This year’s annual Visit England assessment of The Atkinson in Southport saw it score ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’ ratings in all criteria.

Staff at the popular arts venue received the amazing score of 98% and were judged to enhance the overall visitor experience.

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.’

Scores are a credit

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.”

The Atkinson

Located in the heart of Southport, The Atkinson features a traditional theatre, a versatile studio space, and hosts a vibrant programme of music, comedy, and performance. It also houses a local history museum, an Egyptology collection, and an art gallery showcasing over 3,500 artworks and 25,000 artefacts.

The Atkinson is a vital community space, home to Southport Library, the independent A Great Little Place café run by Autism Initiatives UK, and a gift shop supporting local artists and makers.

Each year, The Atkinson attracts around 420,00 visitors, making it one of the most significant cultural destinations in the Liverpool City Region.

Last year it delivered 36 free family activities, which attracted 2,327 participants and school visits for more than 1,100 local pupils to take part in educational workshops. And its programme of talks, tours and workshops covering heritage and artistic topics attracted over 3,900 participants.

The Atkinson’s popularity with local people was recognised recently when it was named People’s Choice: Entertainment Venue of the Year at the prestigious Southport BID Star Awards 2025. It is also ranked as #1 for Things to Do in Southport on TripAdvisor.

You can use this link to find out more about The Atkinson and what's on there. 

Sefton Young Artist of the Year

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.”

You can find out more about Sefton Young Artist of the Year 2025 and how to enter, here.