What is Southport famous for?

From Victorian grandeur to celebrity lawnmowers… take a look at just what makes Southport so well-known. 

Southport showcases an impressive array of architectural styles, many hailing back to its Victorian heyday.

If you're curious to explore this a little more, be sure to pay Lord Street a visit. 

Constructed in the early 19th century and named after the joint Lords of the Manor – the Bold-Houghton and Fleetwood-Hesketh families – Lord Street is believed to be one of the first boulevards in the world.

So beautiful is its design, in fact, that it's rumoured to be the inspiration for the famous French boulevards that sweep through Paris today.

The story goes something like this.

Prince Louis Napoleon – later to become Emperor Napoleon III of France – enjoyed an extended stay in the area back in 1838. He was said to have been so enamoured by the neighbourhood that he would later order his architects to reimagine the French streets into something reminiscent of Lord Street – right down to the wide streets and tree-lined walkways. 

2. The tide never comes in

Well, so they say. It's not entirely true – but Southport's sea is famous for its shyness. This has left the town with the well-trodden myth that the tide never actually comes in.

Rarely does the tide make it all the way to the sea wall. The last time it happened – due, they say, to a lucky synchrony of natural factors – it actually made headlines in the local news.

Experts speculate that the unusual flatness of the coast's topography could be the potential cause of the shy tide. But regardless of the reasoning, the upside of this natural phenomenon is that Southport can proudly (and reliably) boast miles and miles of beautiful sandy beaches.

3. The beautiful pier

Spanning a whopping 3,635 feet, Southport Pier is the second-longest and oldest-surviving iron pier in the country. Officially Grade II-listed in the National Heritage List for England, the pier's mighty size is a sight to behold. 

Southport's pier first opened to the public in 1860 and was designed primarily as a promenade, making it Britain's first-ever pleasure pier. 

Over the years, the pier has hosted many famous entertainers (including Charlie Chaplin) and has featured in many films and TV series, including the 1985 film Mr. Love and the 2021 BBC drama Time. 

4. Southport Flower Show

Held annually since 1924, the famed Southport Flower Show is the largest and longest-running in the UK. Each year, it attracts thousands of attendees, including many celebrities from all over the world. 

As well as beautiful floral exhibitions, the show includes attractions such as cookery demonstrations, gala dinners and horse-riding displays. 

5. It's England's golfing capital

Thanks to its abundance of top golf courses, the northwest has been crowned England's "Golf Coast" – and Southport sits right at the heart of it all. 

The town is a hotspot for golfing enthusiasts as it's home to the highest concentration of championship links courses in the UK. That includes the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, which is widely regarded as the best in England and regularly hosts the British Open.

6. The annual air show 

Southport Air Show began in 1991 and attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year.

Held on Southport beach, the two-day extravaganza features spectacles such as military aircraft, classic jets and parachute displays from the famed Red Arrows. 

Along with its flying programme, the Air Show also offers lots of fun activities on the ground like flight simulators, static crafts to explore and assault courses.

7. The British Lawnmower Museum

Nothing screams "quirky British seaside town" more than a whole museum dedicated to the beloved lawnmower. In fact, Southport is the proud owner of the only lawnmower museum in the world. 

You'll find this charming attraction hidden away on Shakespeare Street, where it has remained since opening in 1987.

An ode to vintage lawnmowers and antique garden machinery, the museum also boasts a collection of mowers donated by celebrities. If you're looking for an attraction that overflows with British eccentricity, you've found it.

8. Southport Pleasureland