Southport

Southport is a large seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England. The endonym for people from Southport is "Sandgrounder".

Southport lies on the Irish Sea coast of North West England and is fringed to the north by the Ribble estuary. The town is situated 16.5 miles (26.6 km) to the north of the city of Liverpool and 14.8 miles (23.8 km) southwest of the city of Preston.

Historically a part of Lancashire, the town in its present form was founded in 1792 when William Sutton, an innkeeper from Churchtown, built a bathing house at what now is the south end of Lord Street, the town's main thoroughfare. At that time the area, known as South Hawes, was sparsely populated and was dominated by sand dunes. At the turn of the 19th century the area became popular with tourists due to the easy access from the nearby Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the town quickly grew. The rapid growth of Southport largely coincided with the Industrial Revolution and the Victorian era. Town attractions include Southport Pier with its Southport Pier Tramway, the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British Isles and Lord Street, an elegant tree-lined shopping street, once home of Napoleon III of France.

Extensive sand dunes stretch for several miles between Birkdale and Woodvale to the south of the town. The Ainsdale sand dunes have been designated as a National Nature Reserve in England and a Ramsar site. Local fauna include the Natterjack toad and the Sand lizard. The town contains examples of Victorian architecture and town planning, on Lord Street and elsewhere. A particular feature of the town is the extensive tree planting. This was one of the conditions required by the Hesketh family when they made land available for development in the 19th century. Hesketh Park at the northern end of the town is named after the Hesketh family, having been built on land donated by Rev. Charles Hesketh.

Southport today is still one of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK. It hosts varied events including an annual air show on and over the beach, and the largest independent flower show in the UK in Victoria Park. The town is at the centre of England's Golf Coast and has hosted The Open Championship at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

Local authority: Sefton Borough Council

OS Grid Reference: SD334170

Things to see and do in and around Southport

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Weather

Forecast for Saturday 21 April

06:00

Chance of rain	0%
Max temp.	6°C
(feels like	4°C)
Wind 1mph, gusting to 2mph.	ENE
Pressure	1023
Humidity	91%
UV Index
Air Quality

09:00

Chance of rain	0%
Max temp.	12°C
(feels like	11°C)
Wind 2mph, gusting to 2mph.	ESE
Pressure	1022
Humidity	61%
UV Index
Air Quality

12:00

Chance of rain	0%
Max temp.	17°C
(feels like	15°C)
Wind 2mph, gusting to 4mph.	SSE
Pressure	1019
Humidity	55%
UV Index
Air Quality

15:00

Chance of rain	0%
Max temp.	20°C
(feels like	19°C)
Wind 2mph, gusting to 4mph.	S
Pressure	1016
Humidity	58%
UV Index
Air Quality

18:00

Chance of rain	11%
Max temp.	19°C
(feels like	18°C)
Wind 2mph, gusting to 4mph.	SE
Pressure	1014
Humidity	72%
UV Index
Air Quality

21:00

Chance of rain	3%
Max temp.	16°C
(feels like	15°C)
Wind 2mph, gusting to 4mph.	SSE
Pressure	1012
Humidity	84%
UV Index	n/a
Air Quality

Accomodation in and around Southport

Hotels, guest houses and B&Bs

• Prince Of Wales Hotel

  With its landscaped gardens and Victorian features, the Prince Of Wales Hotel is a 10-minute walk to Southport Train Station and to the beach. Wi-Fi is free in public areas. Details...

• The Vincent Hotel and Spa

  
  This stylish 4-star boutique hotel has a 6th-floor gym, a spa, and a relaxed restaurant with chic surroundings. The Vincent Hotel and Spa is on Southport's main shopping street, 100 metres from Southport Rail Station. Details...

• Vale House

  Set in the centre of Southport, Vale House is a refurbished Victorian residence featuring free Wi-Fi, free on-site parking and modern en-suite bedrooms. Details...

• Scarisbrick Hotel

  With a modern leisure club and 2 traditional restaurants, Scarisbrick Hotel also features a cocktail lounge and real ale bar. The hotel is in Southport centre, just off Lord Street Boulevards. Details...

• Best Western Royal Clifton Hotel & Spa

  
  With its grand original Victorian façade, this AA 3-star hotel has superb facilities and a great location, right on the promenade, enjoying panoramic views over the coastline of the North-West. Details...

• Dukes Folly Hotel

  
  Situated on the corner of the famous Lord Street, the stylish Dukes Folly Hotel boasts free Wi-Fi and is close to the shops. There are 20 bedrooms, 6 of which are themed rooms for that special occasion and 2 have been renovated in 2014. Details...

Self-catering

• Woodlands

  Woodlands is a lovely wing of the owner's semi-detached town house in Lytham Saint Anne's. Set over the lower ground and ground floors, the property has four bedrooms along with a bathroom, shower room and cloakroom. Details...

• Wild Duck Lodge

  Wild Duck Lodge is a detached single-storey cottage situated one mile from the Lancashire village of Mawdesley and thirteen miles from the seaside resort of Southport. This cottage sleeps four people in two double bedrooms, and also has a bathroom with corner bath, a kitchen with dining area and a sitting room. Details...

• Barn Owl Cottage At Crook Hall Farm

  Barn Owl Cottage is a brick-built former farm building on the owners' arable farm on the edge of the village of Bispham Green, ten miles from Southport. This cottage sleeps four people and has two bedrooms consisting of one ground floor twin and one double with an en-suite bathroom, as well as a ground floor shower room. Details...

• Maltkiln Cottage At Crook Hall Farm

  Maltkiln Cottage At Crook Hall Farm is a detached, ground floor, former farm building that lies on a working farm on the edge of the village of Bispham Green. This luxury cottage retains the character and charm of the original dwelling, but now houses modern furnishings. Details...

• Marsh Farm

  Marsh Farm is a delightful semi-detached cottage situated on the outskirts of Great Eccleston village, five miles from Poulton-le-Fylde and eight miles from Blackpool. This cottage sleeps eleven people in five bedrooms, consisting of two doubles with en-suites, including one on the ground floor, two twins, also including one on the ground floor and a family room with a double and single bed. Details...

• Woodlands

  Woodlands is a detached cottage located in a cul-de-sac in the small Lancashire town of Garstang. The cottage sleeps eight people in four bedrooms - one king-size double, one ground floor king-size double, one twin and one ground floor twin. Details...

All nearby accomodation

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