SOUTHPORT

Just 10 minutes drive from Woodlands Caravan Park is the Victorian resort town of Southport. Famous for shopping, golf and eating out, Southport is served by an excellent “Park and Ride” network of three large car parks linked by regular free bus service to the main shopping streets.

Southport boasts Britain's second longest pier which has been completely refurbished at a cost of £7 million. This fabulous pier has recently won the 'Pier of the year' award. The pier features a Pier tram which travels the mile long journey to the seaward end where there is a pavilion filled with attractions such as an interactive display and exhibition of the local wildlife and coastline. You will also find traditional 'penny in the slot' machines and café.

Located close to the Pier, Southport’s new Ocean Plaza is a major dining, entertainment and retail destination that boasts a 7-screen cinema, Ten Pin Bowling, restaurants, fast food and retail outlets.

For art lovers, the Atkinson Art Gallery housed within the Southport Arts Centre is well worth a visit. The collection includes nineteenth and twentieth century watercolours, and Victorian and twentieth century oil paintings.

Enjoy a leisurely paced cruise aboard the "Southport Belle", a Mississippi style paddle steamer on the Marine Lake, one of the largest manmade lakes in England.

The Lakeside Miniature Railway beside the Marine Lake has been running continuously for 95 years.

Originally opened in 1874, the Botanic Gardens are rich in history and beauty, packed with floral displays and wildlife and boast a winding lake the length of the park. The Marine Way Bridge is a stunning new landmark for Southport with the dramatic floodlit bridge now linking the seafront to the town centre. Red squirrels can frequently be seen in the pine trees at Formby point & Squirrel Reserve and the shoreline attracts waders such as oystercatchers and sanderlings. WEST LANCASHIRE Just five minutes from Woodlands Caravan Park, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust is the largest international wetland conservation charity in the UK. Have a fantastic day out at Martin Mere seeing, feeding and learning about wetland birds.

Evidence suggests that Shakespeare performed at Rufford Old Hall for the owner. The house contains collections of 16th and 17th Century Oak furniture, arms and armour. The grounds are laid out in Victorian style and feature topiary and sculpture. Again this is just five minutes from Woodlands Caravan Park.

The West Lancashire Light Railway is a two foot gauge passenger carrying railway which features a number of interesting locomotives and other railway equipment from industrial lines in Great Britain and from overseas.

EATING OUT

Southport boasts a huge variety of restaurants and cafe's where you can savour international and local dishes at their very best. Whether it's Italian, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, Greek, Lebanese, Mediterranean or traditional English, you'll find it all in Southport. The local restaurateurs take great pride in offering visitors a very warm welcome to their establishments. In fact the only problem you'll have is choosing which restaurant to dine in!

GOLF

Southport has a justifiable claim to be England's Golfing Capital and hosts some of the finest Links courses in England. Southport is the home of Royal Birkdale, which for many golfers, is quite simply, the best of all the great golf courses to have staged The Open Championship. But Southport's reputation for being England's Golfing Capital is not just based on Royal Birkdale it boasts another six championship standard courses within 20 minutes drive from Woodlands Caravan Park. Hillside, Formby, Hesketh, Southport & Ainsdale, Formby Hall and West Lancashire Golf Clubs are all superb courses providing a challenge to the most accomplished golfer.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Events such as Southport Air Show, the British Musical Fireworks Championships, Southport Flower Show and the Southport International Jazz Festival are just some of the wide range of events that make Southport the “Must Visit” resort of England’s North West coast.