Southport

Southport is a seaside town on the Irish Sea coast situated within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in England. The town is located 16.5 miles (26.6 km) to the north of Liverpool and 14.8 miles (23.8 km) west-southwest of Preston. Southport has a population of around 100,000, with approximately 40% of the population over 55 years old and around 55% defined as social class ABC1. Historically a part of Lancashire, tourist attractions include Southport Pier, the second longest seaside pleasure pier in Great Britain,[2] Lord Street, a tree-lined shopping street once home of Napoleon III of France, and a fairground which was originally opened in 1912. The town contains examples of Victorian architecture and town planning. These include much of Lord Street in addition to Cambridge Hall, Town Hall and Wayfarers' Arcade. A particular feature of the town is the extensive tree planting. This was one of the conditions required by the Hesketh family when they made land available for development in the 19th century. Hesketh Park at the northern end of the town is named after the Hesketh family. Extensive sand dunes stretch for several kilometers between Birkdale and Ainsdale/Woodvale to the south of the town. The Ainsdale sand dunes have been designated as a National Nature Reserve in England and a Ramsar site. Local fauna include the Natterjack toad and the Sand lizard.