Marine Lake

Alright, so Marine Lake... yeah, it's a classic Southport thing. You can't really miss it, smack bang in the middle of town. Got a decent 4.5 stars on Google from over a hundred reviews, so people generally seem to like it. It's basically a big, man-made lake – don't go expecting some wild, natural beauty or anything!

It's definitely one for the families, especially if you've got little ones. Loads of space for them to run around. Being outdoors, it's obviously best on a sunny day, and it's pretty much a year-round thing, though activities like the pedalos and boat trips are more of a summer deal. You can walk all the way around it, which is a nice leg-stretcher, and it's right next to the beach if you fancy building some sandcastles. Plus, it's handy for the golf links if you're into that.

Don't expect it to be dead quiet, especially on weekends or during school holidays. And parking in that area can be a nightmare, so give yourself plenty of time to find a spot, or maybe hop on the train.