Photo: Jeff Buck (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Southport
The best holidays are planned around great days out. Here's what's on the doorstep in Southport, from big-ticket attractions to rainy-day savers.
🎟️ This weekend near Southport
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 18:00
Southport Stars Amateur Boxing Show
Victoria Park, Southport · 0.9 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 18:30
Teresa Winter / Sam McLoughlin | Small Hours @ Snapes Printw...
Snapes Printworks, Preston · 14.7 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:00
Friday Night Laughs
Comedy Station Comedy Club, Blackpool · 11.8 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:00
East 17
Central Pier Showbar Blackpool, Blackpool · 11.5 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Aquariums
11.6 mi from Southport
SEA LIFE Blackpool
SEA LIFE Blackpool is an aquarium in Blackpool, Lancashire, where you can discover thousands of marine creatures up close, from stingrays in their own immersive zone to species fou...
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27.1 mi from Southport
Blue Planet Aquarium
Blue Planet Aquarium is a marine and freshwater aquarium in Little Stanney, Cheshire West and Chester, where you can get up close to one the UK's largest collection of sharks, all...
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30 mi from Southport
Sea Life Manchester
Sea Life Manchester is an aquarium in Trafford where you can get close to over 2,000 creatures, from tropical fish to inquisitive sea turtles. Highlights include walking through th...
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Museums & Galleries
0.1 mi from Southport
The Atkinson
The Atkinson is Southport's home for music, theatre, art, literature and history, set within a beautifully refurbished 19th-century building. You can explore a remarkable collectio...
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0.6 mi from Southport
British Lawnmower Museum
The British Lawnmower Museum in Southport is a quirky, character-filled collection celebrating the history of the lawnmower and garden machinery, built up by ex-racing champion Bri...
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0.7 mi from Southport
Southport Eco Centre
Southport Eco Centre is an education-focused venue that has spent over 20 years delivering hands-on sessions to schools, further education institutions and community groups. Visits...
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6.4 mi from Southport
Lytham Windmill
Lytham Windmill is situated on Lytham Green in the coastal town of Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, England. It is of the type known as a tower mill and was designed for grinding wheat... — Wikipedia
6.7 mi from Southport
Lytham Hall
Lytham Hall is a Grade I listed Georgian house near Lytham, in the Fylde area of Lancashire, once the ancestral home of the Clifton family for four centuries. You can take a daily...
9 mi from Southport
Hangar 42 - Spitfire Visitor Centre
Hangar 42 is a WW2-themed aviation museum at Blackpool Airport in Saint Anne's on the Sea, Fylde, Lancashire, built in 1939 for the RAF. Inside the original Bellman hangar you'll f...
11.7 mi from Southport
Amazing Novelty-Orium & Mechanical Museum
Arcade of vintage mechanical novelties
12.8 mi from Southport
Ribble Steam Railway
Ribble Steam Railway is a museum and heritage railway in Preston, running steam and diesel locomotives alongside seasonal events throughout the year. You can enjoy themed experienc...
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13 mi from Southport
South Ribble Museum & Exhibition Centre
Museum in Leyland, England, United Kingdom
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13.1 mi from Southport
British Commercial Vehicle Museum
This is a museum in South Ribble telling the story of British commercial vehicles, from horse-drawn carts through to hybrid and electric power. You can follow a timeline of picture...
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14.3 mi from Southport
Fort Perch Rock
Fort Perch Rock is a coastal defence battery built between 1825 and 1829 to protect the Port of Liverpool, now open as a museum with permanent maritime and aviation displays alongs...
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14.7 mi from Southport
Harris Museum
The Harris Museum, now known as The Harris, is a Grade I-listed building in Preston, Lancashire, England. Founded by Edmund Harris in 1877, it is a local history and fine art museu... — Wikipedia
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14.8 mi from Southport
Astley Hall
Astley Hall is a country house in Chorley, Lancashire, England. The building is now owned by the town and is known as Astley Hall Museum and Art Gallery. The extensive landscaped g... — Wikipedia
15.1 mi from Southport
Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry Museum
Military museum in Preston, England, United Kingdom
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15.8 mi from Southport
Lancashire Infantry Museum
The Lancashire Infantry Museum, based at Fulwood Barracks near Preston, tells the story of the East, South and Loyal North Lancashire Regiments and their antecedents, from 1689 thr...
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16.5 mi from Southport
Eureka! Science + Discovery
Eureka! Science + Discovery is a hands-on museum in Wirral, Merseyside, with four interactive zones covering Bodies, Homes, Nature and Make Create, plus The Burrow, a dedicated pla...
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16.5 mi from Southport
World Museum Liverpool
World Museum is a large museum in Liverpool, England which has extensive collections covering archaeology, ethnology and the natural and physical sciences. Special attractions incl... — Wikipedia
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16.6 mi from Southport
Western Approaches
The Western Approaches Museum in Liverpool, England, is a museum chronicling the work of Western Approaches Command around Atlantic convoys, combating the U-boat menace and the Bat... — Wikipedia
16.7 mi from Southport
Liverpool Beatles Museum
The Liverpool Beatles Museum sits on the famous Mathew Street, inside a Grade II listed building, and holds one of the largest Beatles collections in the world with over 1000 authe...
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16.8 mi from Southport
Victoria Gallery & Museum
The Victoria Gallery & Museum is housed in the University of Liverpool's iconic redbrick Victoria Building, a place filled with art, history and ideas. Inside, you'll find historic...
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Theme Parks
0.5 mi from Southport
Southport Pleasureland
Once known as Southport Pleasureland and now called Adventure Coast Southport, this is a small family amusement park set across four themed lands: Cartoon Boardwalk, Pirate Cove, S...
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6.9 mi from Southport
Farmer Ted's Farm Park
Farmer Ted's Farm Park is a family theme park in Great Altcar, West Lancashire, Merseyside, known as the UK's only Shaun the Sheep attraction. You can meet Shaun and Bitzer, explor...
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10.1 mi from Southport
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a theme park on Ocean Boulevard in Blackpool, Lancashire, offering ten thrilling rollercoasters, a water ride, and the UK's only Nickelodeon Land where...
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18.2 mi from Southport
Go Ape Rivington
Go Ape Rivington offers high ropes adventure in Lancashire, just outside busy Manchester, with 13-metre-high platforms, thrilling tree-to-tree crossings and a breathtaking zipline...
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23.1 mi from Southport
Gulliver's World
Gulliver's World is a family theme park in Warrington, Cheshire, designed for children aged 2-13, with rides in areas such as Western World and Safari Kingdom. Alongside the park t...
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Water Parks
Zoos & Wildlife
11.6 mi from Southport
Blackpool Zoo
Blackpool Zoo is set in over 37 acres of stunning, spacious parkland, with more than 1,000 mesmerising animals to discover. You can make your way into Dinosaur Safari to meet prehi...
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16.3 mi from Southport
Knowsley Safari Park
Knowsley Safari is a drive-through wildlife park in Prescot, Merseyside, where most people visit by car to enjoy the Safari Drive, though you don't need to have your own car to enj...
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24.4 mi from Southport
Wild Wings Birds of Prey
Wild Wings Birds of Prey is a small zoo based in Risley, Warrington, in the North West of England, home to owls, hawks, falcons and eagles including Logan, Koda and Shannara, along...
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25.9 mi from Southport
Walton Hall Zoo
Walton Hall Zoo is a small, free-to-enter children's zoo in Walton, Warrington, dating back to the early 1960s. You'll find alpacas, rescue donkeys, potbellied pigs, African pygmy...
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28.9 mi from Southport
Butterfly House and Mini Zoo
This is a former Edwardian palm house turned rainforest habitat, now home to free-flying butterflies such as the blue morpho and owl butterfly, alongside Koi carp, tortoises and a...
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29.6 mi from Southport
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is a large conservation zoo set across 130 acres near Chester, home to over 30,000 animals from more than 500 species. You can explore indoor habitats including the UK'...
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29.6 mi from Southport
Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is a large wildlife attraction covering 130 acres, home to over 30,000 animals from more than 500 species, including a walkthrough lemur area and the UK's largest tropi...
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Where to stay near Southport
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
More around Southport
Haunted Britain
Southport makes an easy base for days out. The town has its own big draw in Southport Pleasureland, and because it sits on the Merseyside coast with Lancashire, Liverpool, Blackpool and Cheshire all within reach, you can plan a week of very different days without changing where you sleep. Here's how to sort the options into days that actually work.
Days out with children
Southport Pleasureland is the obvious starting point: a theme park on the doorstep, and the sort of place where you can do a couple of hours in the morning and still have an afternoon left over. If you want a second big day, Chester Zoo over in Chester is the kind of attraction that swallows a whole day happily, so treat it as its own outing rather than squeezing something else in alongside.
For younger children, Smithills Open Farm in Lancashire is gentler and less overwhelming than a theme park, and Eureka! Science + Discovery in Liverpool is built around hands-on play rather than reading labels. Blackpool adds Funtastic Play and Splash! if you've got a wet afternoon and energy to burn, while Liverpool has its own Funfair for a shorter, simpler trip.
When it rains
Rain is part of a north-west holiday, so it helps to have a list ready before you need it. The Amazing Novelty-Orium & Mechanical Museum in Merseyside is a good first choice because it's close to home and genuinely odd in the best way. Beyond that:
- Eureka! Science + Discovery in Liverpool — the most child-proof wet-weather option on this list.
- Liverpool Beatles Museum — for teenagers and adults who'd rather not do soft play.
- Showtown Blackpool — seaside entertainment history, and a sensible pairing with a Blackpool day that's gone soggy.
- Harris Museum and the Museum of Lancashire — two solid indoor stops if you're heading into Lancashire anyway.
Heritage and slower days
Rufford Old Hall is the pick for a quieter day: a stately home, and the National Trust property among Southport's nearby landmarks, which is worth knowing if you're a member. Pair it with lunch and you've got a full, unhurried day without much driving.
Lancashire's mill museums suit anyone who likes working machinery and a bit of industrial history. Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Higher Mill and Whitakers' Mill all tell versions of the same story, so pick one unless you're genuinely keen. Winding House in Cheshire covers similar ground on the engineering side. For something more domestic in scale, The Hardmans' House in Liverpool is a preserved home and studio, and the Judges' Lodgings Museum in Morecambe is another small, characterful indoor stop.
Outdoors and active
Chester Zoo is the big outdoor day, weather permitting — take waterproofs rather than cancelling. Smithills Open Farm gets you outside at a slower pace. If someone in the party wants to be on the water, Trafford Watersports Centre in Cheshire is the one to book ahead for, and it works best as the whole point of the day rather than an add-on.
Grouping it into sensible days
The trick is not to mix regions. A workable pattern looks like this:
- Southport day: Southport Pleasureland in the morning, Amazing Novelty-Orium & Mechanical Museum if the weather turns, ice cream to finish.
- Liverpool day: Eureka! Science + Discovery or the Liverpool Beatles Museum, plus The Hardmans' House if you want a third, smaller stop.
- Blackpool day: Showtown Blackpool with Funtastic Play or Splash! depending on ages and energy.
- Country day: Rufford Old Hall, then a long pub lunch.
- Big day: Chester Zoo on its own, with an early start.
Where to eat
Pubs do the heavy lifting here. The Bull, the Bootle Arms, The Netherton and Station all hold five-star hygiene ratings, which is a reasonable shortcut when you're choosing somewhere unfamiliar with tired children in tow. Book ahead at weekends and for Sunday lunch, and check whether the kitchen stops serving mid-afternoon — many pubs do. Creams Cafe is the one to keep in reserve for a late-afternoon ice cream after the beach or the park.
Making it a short break
There are 67 places to stay on BritStays in this region, which gives you room to choose by layout rather than settling. Three nights covers a Southport day, a city day and a heritage day comfortably. Five lets you add Chester Zoo and a Blackpool day without anyone flagging.
Practical notes
Book Chester Zoo and Trafford Watersports Centre in advance, and check opening days for the smaller museums — places like Higher Mill, Whitakers' Mill and the Judges' Lodgings Museum often open seasonally or on limited days. Pack waterproofs and a change of socks for Southport Pleasureland and Splash! days, keep one indoor option unbooked as a weather swap, and if you're a National Trust member, bring your card for Rufford Old Hall.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main attraction in Southport itself?
Southport Pleasureland, a theme park in the town. It works well as a half-day or full-day outing depending on ages, and leaves time for something else afterwards.
Is there a National Trust property near Southport?
Yes. Rufford Old Hall is a stately home and is the National Trust property among the landmarks listed for this region, so bring your membership card if you have one.
What can we do in Southport if it rains?
The Amazing Novelty-Orium & Mechanical Museum in Merseyside is the closest indoor option. Further afield you could try Eureka! Science + Discovery or the Liverpool Beatles Museum in Liverpool, Showtown Blackpool, or the Harris Museum and Museum of Lancashire.
Which attractions suit young children best?
Smithills Open Farm in Lancashire is gentle and outdoors, Eureka! Science + Discovery in Liverpool is hands-on, and Funtastic Play and Splash! in Blackpool are good for burning off energy. Southport Pleasureland and the Funfair in Liverpool suit slightly older children.
Where can we eat with a good hygiene rating?
The Bull, Station, The Netherton and the Bootle Arms are all pubs with five-star hygiene ratings, and Creams Cafe is an ice cream stop. Book pubs ahead at weekends and check when the kitchen stops serving.
How many nights do we need for a short break here?
Three nights covers a Southport day, a city day in Liverpool and a heritage day at Rufford Old Hall. Five nights lets you add a full day at Chester Zoo and a Blackpool day. There are 67 places to stay on BritStays in this region.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Southport.