Hillside railway station

Alright, so you're heading into town and need somewhere to ditch the car? Hillside Station's car park in Birkdale is a decent shout, and the big plus is that it's free – can't argue with that these days. It's just off Station Road, PR8 postcode, so easy to find, and it's not usually rammed, even on Saturdays. It's a bit further out than the town centre – maybe a 20-minute walk to Lord Street.

Now, it's not exactly the Ritz. It's a car park at a train station, so don't expect any fancy landscaping or valet parking! Google reviews are sitting at 3.8 stars out of 5 from 16 reviews, so it's not winning any awards, but people generally seem happy enough for a free spot. It does the job, simple as.

It's handy if you're planning on using the train, obviously, or if you don't mind a bit of a stroll into town. Beats paying through the nose for parking closer to Lord Street, that's for sure. Plus, you can grab a coffee at the station cafe while you're there.

Word to the wise: double-check there are no matchdays on at Haig Avenue (Southport FC) when you're planning to park there, as it can get a bit busier than usual.