Everything you need to know about Southport Flower Show

It’s the largest independent flower show in the UK, and this year Southport Flower Show is celebrating its landmark 100^th anniversary with an extra special weekend.

The event attracts more than 50,000 visitors to Victoria Park to enjoy four days of show gardens, stunning floral displays, live cookery demos, celebrity guest appearances and a pop-up home and garden shopping village as well as lots of live entertainment.

With a landmark birthday to mark, this year promises to be one of the best yet, with a theme of health and wellbeing showing how plants and flowers boost our everyday life.

If you’re planning on going, here’s everything you need to know about Southport Flower Show 2024 …

When is Southport Flower Show happening?

This year’s show, at Victoria Park as usual, is on from Thursday August 15 to Sunday August 18, 10am to 6pm each day except Sunday when it ends at 5pm. 

How much is admission?

Tickets on the gate are £29 and under 16s go free. If you book via the website you can get a discounted early bird ticket price of £26 that can be used on any of the show days, or a pass which covers all four days for £84. Anyone who lives locally, with a PR8 or PR9 postcode, can get a residents’ discounted ticket for £18 from the Atkinson, just take along proof of address.

What about the show gardens and displays?

These are always among the most popular features of the show, with designers and landscapers going all-out to impress judges and create a winning themed garden. Inside the Grand Floral Marquee visitors will be able to see a whole array of beautiful plants, flowers, trees, shrubs and veg, and get tips direct from the growers. There’s also the largest amateur growers’ competition in the country, and a Honey Marquee where you can watch bees at work and sample their gorgeous produce.

Which famous faces will at the show this year?

Southport Flower Show is known for its celebrity guests – everyone from Carol Vorderman to Anton du Beke have opened it in previous years. This year, Southport’s own award-winning broadcaster and DJ Adele Roberts will open the show on Thursday. Other special guests include Michaela Strachan in the Garden Theatre on Thursday, CBeebies star Justin Fletcher on Sunday in the Garden Theatre (11am-1pm), and Strictly Come Dancing pair Janette and Aljaz in the Garden Theatre on Saturday. If you want some advice from the TV experts, look out too for David Domoney and Skinny Jean Gardener Lee Connelly on Saturday, Carole Baxter and George Anderson from The Beechgrove Garden on Thursday and Friday, Adam Frost from BBC Gardeners’ World on Friday and Martin and Jill Fish from The Potting Shed on all four days.

How about celebrity chefs?

The Cookery Theatre has got some fantastic demos lined up for 2024 with Sunday Brunch’s Simon Rimmer, Mowgli founder Nisha Katona MBE, Phil Vickery, Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt and Jemma Melvin all confirmed.

There’s plenty of entertainment for the whole family too

The Arena will host exciting displays including falconry, show jumping, dogs and an Extreme Bike Battle, and the Piazza Stage has live music all day, every day. In keeping with this year’s theme of wellness, the Enchanted Fields will have mindfulness, yoga, pilates, reflexology, aromatherapy and sound therapy sessions. 

And you can shop, shop, shop!

The pop-up Shopping Village is a great place to find unusual items for your home and garden with more than 350 trade stands to choose from.

What’s the best way to get to Southport Flower Show?

Merseyrail runs fast, regular services from Liverpool city centre and South Parkway to Southport. It’s about a 20-minute walk from the station to Victoria Park or there’s a shuttle bus from the station to the showground. If you’re taking the car, parking is available at Princes Park and Birkdale Common Park & Ride for an all-day rate of £10 per car. 

Find more information on the Southport Flower Show website.

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