6 Reasons to visit Birkdale this Summer

Summer is here, so you might be planning a day out in and around the city region, and Birkdale should certainly be on your list of places to visit.

In Birkdale you can enjoy a meal in one of its classy eateries, pick up something for the BBQ from the local butchers Broughs, or a cooling drink in one of the numerous bars and cafes.

Nestled between Ainsdale and Southport, it’s easy to reach by train on Merseyrail, and retains an old school charm and lovely atmosphere.

Here are six reason to visit Birkdale this summer.

History: The upmarket coastal rival to Victorian Southport

Its name is thought to be derived from the old Norse words birki, meaning birch copse, and dal, meaning dale, and it started life as a smattering of farmsteads and marshy land.

Like much of this part of Sefton, land came into the hands of Thomas Weld Blundell in the early 1800s. Inspired by the coming of the railway, he went about planning and building high value housing for the gentry of the area. A town gradually emerged with iron canopied shops, some of them designed by influential local architect EW Johnson, and a library and town hall brought added gravitas.

Although some of the original architecture was lost to short sighted modern development, much of the old Birkdale still exists and conservation area status has ensured elements of the attractive and glorious past live on.

Views: Stunning sunsets and miles of golden sand

Make your way over the Birkdale dunes and onto the beach and enjoy the spectacular views from this stunning coastline.

On clear days look beyond Southport Pier in the north towards the Fylde coast and Blackpool, then south towards north Wales. Sunsets in this area are spectacular.

Walk: Get the sand between your toes and see local wildlife

Make your way from the village towards the coast and you will come to the Ainsdale and Birkdale Sandhills Nature Reserve. Here you can enjoy a gorgeous seaside ramble while looking for local wildlife, including the natterjack toad whose call has seen it dubbed the Birkdale Nightingale.

Find more local walks in Birkdale, Ainsdale and Southport here.

Drink: The former newsagents that now serves Belgian beer

The Barrel House serves a range of beers from Europe as well as local draft ales. You can also enjoy a glass of wine or tea, coffee and a cake if you’re not a fan of Belgian brew.

Find out more on their Facebook page.

Eat: Artisan Cheese with more than 150 to choose from

The Birkdale Cheese Co has been a feature of the village for more than 40 years offering a range of the best of British and continental cheese.

The gorgeous shop was taken over by John Clarke and Mark Moos three years ago and they continue to build on the traditions built up over the decades.

You can also purchase fine wines, hampers and various delicious food from the deli section.

And if you are lucky, you can bag a place on one of the cheese and wine nights run in conjunction with the village’s Majestic Wine.

Find out more here.

An exciting new bar and restaurant: Penelope’s opens soon

The long wait for the opening of Penelope’s is nearly over.

The sister venue to massively popular Emily’s in Formby opens its doors on Friday in the former Ho Lee Chow on the edge of Victoria Park following a painstaking redevelopment.

A little further from Birkdale village, the sumptuous new restaurant and bar is sure to prove just as popular as Emily’s, with its delicious menu, cocktails and instagrammable surroundings.

Expect seafood, pasta, pizzas and sirloin from the grill, all served in what is expected to be one of the most beautiful hangouts in the area.

Follow them on Instagram for updates.