Schools are being invited to take their pupils on a memorable day out at the seaside.
Children can combine fun with education by visiting the famous Herbert Silcock’s Carousel in Southport, which was built during the Victorian era.
Children can enjoy a ride on the Carousel, an ice cream from the Silcock’s Pier Family Restaurant and a special education pack about the attraction for just £2 per pupil.
It can be the ideal reward for good attendance over the school term, an enjoyable day out in the fresh air, a fun way of learning or all of the above.
Funding can be via school budgets or school PTAs with the costs kept very low to be as affordable as possible for families.
The Carousel is recognised as one of the region’s top attractions, having been honoured in the top 10 in the Hidden Gems category in the 2023 Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards.
It stands proudly on the Promenade in Southport, offering fun for people of all ages as they spin round and round to the sound of a Gavioli fairground organ.
The ride is a beautiful symbol of happy times at the seaside through history, entertaining many thousands of generations over the past few decades.
The remarkable ride was built in 1901, in the reign of Queen Victoria, by Savages of Kings Lynne.
It was purchased by the Silcock family in 1989 and it took three years of painstaking restoration to return it to its former glory.
This 18 ton ride is 42 ft in diameter, 18 ft tall and has 33 Horses – each of them named after a member of the Silcock family and family friends.
The horses on the inside of the ride are original Anderson carvings and date to when the ride was built at the turn of the century. The rest of the horses have been replaced by copies due to wear and tear.
The beautiful Gavioli organ at the centre of the ride, built by Gavioli in Paris in 1901, is worthy of being recognised as a Hidden Gem in its own right.
The Carousel is surrounded by lots of other fun attractions, including the beautiful Kings Gardens, the Marine Lake, Silcock’s Funland, Southport Beach, Southport Miniature Railway Village and more.
Silcock’s Operations Manager Serena Silcock-Prince said: “Silcock’s Carousel is becoming increasingly popular as a place to visit by local schools!
“We have a few booked in for this July already, but still have spaces for more.
“We’re not just attracting schools from within the Liverpool City Region, but also from around the country.
“Last week we welcomed 220 children from a school in Stoke.
“They had a fantastic time! Some of them had never been to the seaside before, so their visit created some really special memories for them. They were so excited!
“They loved having a ride on the Carousel and an ice cream afterwards.
“The visit can also fit in with their curriculum. It’s very educational.
“Our education pack has been specially designed by a local teacher to be fun and informative for pupils, giving them something to complete so they can learn more about the Carousel, about Southport and about Victorian times.
“It’s an ideal place to come and visit, especially as a special treat towards the end of the school year.
“The Carousel is also open most of the year, except for November and December when we carry out routine maintenance work, so schools are welcome to come and visit us throughout the year.
“We have hosted school visits for many years, but have never really shouted about it before.
“We thought it was time to get the word out and let more people know what we have available here!
“We can also accommodate celebrations such as birthday parties too.
“All visits must be booked in advance, and we have a minimum number of visitors with 20 and over.”
- For more details please email: info@silcock-leisure.co.uk or call: 01704 536733.
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