Southport Attractions and Shopping

Southport Dunes Splash World & Amusements

Southport boasts a fine selection of family seaside resort attractions including the popular Dunes splash World indoor water park, the marine lake and popular iconic Southport seaside amusements like Silcock's Funland.

The UK's new choice of indoor water parks offer all year round family fun, and Southport's Splash World is one of the best with some superb water rides here including the Tunnel, cascading Fountain and favourite Splash. Alongside the water rides you've a 25 metre main pool, poolside refreshments, lockers and changing facilities, a sports hall with badminton courts and a fitness suite all on-site. A learner pool here is also where you can tap into swimming lessons.

Splash World General Enquiries including Birthday Parties call Dunes Splash World on 01704 537160. Checkout Splash World's webguide right for directions and details on all the rides and facilities.

Some rides are still active around the Pleasureland site on Southport's beach front, although its changed hands in recent times. Old favourites are open daily including Silcock's Funland amusements just beyond the Marine Lake and boat trips and cafe bars with often live music alongside the Marine Lake.

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Southport Beach, Pier, Promenade & Marine Lake Attractions

Southport's main bathing beach is just south of the pier. The endless accessible flat sands here are perfect for family bathing, and when the tide is out a huge expanse of sand is exposed making for popular buggy ride territory. Favourite seaside attractions include donkey rides on the beach. Southport beach and Southport has lifeguard presence during high season.

Along the waterfront Southport really comes into its own, with a host of family attractions on offer including the award winning renovated Victorian pier, the second longest pier in the country at 3,600ft dating from 1860. Attractions on the Pier include the Pier tram and Pier Pavilion with in-house licensed cafeteria, displays on local wildlife and a choice of character slot machines. At the pier entrances sits the popular Silcocks Funland Amusement centre where you'll find all the latest amusement games and mini rides for the tots.

The stunning Marine Way Sail Bridge crosses the Marine lake and leads onto Southport Pier. Southport's man-made offshore marine lake is site for numerous attractions including the Model Railway Village and Miniature Railway (see webguides right for details) and a host of water sports including sailing, rowing and windsurfing. The famous Southport Mississippi Belle paddle steamer is down here for boat trips along the waterfront. Just across the Marine Bridge you'll find Southport's newest retail and entertainment outlet - Ocean Plaza, inclusive of 7 screen cinema, ten pin bowling, health and fitness centre and retail and restaurants. Free parking for 1200 cars is conveniently adjacent to Ocean Plaza.

Southport's glorious promenade south of the pier running adjacent to the main bathing beach is the town's hub for seaside amusements. North of the pier stunning Marine Drive offers some of the best beach promenade strolling in the UK with spectacular sea views.

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Southport Shopping Lord Street & Wayfarers Arcade

Like the famous Victoria Quarter shopping arches in Leeds, Southport is home to the North West's spectacular Grade II listed Wayfarers Shopping Arcade situated on the town's famous shopping boulevard Lord Street.

Shoppers in the know have Southport firmly on their list - the stunning Wayfarers Arcade has been a Mecca for shoppers since 1898 and today offers a huge range of unique products including boutiques and high quality fashion, collectibles and jewellery, food, furniture and stylish home items. Chic family shopping is well catered for too within Wayfarers including sweet shops and designer children's clothes and shoes. See the Wayfarers Arcade Shopping Guide weblink right for an A to Z of shop listings including a selection of fine cafes.

Directly adjacent to the historic Wayfarers Arcades is Southport's elegant shopping boulevard Lord Street. Wide, long and straight stretching for almost one mile, Lord Street is pure shop strolling heaven. Designer mingles with high street fashion, a host of stylish cafes, restaurants and bars, one off boutiques and gift shops, jewellers, home furnishings and more. Lord Street also boasts a choice of hair and beauty salons. The street is to receive further renovations and improvements, enhancing its original Victorian splendour, courtesy of Heritage Lottery Grants. Much of Southport's finest Victorian architecture is along Lord Street including the Town Hall, Band Stands, the Wayfarers Arcades and ornate shop fronts. Firmly ingrained in the town's history, the first houses appeared on Lord Street at the east end junction with Duke Street. This famous boulevard is thought to have been inspiration for the redesign of Paris' medieval centre from 1851. Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte has spent some time living in Southport actually on Lord Street around 1846, and potentially translated Lord Street's design onto the new boulevards of Paris.

See also Central Twelve Shopping Park, Derby Road Southport which includes numerous high street shop names, parking on-site and is within walking distance of the town centre. The town's Farmer's Market involves a superb range of street stalls selling affordable home-made food, gifts, organic and gluten free products, jams and preserves, speciality cheeses and more.

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Southport Parks & Botanic Gardens

The Victorians did much for Southport, leaving a legacy which sees Southport entering the Britain In Bloom awards for best large coastal resort - Southport is a strong contender. Alongside the town's spectacular architecture are its huge areas of green space - Southport's Parks and Botanic Garden.

Victoria Park near Southport's beach front plays host to the town's annual August Flower Show (see webguide right for details). A number of other events also base themselves here including the North West Motor Show in June and the Summer Classic Music in the Park in July. Victoria Park offers all year round lawn space, perfect for picnics or letting off steam, plus there's a large children's play area, boating lake and gauge model railway on-site. Bordering the Marine Lake Princes Park is a real central family hub with pitch and putt and easy access to all the Marine Lake attractions.

Slightly inland from Marine Drive sits Southport's largest park - Hesketh with on-site aviary, boating lake, kids play area, mini golf, tree trails and family cafe/shop.

Just on the outskirts of Southport sits the finest of the Southport Gardens - the Botanic Gardens within Churchtown village. This park is a day out in itself with numerous attractions complimenting the gardens including a local history museum, pets corner and aviary, a bandstand, mini golf, a family cafe, stunning floral displays and a boating lake. From October to December annually, the Botanic Gardens hosts a Christmas fair. Checkout the Botanic Gardens' Museum webguide right for what on in the museum. Botanic Gardens Museum, Botanic Road, Churchtown, Southport, PR9 7NB. Tel. 01704 227 547.

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