With 22 miles of beautiful and expansive coastline, it’s easy to see why the seaside town of Southport makes it a great place to escape the hustle and bustle. Situated conveniently between Manchester and Liverpool, it’s the perfect location to grab that ‘holiday feeling’, even if you’re there just for the day. From its rolling sandy dunes through to its nature reserves, there really is something for everyone.

Join us as we take a stroll around Southport…

Here’s the A-Z of Southport:

A – Art

Southport’s cultural heritage is at its heart, and it has several art galleries. Inside the ornate Wayfarers Arcade, independent artists display their work. Contact David Booth MRSS, and the contemporary artist will personally show you around his gallery, which is perfect for fans of sculpture and fine art. Gallery More also calls the Arcade home and provides bespoke framing and a small number of carefully curated artworks – drop in to pick up a beautiful gift for a loved one or a piece of art that will be treasured.

B – Boats

As a coastal town, Southport is well known for its fishing boats and supply of fresh seafood, most notably potted shrimps.

C – Coast

Southport is a seaside town in northeast England that sits along 22 miles of the coast and looks out onto the Irish Sea. Historically, it was part of Lancashire County; however, during the 1970s, it became a town in the new metropolitan borough of Sefton in Merseyside.

D – Dunes

The most amazing natural aspects of Southport include its coastline and, of course, the dunes. Sweeping hills of sand, wildlife and fauna are only a ten-minute drive away from Southport town centre. The Ainsdale Sand Dunes Nature Reserves is a place where visitors can get up close to the local wildlife and natural environment in and among the long strips of sandy beaches.

E- Every Year

The Southport Flower Show first began in 1924 and has become one of the biggest events in the town’s annual calendar, running this year from 17th-20th August. The Southport Flower Show is one of the largest independent flower shows. It is hosted in Victoria Park and this year’s theme is health and well-being.

F – Far

Not FAR from anywhere…
There are many bike routes surrounding Southport town, connecting it to the smaller local beaches. It is an ideal place to visit if you enjoy long scenic walks and leisurely afternoons. By car, local areas are even closer. Southport is ideally situated between major cities such as Liverpool and Manchester.

G – Gormley Figures

Crosby Beach, 15 miles from Southport, is home to the spectacular art installation by Anthony Gormley, ‘Another Place’. His art installation features 100 cast-iron statues that span three kilometres of coastline. Each iron cast stands alone on Crosby Beach, continuously revealed and hidden again as the tide moves in and out. The life-size figures each weigh 650 kilos and are said to be casts of the artist’s own body.

H – Heritage

Something that should be noted is the Southport Heritage Trails. There are many on offer, including the Lord Street Heritage Trail which begins in the centre of the historical Lord Street. The entire trail can be downloaded and printed from the internet and provides a structured tour of Southport’s most historical sites. The Parks and Gardens Heritage Trail takes you on a journey through Southport’s heritage, following through the many gardens and parks that it has to offer.

I – Independents

Southport boasts a plethora of independent shops and restaurants stocked with local produce fresh from the Irish Sea.

J – Jazz

Southport Jazz music festival spans over three days in early February and hosts some of the very best UK jazz artists, from small groups to large bands, there are live performances for everyone. It is hosted at the Grand, a grade II listed building which encompasses the grandeur and history of Southport. With performances from the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Wendy Kirkland Quartet, the jazz festival generates a great amount of community spirit as well as events and performances for all ages.

K – Kites

The windy weather and wide beach make Southport one of the best places to fly a kite. The sky above the beach on a breezy day is often filled with dancing colours, why not bring a kite along and have a go yourself?

L – Lord Street

Lord Street dates back to the 1820s, when it built the foundations for what was to be modern-day Southport. It is known for possibly being one of the first boulevards in the world—it is suggested that the street inspired the iconic tree-lined boulevards of the French capital, Paris.

M – Mersey Rail

Travelling by train has never been easier, especially in Southport. One of its many draws as a town is its accessibility. It is one of the last stops at the end of the Mersey Rail, connecting the town to cities such as Liverpool and Manchester.

N – Nickname

Southport is known for many things, but its nickname may not be one that you are familiar with. Locals are nicknamed ‘Sand Grounders’. The historical nickname given to the people of the town is because it is built entirely on sand.

O – One of a kind

Red squirrels are increasingly rare to find but if you look hard enough you might be lucky to catch sight of one in the Formby Pinewoods. In the UK, red squirrels have become an endangered species. The Freshfield Reserve has made huge efforts to protect the local wildlife but still, the sighting of a Red Squirrel is becoming increasingly unheard of.

P – Pleasureland

Sitting on the promenade that lines the seafront of Southport, you will find one of the town’s biggest attractions: Pleasureland. There is a mixture of thrilling rides such as roller coasters, dodgems, and waltzers and rides that are perfect for the younger members of the family.

Q – Queen

Over the years, Southport has hosted visits from many members of the royal family. In 1985, the town received a visit from her late Her Majesty the Queen, which also featured a visit to the Altcar Training Camp in Hightown. During this visit, she was greeted by over 1,000 people as she arrived at Southport Railway Station, who were keen to take pictures and wave their flags.

R – Rarity

For a seaside town, the tide very rarely comes in. It is very unlikely that when you visit, you will be able to see the sea. The reason for this is said to be that the flatness of the beach and its length contribute to the absence of a tide. A famous local myth in Southport is that you cannot even see the sea there. Most commonly, when you visit Southport the sea will be far away and at a very low tide, however in 2015 the sea came right up to the sea walls surrounding the town after the lunar eclipse.

S – Southport Pier

One of the most defining features on a postcard, or indeed many pictures you will find of the seaside town, is likely to feature the grandeur of the Southport Pier. Extending out onto the Irish Sea stands Southport Pier. It is the oldest Iron Pier in the country and also the second longest. It was completed in 1860 and measures over 1,000 metres long.

T – Town Hall

Southport Town Hall, another example of the beautiful architecture throughout the town, was built in 1852 in the Palladian style. It was originally designed by Thomas Withnell. It used to be the headquarters for the county borough; however, after the formation of the borough of Sefton, this moved to Bootle Town Hall.

U – Unbelievable

The Atkinson is a large space for Southport’s arts scene, it is home to music, theatre, and art. There have been large investments in the refurbishment of the historical 19th-century buildings which have made the art venue more accessible, a perfect blend of the past and its artistic future. The theatre space provides the opportunity for incredible performance groups, music, and comedy to showcase their talents to the people of Southport. The Atkinson Art Gallery is home to over 3,000 pieces of artwork, including artists such as Percy Lancaster, Henry Moore, and Ann Sutton.

V – Victorian

Aesthetically, Southport has a Victorian influence, with Victorian cast iron and glass shop canopies decorating the storefronts. The growth of Southport as a town coincided with the Industrial Revolution and Victorian period due to tourists being able to easily access the coast via the Leeds and Liverpool canal; thus, much of the original Victorian architecture still stands.

W – Wayfarers Arcade

This year, the shopping arcade is celebrating 125 years. It is well worth a visit as a cosy refuge from the coastal breeze. The ornate Victorian arcade remains in beautiful condition. Take a trip back in time and spend an afternoon strolling down the Lord Street shopping centre. Don’t forget to take a peek at the beautiful independent shops while you’re there.

X – X-tremely Special

A visit to the Tropical Shell Shop, which is located just off Lord Street, is something which definitely should not be missed in Southport. Here, you can find wild arrays of unique shells and items, providing a fun afternoon of browsing or helping to start your new shell collection. It does not only stock shells, so it is worth checking it out if you enjoy looking at different antiques; it is the perfect place to buy someone an ‘x-tremely’ special gift.

Y – Yellow

Southport Football Club, affectionately known by its supporters as the ‘Yellows’ plays in the Vanarama National League North and is currently ranked 15th in their league.

Z – Zen

With the sea, the sand, the shops, and the wildlife, Southport has it all and is an ideal town to live in. The idyllic qualities of a seaside town make the atmosphere truly zen.

 

NorthernLife May/June 23