Another Place — Antony Gormley

Alright, so you're looking for something to do and you're near Southport? You *have* to see Another Place. It's those iron men on Crosby Beach – properly called Crosby Beach, mind you, not Southport Beach. It's about a 25-minute drive south from Southport town centre, so not exactly on your doorstep, but well worth the trip. Antony Gormley is the artist, and there are 100 of these fellas spread out along the sand, all looking out to sea. Sounds a bit weird, but it's proper impressive, especially when the tide's coming in. Google reviews are sitting pretty at 4.7 out of 5 from nearly 1800 reviews, so it's not just me saying it's good.

It's completely outdoors, so check the weather before you go – not much fun in a gale. It's open year-round though, which is handy. Kids love it, running around the statues and all that. It's free too, which is always a bonus.

There's parking along the front, but it can get busy, especially on weekends and sunny days. Best bet is to get there early or be prepared to drive around a bit. And obviously, it's a beach, so wear appropriate shoes – you'll be walking on sand and maybe a bit of mud depending on the tide. Check tide times before you head out, you don't want to get stuck.