe even the chance to spot local wildlife as part of a Southport outdoor adventure.
If beach activities are more your thing, then the golden sands of the town’s coast offers local wildlife in their natural habitats, opportunities to slide down the dunes, get plenty of fresh air and enjoy the outdoors.
Ainsdale beach is nearby and provides plenty of fun activities, whether it be flying kites, paddle boarding, or building sandcastles. Head twelve miles south and you will come to Crosby beach, home to Antony Gormley’s ‘Another Place’ installation. This is one of the most striking open air art galleries in the UK, featuring 100 cast-iron, life-size figures.
More fun things to do include enjoying water sports in Southport. Not only does the coast provide opportunities to dip and play in the sea but Southport’s Marine Lake is also home to different types of activities including motor boats and pedalos. Or you could check out Crosby Lakeside for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and plenty of other water activities.
Whatever your aims for your visit, if you are looking to get outside, then there are plenty of options and potential activity holidays in Southport. Take advantage of the beach, coastline and plentiful green spaces to get up close and personal with nature and enjoy fun things to do in Southport.
