Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens in Southport make for a lovely day out no matter the weather. There is a large lake/​stream that the entire gardens are built around as well as some amazing horticultural wonders.
The inclusion of an excellent café and a small gift shop really sets off the park.
There is also an enclosed area, but I have yet to visit it, seeing as it is usually closed.
Don’t miss out on the small zoo/​aviary where small furries and a variety of birds can be found.

I wish there were more public gardens like this around. Such a nice place to go when you have a relaxed day off. Love the birds and animals they have there (they’re caged, which is to be expected). Peacocks! Pheasants! All sorts of parrots! Yaaaay… :)
They have nice trails. We walked by the pond and fed the ducks. There were so many of them that swarmed us. And seagulls came to try to steal their food. Was good fun.
I like the playground as well. Even though I’m not a little kid, I think they actually have some fun swings and things. Lots of families come through (for obvious reasons). Lots of dog walkers as well.
They have a café, and you can sit down for a drink or go inside to look at their goods. All kitschy stuff, mind, but why not support the botanical gardens when possible? There are a few fun and random things there. And food.
The thing about it is that I’ve heard from those who have lived in this area for a long time that there have been serious cutbacks from the former glories of the botanical gardens? The greenhouses are closed off, the flowers have been removed from some parts of it, and there are cutbacks in staff as well. It’s kind of sad because I think it could be a really pretty place if it’s maintained.
In any case, it’s worth going for a visit, even for just a short stroll.

Emma-​Louise what a lovely memory to have of your childhood. I cannot say that I have the same memories of the botanic gardens. Mine are much more recent but still on a very positive note. Located in picturesque Churchtown, the gardens/​park can be found by following the brown signs from all major roads into Southport. The Gardens are host to a Spring and Late Summer flower show ever year. There is a regular programme of brass bands, every Sunday afternoon and events which are puplicised locally. The gardens are really enjoyable to walk around and once you have done your walking, hopping, skipping, running or whatever you feel inspired to do (within reason) there is also a café to enjoy, a gift shop, picnic facilities, nursery shop and toilets (although I am not sure that we enjoy toilets, but they are there just in case you need them!). There are 8 hectares to walk around so if you want to be by yourself then don’t worry you will find plenty of space.

It’s doing these Unilocal reviews in Merseyside’s Southport, the go-​to for Liverpudlians looking for a bit of seaside fresh air, that makes me realise I spent most of my youth here. The Brunette, my oldest friend, lived in Churchtown during our schooldays and despite the fact that we and our social circle were a bunch of moody teenagers who wore Doc Martens and locked ourselves in our bedrooms listening to Nirvana, we just loved a trip to the Botanic Gardens down the road from her.
I have photos still of the times we spent there, and there amongst all that black eyeliner, ripped denim and scowling adolescence, are smiles. We got so inspired by the place that a friend of mine wanted to take romantically inspired photos of us posing with blossom trees and water features in the background. Nothing lifts a mood swing like feeding the ducks.
Years later I’m older, wiser, I probably still use too much Kohl but I’ve certainly curbed my impressions of Kevin the Teenager. ‘That’s so unfah I HATE you!’ *Door slam* Well, we all still have our spoilt brat moments. But one thing that will always remain is the way the Botanic Gardens did and still does brighten my day. Having opened in 1874 they are traditionally Victorian, harbouring incredible floral displays, gorgeous walkpaths, a winding lake that stretches the length of the complex and the potential to take boat trips. The duckies are always great, particularly in spring when the babies come out to play, so take plenty of bread.
There are benches for picnics, free parking available, a café if you need to stop to rest or haven’t brought a packed lunch, a pottery shop, a gift shop, free admission and even a regular bus that stops at the site directly from Southport’s central Lord Street. So even if you’re just mooching around the town you’ve no excuse not to come here. As starkly beautiful in winter as it is Technicolor and gorgeous in summer, don’t miss out on this superb attraction.