Model Trains in the grass and Royal Pains in the.....zoo? (Attractions in Southport)

Member Name: Johnny Phoenix

Product:	Attractions in Southport
Date:	13/08/02 (1357 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Not a Bad Day Out

Disadvantages: Not as Good as Blackpool

We decided to have another jaunt out on Saturday and headed for Southport just off the M62 near Blackpool. I stayed there for a few months 10 years ago whilst I was learning to fly at the local RAF base and going back unlocked a few memories.

I cannot offer a comprehensive guide to Southport as there are a lot of things to see and do, so I have only really covered the things we did as an example of what this reasonable resort has to offer.

Southport Model Railway Village
***************************
I remember being awe-struck by this as a toddler as trains whizzed by model farmhouses into the village centre. Returning as an adult I could see what it was that so enthralled me as a youngster. Although I was somewhat less bewitched now, since my eyes are more critical now than they were as a child. The houses do have detail to them but some of them look out of scale when compared with others and the detail although very good is not as breathtaking as it once was.

The whole effect is slightly marred as the whole set is built around a small lake with real ducks swimming along side trains half their size. People that take video cameras could get some bizarre footage which could easily be mistaken for a ludicrous sixties B Movie.

The cost is reasonable £3.50 adults, £2.50 kids, (under two year olds get in free) and kids will absolutely love it. There is a tourist information booth on the main road near the entrance where you can pick up a leaflet, which will save you 10%. You can buy a family ticket for £9.00 and stay in as long as you want.

Southport Zoo
************
You may have to fight your way past protesters to get in through the gates. At the moment they are campaigning every Sunday and Bank Holiday to have the zoo closed down. Their complaint is that they say that many of the animals are kept in confined solitary confinement with no stimulation. They also believe that it is cruel to have the zoo in
close proximity to the roller coaster which is adjacent to the plot and which goes past every four minutes.

I was unaware of this before we got there but objected to the manner in which the protestors came towards us in an accusatory fashion. The woman that approached me was extremely confrontational and annoyed me instantly. If she had been reasonable, I would have heard her arguments and possibly decided against visiting the zoo. As it was, her insulting tone, was enough to convince me to go into the zoo even if I had been a passer by up until that point. I advised, to her dismay that I would rather see the zoo and make my own mind up. I may have inadvertently used a few colourful metaphors to point out that that she was a snotty cow that did a probably worthwhile cause no justice by alienating the very people who’s trust she sought to gain.

The zoo itself is not good to be honest. It is very small and would probably fit into one of the larger enclosures at Chester Zoo. It costs £4.00 per adult, £3.00 per child and bags of animal food are £1.00 a bag.
It is not well set out as you find that you are in a maze of cages, badly sign-posted and you have to constantly stop and try to remember whether you have already been down a particular path. The animals to be fair did look depressed although I cannot say with any surety whether this was just a feeling I got because of the doubt the witch at the entrance had managed to plant.

We saw a two Snow Leopards, a lioness, a couple of porcupines, a group of guinea pigs, a lone chimpanzee, a few parrots, chickens, a few snakes and spiders, a herd of goats, a few spider monkeys and other monkeys and a couple of old donkeys. So the range of animals wasn’t great considering it was a zoo.
The animals were quite confined in comparison with the space they would have at Chester Zoo and in fairness I did find myself feeling a little sorry for them. I think they would be far better off a
nd happier if they were allowed to move to one of the bigger zoos. We spent a lot of time feeding the goats and guinea pigs who were quite happy with their lot in life and then we left.

The same protestor came marching towards me with a look of anger on her face, which once again annoyed me. “Can I ask you how you enjoyed your visit to the zoo?” she barked with a sour expression on her face.
I replied “it was alright” thanks, but I had lied just to annoy her because it was quite far from alright. I just think the campaign will stand a far greater chance of achieving their goals without people like her on their side.

Open Top Bus Tour
****************
Just near to the pier is a tourist information shack and leaving from there every hour or so is an open top bus, which drives 20 miles around the town. It is the best way to see the whole town and the driver was a good humoured middle aged guy who knew an awful lot about the area, buildings and history of Southport.

As the bus was on quiet stretches, he would tell jokes over the loud speaker and when we got to points of interest, he would provide great information and anecdotes about the point, which made for an enjoyable trip. The price was only £2.00 for adults and £1.00 for kids and lasts for about an hour which is superb value for money and hugely entertaining and informative.

There is a point at which you go up the coast road and he has to drive at 50 mph so you do need to take your jacket as it can get quite chilly on the top deck.

Other Attractions near the pier
************************
The Pier Itself – The pier is a Kilometre long, which for you non-metric old timers is just short of two-thirds of a mile. It’s a nice bracing walk and there is a little café at the end. If you are lazy, a little train will take you there and back for 50p. It’s a nice view off the end as you can see Blackpool tower and t
he Pleasure Beach across the water.

Pitch and Putt – There is a full eighteen hole pitch and putt course, its not very big but it is quite good fun for all the family. It can take about an hour to get round depending on the size of your party but the course is set out so it goes back on itself and is all condensed within a field the size of a football field so you won’t be walking for miles. It only costs £2.00 or so each so again its not bad value for an hours fun.

Crazy Golf and Bowls – These are also a stones throw from the end of the pier and again offer something else to do. We didn’t actually go on the crazy golf, opting instead for the pitch and putt, but I think the price was £1.50 per person and it looked a quite fun course offering the usual frustrations.

Theatre – The main Southport Theatre is near the pier although they don’t always have something showing. Even when they do, it’s hardly top billing with the likes of the Horton Weavers and the Grumbleweeds occupying the advertising boards outside.

Nights Out
*********
Of course, if you are single, footloose and fancy free, there are some great pubs, clubs and one or two good restaurants to be found, but you have to know where to look or you may not find them.

The Carlton Pub on Lord Street, is the place to start. If you get there about 9 p.m. It’s huge beer garden will be filled with people starting their night off and you can just follow the crowd from thereon in. As far as eating is concerned I would heartily recommend the “New China City” restaurant which does a huge range of banquets and individual meals at reasonable prices. You can find this at 16-20 King Street just behind the Carlton Pub.

Overall
******
It has all the other things that you would attribute to a sea-side resort, an amusement park, amusement arcades, boat rides, fishing trips. It does everything that
Blackpool does but Blackpool just does it so much better.

If you want a day trip or you are on your way to Blackpool, then it is certainly worth stopping off here, but I think a day or two at the most will be all you’ll need before it gets a bit boring.

Summary: