Southport with Kids: The Ultimate Local Guide

Living just ten minutes from Southport means I’ve spent years discovering what really is (and isn’t) worth doing with kids.

Whether you’re planning a full day out, looking for somewhere to burn off some energy or just need ideas for a rainy afternoon, this guide brings together the best things to do in Southport with kids, plus local tips on parking, where to eat and the little things that can make family days out that bit easier.

Let’s get into it…

Jump to:

• Best things to do in Southport with kids
• Rainy day ideas
• Where to eat with kids
• Southport parking made easy
• More local tips

Best things to do in Southport with kids

There are plenty of things to do in Southport with kids, but these are the ones we genuinely rate, regularly go back to and recommend to friends and family. 

Adventure Coast Southport

It wouldn’t be a ‘Southport with kids’ guide if we didn’t start with the most obvious tourist attraction, so let’s kick things off with Adventure Coast Southport – the town’s classic seaside fairground.

As fairgrounds go, Adventure Coast is pretty much what you’d expect. There are loads of rides for younger children, a handful of bigger rides for older kids and thrill seekers, plus plenty to do if you’ve got a child who isn’t particularly interested in being flung around at speed. It’s good old-fashioned seaside fun, but it can quickly become one of the more expensive things to do in Southport with kids.

Entry to the park itself is free, but you’ll need a reusable Fun Card to go on the rides. For 2026, the card costs £2 per person and you’ll need to add a minimum of £5 worth of points when you activate it. Each ride then costs a set number of points, which are deducted from your card as you go. The good thing is that you can keep the card and use it again throughout the 2026 season, so it works particularly well if you’re local or planning more than one visit.

Local tip: If you’re planning to make a proper day of the Southport fairground and the kids are going to want to go on everything, get there for 11am. Adventure Coast releases a limited number of unlimited-ride wristbands each day between 11am and 12pm, currently priced at £36 per person. They’re much better value than repeatedly topping up a Fun Card if you’re only visiting once and planning to go on lots of rides.

If you’re only popping in for a couple of rides as part of a bigger day in Southport, though, I’d skip the wristband and stick with the pay-as-you-go option.

Marine Lake & King’s Gardens

If you want something a little calmer than the fairground, Marine Lake is one of our favourite parts of Southport for a walk with kids – particularly when the sun is out. The route around the lake is flat and pram-friendly, with plenty of ducks and swans to feed along the way (so bringing some suitable bird food is never a bad idea).

You can hire one of the swan pedal boats to head out onto the lake, or save little legs with a ride on the miniature railway towards Southport Pier. If you’d rather walk, it only takes around 10–15 minutes to get from the lake towards the pier – although considerably longer if your child needs to stop for every duck, playground and strategically positioned ice cream van. Ask me how I know.

And there are plenty of distractions. Along the way you’ll find a huge playground in King’s Gardens, crazy golf, loads of grass for running around and usually at least three opportunities to buy an ice cream before you’ve made it to the other end.

Local tip: If you’re visiting at the weekend, keep an eye out for the makers market that regularly pops up near the pier – it’s usually held on Saturdays and is worth a wander if it happens to be on while you’re there.

The best bit? You don’t actually need to spend anything here. You could quite happily bring a picnic, walk around the lake, play in the park and make an afternoon of it for free – although your chances of getting past three ice cream vans without spending a penny are between you and your children.

Silcock’s Funland & Southport Pier

Right in the heart of the Marine Lake area you’ll find possibly the most alluring sight in Southport if you’re a child: the bright lights of Silcock’s Funland.

If you’re after the full British seaside experience, this is it. There’s a big vintage carousel outside, surrounded by fish and chip shops, ice cream and all the usual seaside temptations. The carousel currently costs £2.50 a ride, which feels a little steep for a few minutes going round in a circle, but it is lovely, very Southport and makes for a pretty memorable photo while you’re there.

Inside, Silcock’s Funland is exactly what you’d expect from a seaside arcade. It’s huge, it’s loud, it’s a money pit, and you’ll inevitably spend £8 winning enough tickets to exchange for a Refresher bar worth approximately 12p. Basically, everything children want from a day out and everything parents fear.

There is, however, a free Hall of Mirrors tucked down the left-hand side of the arcade, so if you can successfully steer everyone past the machines without remortgaging the house, I’d definitely head in that direction.

Just outside is Southport Pier, although unfortunately you can’t currently walk along it right now. The pier is closed for major structural repairs and isn’t expected to reopen until 2027. Before the closure, you could take the little pier train right to the end, where there was a brilliant old-fashioned penny arcade – much calmer (and cheaper) than its modern counterpart, with a little bit of seaside history thrown in too. It’s a shame families visiting Southport in 2026 won’t get to experience it, but it’s definitely one to keep an eye out for when the pier eventually reopens.

💡 Local tip: If, like me, you’re not above bribery when it’s time to extract your children from an arcade, there’s a brilliant little joke shop just across the road. It’s cheap, packed with exactly the sort of tiny plastic treasures they’re desperately trying to win inside Funland, and you can usually negotiate your escape for a fraction of what you’d spend earning enough tickets for the same thing.

Botanic Gardens Southport

Just a five-minute drive from the seafront, Botanic Gardens Southport is probably our favourite place locally to visit with kids – and, almost unbelievably for a family day out in 2026, it’s completely free.

There’s a huge lake for feeding the ducks, a proper playground, loads of space to run around, a walk-in aviary where you can feed the birds, a beautiful fernery and plenty of little paths and hidden bits to explore. You could easily lose a few hours here without spending anything at all, or pack a picnic and turn it into a full day out.

We love it so much that we’ve actually written an entire guide to Botanic Gardens Southport, including what there is to do, how long you’ll need, where to park and all the useful bits to know before you go.

Honestly, just take it from us: add this one to your list.

Southport Rainy Day Ideas 

Obviously we’d all like blue skies and ice cream weather for a trip to the seaside, but this is the North West – so it’s always worth having a rainy day backup plan. Luckily, there are actually plenty of indoor things to do in Southport with kids, whether you want to tire them out, sneak in something vaguely educational or just hide from the rain with snacks and a film. 

The Atkinson

If you’re looking for a free rainy day activity in Southport, The Atkinson on Lord Street is an easy one to add to your list – and there’s actually far more going on inside than you might expect.

There’s a museum, library and regularly changing exhibitions, alongside a programme of family events, activities and theatre shows throughout the year. Because what’s on changes so regularly, it’s worth checking ahead before you visit – you might find anything from a new exhibition to a children’s workshop or family show happening that day.

It’s also completely free to pop in and explore the museum and galleries, which makes it particularly handy if the weather suddenly turns and you need somewhere to retreat to without committing another £50 to the family-day-out fund.

💡 Local tip: Don’t overlook the library. There are regular activities and events for children throughout the year, so it’s worth checking what’s on when you’re planning your visit.

There’s actually enough to see and do here that we’ve given The Atkinson its own guide, including what’s inside, what to expect and what’s worth seeing with children.

Splash World Southport

If the weather isn’t playing ball – or your kids would choose a swimming pool over sightseeing any day of the week – Splash World Southport is probably your best bet.

It’s a proper indoor water park rather than just a leisure-centre pool, with something for pretty much every age. Bigger kids can brave the large flume slides, while there are smaller slides and play areas for younger children, plus a lazy river, rapid river, huge bubble spa area and plenty of space for general splashing around.

For 2026, a standard 1.5-hour session costs £16.80 for adults, £13.50 for children aged 6–15, £12 for ages 3–5 and £5.50 for under-threes. There are also a limited number of all-day Gold passes available if you’re planning to make Splash World the main event rather than just part of your day.

It’s definitely not the cheapest rainy day activity in Southport, particularly once you’re paying for the whole family, but there’s enough variety that you don’t have the problem of a toddler being completely overwhelmed while an older child is bored senseless.

💡 Local tip: There’s parking right by Splash World, so you don’t have to march soaking wet children halfway across Southport afterwards. And if the weather unexpectedly decides to behave, you’re only a minute or so from Marine Lake – making it really easy to combine the two and get a bit more out of your day.

Ocean Plaza

For one of those days when the weather is absolutely refusing to cooperate, Ocean Plaza Southport is a handy place to have in your back pocket. The leisure complex is just off the seafront and has enough indoor options that you can easily cobble together a few hours without having to keep bundling everyone in and out of the car.

There’s a Vue cinema, Tenpin bowling (with a small arcade attached) and plenty of places to eat, so you can easily do bowling followed by lunch, catch a film or combine the two if you need to fill an especially soggy afternoon.

For dessert, Kaspa’s is also on the complex if your children haven’t consumed quite enough sugar yet and you’d like to rectify that immediately. If you’d rather avoid the inevitable request for a sundae bigger than their head, I’d recommend parking somewhere in the middle of the complex and hoping nobody spots it.

💡 Local tip: One that’s particularly useful if you’ve got younger children – the Brewers Fayre at Ocean Plaza has an indoor soft play. So you can actually sit down with a coffee or something to eat while they burn off some energy, which can be a lifesaver when you’ve exhausted your rainy-day options.

Where to eat in Southport with kids

Finding somewhere to eat in Southport with kids isn’t particularly difficult. Around the fairground and Silcock’s Funland you can barely move for fish and chips, ice cream and traditional seaside cafés, while Ocean Plaza has everything from McDonald’s and KFC to Pizza Hut, pubs and restaurants. And don’t forget the Brewers Fayre soft play if sitting peacefully for more than four minutes is currently out of the question.

But if you fancy venturing beyond the obvious options, there are a few places we’d particularly recommend.

Southport Market

If your family can never agree on what to eat, Southport Market is probably your safest bet. The food hall brings a load of independent traders together under one roof, with everything from Neapolitan pizza and smash burgers to Greek food, pasta, Korean fried chicken, bagels and Indian street food – meaning everyone can order something completely different without you having to negotiate a restaurant everyone approves of.

It’s also brilliantly casual for families. There’s plenty of communal seating, space to manoeuvre a pram and absolutely no need to spend the entire meal worrying about somebody knocking a wine glass off a beautifully laid table.

There are often events, live entertainment and family days happening here too, so it’s worth checking what’s on before you visit.

Marine Lake Cafe

Tucked just underneath Southport Pier, Marine Lake Cafe is a lovely little stop when the weather’s behaving. The food is fairly simple – think sandwiches, pastries, drinks and easy lunch options – but really you’re here for the location.

There’s outdoor seating overlooking Marine Lake and often live entertainment, and because you’re already outside there’s much less pressure on kids to sit perfectly still throughout lunch. They can have a bit of space to move around while you enjoy the view, which sometimes makes for a much more relaxing pit stop than attempting a proper sit-down meal halfway through a busy day.

The Lakeside Inn

For something a little quirkier, The Lakeside Inn beside Marine Lake is worth seeking out. The tiny pub formerly held the Guinness World Record title of Britain’s smallest pub, so it’s a fun little Southport curiosity to tick off while you’re there.

The food offering isn’t extensive, so I wouldn’t necessarily choose it for a big family meal, but it’s a lovely spot for a drink or quick bite with plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the lake. It’s also family and dog friendly, making it particularly handy if you’ve brought the four-legged member of the family along too.

Parking in Southport made easy

Unlike a lot of seaside towns, parking in Southport is actually pretty easy – there are plenty of options close to the main attractions, so you shouldn’t need to trek halfway across town with tired kids at the end of the day.

If you’re heading to Ocean Plaza, there’s a huge car park right outside the cinema, bowling and restaurants. Just make sure you check the parking rules and register your number plate inside whichever venue you’re visiting where required – nobody needs a parking fine as a souvenir from their day out.

For the main seafront attractions, you’ll find paid parking at Splash World, close to Adventure Coast and along Marine Drive, all of which put you within easy walking distance of Marine Lake, King’s Gardens, Silcock’s Funland and the surrounding attractions.

💡 Local parking tip: Morrisons is really centrally located and currently offers up to two hours’ free parking, which can be handy for a shorter visit. There’s also free on-street parking around Rotten Row, close to Victoria Park, although spaces fill up quickly on busy days.

And one small plea from the locals: if you’re using the free residential street parking, please park considerately. People actually live here – don’t block drives, squeeze into ridiculous spaces or make someone’s Saturday significantly more annoying just to save a few quid.

More Local tips

We spend a lot of time in Southport, so these are the little things we’d tell friends before they visited – the stuff that can save you money, avoid unnecessary drama or just make the day run a bit more smoothly.

• Check what’s happening at Victoria Park. Southport has loads of events throughout the year, with some of the biggest taking place at Victoria Park near the seafront. It’s worth checking what’s on before you visit – either because you might want to go, or because it’ll explain why Southport is suddenly very busy and parking has become a competitive sport.
• Don’t overlook Lord Street. It’s easy to spend your whole day around the seafront, but Lord Street is well worth a wander too. Alongside the usual shops there are some brilliantly random independent ones – including an enormous four-floor bazaar where you can quite easily lose an hour looking at things nobody knew they needed until approximately 30 seconds ago. The covered walkways are also handy when the inevitable rain arrives.
• Looking for Southport beach? Stop looking. If you’re wandering around Marine Drive wondering how on earth you’re supposed to get the kids down to the sand to build sandcastles, you’re not missing an obvious entrance. Southport technically has a beach, but much of the coastline here is marshland and the actual sand and sea can feel very far away. It’s definitely not where we’d choose for a traditional bucket-and-spade beach day.
• If it’s an actual beach you’re after, head to Ainsdale instead. It’s only a short drive further up the coast and is a much better option for a proper family beach day. Formby is another brilliant choice a little further along, or head towards Crosby if you fancy combining the beach with a look at the famous Iron Men.

Is Southport worth visiting with kids?

If you haven’t already guessed, we’re big fans of Southport with kids. There’s enough going on to fill a full day without having to plan every minute, plenty of free things to do when you’ve already spent far too much at the fairground, and enough indoor options to rescue the day when the North West weather inevitably gets involved.

The best thing about Southport is that you can make it as busy or as easy as you like. Come for the fairground and make a proper day of it, or grab an ice cream, wander around Marine Lake and let the kids loose in the playground for a couple of hours.

And because we’re lucky enough to have all of this practically on our doorstep, we’ll keep updating this guide as we discover new places worth adding – so bookmark it for your next visit.