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Date spot in Southport and the Sefton Coast

The Freshfield

Warm up after Formby's pinewoods with a pint and a pub lunch at the Freshfield, a short walk from the station.

The Freshfield, a white pub with black-and-white gables, on a street corner under a blue sky

Massams Lane, Freshfield, Formby

1 Massams Lane, Freshfield, Formby L37 7BD

Why it's a good date: The natural end to a squirrel walk, and the dog's welcome too. Come in out of the wind, find a table and order something hearty.

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Photo: Stephen McKay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)

More from our Southport and the Sefton Coast guide

  • Flamingos on the grass by a pond in front of Martin Mere's visitor centre, with its turf roof and white pointed top

    WWT Martin Mere

    Fish Lane, Burscough, half an hour's drive from Southport

    WWT Martin Mere, Fish Lane, Burscough L40 0TA
    • Trip
    • Outdoors
    • Out of town

    Head inland to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's reserve near Burscough, to watch the birds on the mere from the hides and meet the flamingos.

    Why it's a good date: Best from autumn into winter, when tens of thousands of pink-footed geese come in and the swans arrive for the winter. Wrap up, take binoculars, and book online. It's not one for the dog: only assistance dogs are allowed.

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    Photo: Chris Denny, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)

  • Red-brick and white Victorian buildings above shop fronts on Lord Street, with a long canopy over the pavement

    Lord Street and Wayfarers Arcade

    Lord Street, town centre

    Wayfarers Arcade, Lord Street, Southport PR8 1NT

    Stroll Southport's grand Victorian boulevard under its long glass-and-iron verandas, then duck into Wayfarers Arcade, a glass-roofed shopping arcade from the 1890s.

    Why it's a good date: The canopies were built to keep shoppers dry, so it's a walk that works in any weather. Look up as you go: the buildings above the shops are the best part, and the gardens across the road are made for a sit-down.

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    Photo: Steven Haslington, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)

  • The Atkinson's sandstone frontage and clock tower on Lord Street under a clear blue sky

    The Atkinson

    Lord Street, town centre

    The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport PR8 1DB

    Wander the free museum and art gallery in the Atkinson, from Southport's own history to its Ancient Egypt collection, and check what's on in its theatre.

    Why it's a good date: The town's arts centre packs a lot under one clock tower, and the galleries cost nothing. Make a day of it with a show in the evening. It's closed on Sundays, so go on a weekday or a Saturday.

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    Photo: Jeff Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)

From our guide to date ideas in Southport and the Sefton Coast

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