Tesco Extra Car Park, Southport

Alright, so you're heading into town and need to ditch the car? Tesco Extra on Town Lane is your best bet for free parking. It's right next to Central 12 shopping centre and a 5-minute walk to Lord Street, so dead handy for most things. Obvious, I know, but it's easy to miss the entrance coming off the main road.

It's a big car park, properly massive, and it's open 24/7. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding a space unless it's the Saturday before Christmas or something mental like that. Even then, people are always coming and going, so be patient.

Just remember it's a Tesco car park, so technically, you're supposed to be shopping there. I've never seen anyone get a ticket for just popping into town, but don't take the mickey. Maybe grab a meal deal or a pint of milk to be on the safe side.

One thing to note: the entrance can get a bit bottle-necked at peak times, especially with the traffic lights right there. Give yourself a bit of extra time if you're heading there around school kicking-out time or on a Saturday afternoon.