The Atkinson celebrates top national rating in latest Visit England review

The Atkinson in Southport has once again demonstrated its excellence, receiving ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’ ratings across all criteria in this year’s annual Visit England assessment.

The Atkinson was awarded an exceptional overall score of 98%, with assessors commending staff for enhancing the visitor experience and contributing to an engaging and welcoming atmosphere.

Visit England’s assessment said:

‘The content and variety of the attraction continue to be of a high standard, with strong connections to the local area and its heritage.

It describes the café, retail space, and presentation of the featured attraction areas as contributing to ‘a memorable day for visitors.’

Cllr Liz Dowd, who is Sefton’s Cabinet member with responsibility for Arts, Culture and Libraries said:

“Congratulations to everyone at The Atkinson for achieving this great result from the Visit England assessment.

“These scores are a credit to the teams and to the exciting programme of events, shows and exhibitions they put on throughout the year, which are enjoyed so much by local people and visitors alike.”

Located in the heart of Southport, The Atkinson comprises a traditional theatre, a flexible studio space, and a year-round programme of music, comedy, and performance. It is also home to a local history museum, an Egyptology collection, and an art gallery housing more than 3,500 artworks and 25,000 artefacts.

As a vital community hub, The Atkinson also hosts Southport Library, the independent café A Great Little Place (operated by Autism Initiatives UK), and a gift shop championing local artists and makers.

Each year, The Atkinson welcomes approximately 420,000 visitors, making it one of the most significant cultural destinations within the Liverpool City Region.

In 2024, the venue delivered 36 free family activity sessions, attracting 2,327 participants. It also welcomed more than 1,100 local pupils for educational workshops and engaged over 3,900 participants in its talks, tours, and heritage and arts workshops.

The Atkinson’s popularity was recently recognised at the 2025 Southport BID Star Awards, where it was named People’s Choice: Entertainment Venue of the Year. The venue is also currently ranked #1 for Things to Do in Southport on TripAdvisor.

Cllr Dowd added:

“The Atkinson is rooted in Southport’s strong community spirit and continues to thrive as Sefton’s leading cultural hub. And as well as entertaining and inspiring the many thousands of people who come through its doors as visitors, it encourages local people to participate in the arts.

“I know the team is currently looking for young people who go to high school or college in Sefton or attend an art class in the Borough to submit works for the Sefton Young Artist of the Year 2025.

“It’s a chance to have their work displayed to the public in the gallery from Saturday 26th July to Saturday 6th September and for the public to see works created by for Sefton’s artists of tomorrow.”