Your guide to the 2025 Southport Flower Show

Jenny ColemanBBC News, Liverpool
News imageGareth Jones Photography A couple pictured sitting on a step in a garden, laughing, surrounded by flowers.Gareth Jones Photography
The four-day flower show takes place in Victoria Park

The Southport Flower Show opens later with floral displays, attractions and family entertainment.

Visitors over the next four days can enjoy award-winning show gardens, a shopping village, cookery demonstrations and live performances.

There will also be a host of celebrity appearances.

If you are planning to attend, here's everything you need to know.

News imageGareth Jones Photography A black labrador dog walking along a gravel path past flower displaysGareth Jones Photography
Well-behaved dogs on leads are allowed on site, organisers say

Where and when is it?

The annual four-day event takes place at the town's Victoria Park.

Gates open to the public at 10:00 BST each day, with the show closing at 18:00. There will be an earlier finish of 17:00 on Sunday.

Victoria Park has wide walkways and a level surface so is accessible to those with prams and mobility issues.

Organisers say well-behaved dogs on leads are allowed on site.

News imageSouthport Flower Show A man holding up two pots of flowers under an arch of flowers inside a marquee. There are many colourful flowers in the foreground.Southport Flower Show
Gates open to the public at 10:00 BST each day

What can I expect?

This year the show's theme focuses on health and wellbeing, highlighting the benefits of flowers and gardening and the positive impact they have on daily life.

Expect spectacular award-winning show gardens, a grand floral marquee, amateur grower and plant society exhibitors, floral art and raised bed displays, a bees and honey marquee, as well as displays from local schools and charities.

There will also be more family attractions this year, including dog display teams, birds of prey and horse shows.

Organisers promise the 35-acre park will be "a real hive of activity".

Alpacas are visiting for the first time, while a new children's trail includes insights into conservation, a scarecrow festival, yoga, a doodle wall and the opportunity to learn tennis skills.

News imageGareth Jones Photography A man wearing a blue t-shirt taking photographs of a large floral displayGareth Jones Photography
The show's theme for 2025 is health and wellbeing and the benefits of gardening

Who are this year's celebrity guests?

Keep your eyes out for Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher, singer Toyah Willcox, Strictly Come Dancing winner Hamza Yassin, Bake Off's Cherish Finden, Gladiator Steel and CBeebies entertainer Justin Fletcher.

Gardening experts include ITV's Love Your Garden's David Domoney, Nick Bailey, from BBC Gardeners' World, Carole Baxter and George Anderson, from BBC's Beechgrove Garden, and gardening gurus Martin and Jill Fish.

Cookery guests include ITV's This Morning chef Phil Vickery, Cherish Finden from Bake Off: The Professionals, TV personality and chef Rosemary Shrager, and Great British Bake Off Winner Nancy Birtwhistle.

How do I get there?

Visitors travelling to the show by train can buy discounted tickets from any Merseyrail ticket office.

A shuttle bus from Southport railway station will run to the park every 15 minutes at an additional cost.

Parking is available at Princes Park (within walking distance), and at Birkdale Common Park and Ride, with buses running to and from the showground every 15 minutes.

A range of bus and coach services serve Southport.

If you are cycling to the show there are bike parking facilities at the nearby Eco Centre.

How much are tickets?

The 2025 gate price is £30.

If you arrive after 15:00 on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the entrance fee drops to £20.

Children under 16 are admitted free of charge with a paying adult.

There are also group discounts and local resident discounts available. Full details can be found on the Southport Flower Show website.

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