A trip to the coast may not be the first thing which springs to mind when you think of a festive day out. Yet there’s one seaside town just over an hour away from Greater Manchester which promises a visit full of Christmas cheer.
Southport is hosting a range of family-friendly activities throughout December, from magical carriage rides to free light trails. It’s a great place for a spot of Christmas shopping too thanks to the town’s independent shops.
It's the perfect alternative if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Manchester’s Christmas Markets. You can even combine the festive activities with an invigorating walk overlooking the beach.
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You can reach Southport directly from Manchester via train, or you can drive, which both take around an hour and 15 minutes, so it’s easy to get there and back in a day. A lot of the activities the town is hosting are for charity too, helping you to give back this Christmas.
We’ve rounded up the best festive things to do in Southport this year, from catching your favourite Christmas film at a drive-in cinema, to meeting Santa himself. Read on for a Christmas guide to Southport.
Enjoy a magical carriage ride
Imagine that you’re in your own Christmas fairytale with a horse-drawn carriage ride through the town centre. You’ll make amazing festive memories as the carriage takes you along The Promenade, Pleasureland, Victoria Park and Lord Street boulevard. Dates are available until December and the carriages can take up to six people with a £20 charitable donation per group. You can book your ticket here.
Follow a festive trail
Southport is hosting two festive trails this year which are completely free to do. You can follow the Gingerbread Family Trail around shops in the Lord Street area - ideal if you’re doing some Christmas shopping too. Or admire the town’s light trail, Illustrate Illuminate, which features eight new light decorations created from artwork by the town’s young people. Trails maps can be viewed here.
Meet Father Christmas or party with his elves
Of course a festive day out wouldn’t be complete without paying a visit to Santa’s Grotto. Every Saturday until December 17 the big man himself will be visiting Southport - and he’ll be bringing lots of gifts with him. Tickets to meet Father Christmas can be booked online here, with a £10 charitable donation.
Little ones can also party with Santa’s elves at the Elf Party, which will feature dancing, games and sparkly face decorations. There’s the chance to make reindeer snacks for Rudolph and his friends, too. The Elf Parties take place in Wayfarers Arcade on Sundays until December 18, they last an hour and can be booked online here with a donation of £10.
Catch a traditional pantomime
Nothing says Christmas quite like a pantomime. There are two you can see in Southport this year.
At the Little Theatre Southport there's a production of Sleeping Beauty, which opens on December 16 and runs through the new year, tickets can be purchased here. Or see actress Patsy Kensit in The Atkinson’s production of Aladdin, which starts on December 8 and runs through December, click here for tickets.
Watch a festive favourite on the big screen
We’ve all got our favourite Christmas film that we watch year after year, but sometimes it’s nice to see it on the big screen instead of on the TV at home. Independent cinema Bijou will be showing old classics such as It’s a Wonderful Life, The Bishop’s Wife and White Christmas, as well as modern favourites like Home Alone, Elf, The Holiday and How The Grinch Stole Christmas. For more information click here.
For a different way to watch a Christmas film, pay a visit to the Moonlight Drive In at Victoria Park, where you can see family favourites like Frozen, Nativity and Polar Express from the comfort of your car. There will also be showings of Love Actually, Die Hard and Die Hard 2. Visit this website for more information and to book.
For more of the latest What's On news, click here.
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