Ainsdale Village Park

Ainsdale Village Park is a decent option if you're up Ainsdale way and fancy a bit of fresh air without spending a fortune. It's open 24/7, which is handy if you're a night owl, and the kids will love it. It's not quite Formby Pinewoods, mind, but it’s free, and you can't argue with that, can you? Google reviews put it at 4.3 stars out of 5, based on 151 reviews, so people generally seem happy enough.

The park's pretty good for a runaround, and it's dog-friendly too, so you can bring your furry mate. Don't expect any fancy facilities, mind you. It's more of a "what you see is what you get" kind of place, but that's part of its charm, I reckon. Ainsdale beach isn't far away either, so you could easily combine a trip to the park with a paddle in the sea.

It's not the biggest park in Southport, to be fair, but it’s a solid choice for a simple, no-frills day out. Especially if you're trying to keep the costs down.

Just a heads up: parking can be a bit tight on sunny weekends, so get there early if you can.