Southport Still Has Something!

Southport is a prosperous town in the north west of England. Its Victorian charm means that is has maintained its status as one of the most popular seaside resorts and today is still a fabulous place for a trip. A self-catering cottage in the UK makes the perfect place to stay on a trip to Southport, by day take in what the north of England has to offer and by night sit back and make yourself at home in front of a log fire.

Southport has been attracting visitors to its beach since 1792 when the first hotel in the town was built. During the nineteenth century the town became popular with tourists who could travel to Southport via canal from places like Liverpool. Later on, the building of the railway meant that more and more people could come from further and further away meaning that Southport grew really quickly to be much more like the town it is today. Nowadays, the legacy of Southport’s Victorian past is visible all over the town centre. In the main shopping street, tree lined Lord Street, the Victorian architecture is clear to see and it’s a great place for an afternoon of shopping.

Lord Street, Southport flickr photos

No trip to seaside Southport would be complete without a walk (or ride) down the pier. Southport’s pier is the second longest pier in the UK which even has a tramway down the middle of it to take visitors from one end to the other. At the end of the pier is an old fashioned amusement arcade that only accepts old pre decimalisation coins, a little nostalgic trip into the past that is really lots of fun.

Southport Air Show flickr photos

One thing to note about Southport is how far the sand reaches out with no sea. On a clear day when the tide is out it seems perfectly plausible that you could walk the six miles along the sand to Blackpool. It is in fact impossible although people try every year and end up needing to be rescued from the quick sand.

Southport Air Show flickr

Away from its seaside heritage, Southport also holds various shows and events throughout the year including the Southport Flower Show and the Air Show. In 2012 the Southport Flower Show will be taking place between the 16th and 19th August and is the largest independent flower show in the UK attracting tourists all around the UK. This year the annual Southport Air Show will be celebrating its 21st birthday. The event attracts tens of thousands of spectators each year to see many different types of aircraft flying across the skies above Southport.