Even though summer is drawing to a close you can still make the most of the mild days by heading outside. We have lots of amazing parks and gardens to visit here in Greater Manchester, but sometimes it’s nice to pack up a picnic and take a day trip further afield.
Southport Botanic Gardens is an hour and twenty minutes’ drive from Manchester, or you can get a 90 minute train from Piccadilly. It’s located in Churchtown just a few minutes out of the town centre.
First opened in 1874, the gardens are full of Victorian features and taking a walk through them is like entering a different world. At the centre of the gardens is a small lake, with paths winding around the edge.
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One of the gardens’ unique features is a Victorian fernery, a grotto-like greenhouse full of lush greenery and rock formations. Kids will love venturing inside and seeing what lies behind each corner.
Another hidden gem at the gardens is the aviary, where you can meet a variety of colourful tropical birds up close. There’s a range of stunning floral displays to admire and the gardens are regularly entered into Britain In Bloom.
Today a group of volunteers helps to maintain the gardens, but they have had a turbulent history. They closed in 1932, nearly 60 years after they first opened, and that land was set to be turned into a housing development.
They were saved from being sold by the Southport Corporation and reopened in 1937. Unfortunately the gardens’ museum closed in 2011, however the fernery and aviary remain open, thanks to the volunteers.
After you’ve had a wander around you can grab a bite to eat at the gardens’ cafe, or a refreshing drink from The Settle Inn. There’s also a shop which sells a range of plants.
The gardens are open daily 10am until 8pm. Admission is free.
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