The Royal Arcade

Right, so The Royal Arcade on Lord Street... if you're doing a bit of shopping in town, it's worth popping your head in. It's not massive, you won't spend hours, but it's got a few interesting independent shops that you won't find anywhere else. It's got a proper old-school feel to it, which I reckon is why it gets a solid 4.5 stars from over 500 Google reviews.

It's basically a covered walkway that runs parallel to Lord Street, so dead easy to find. There's a mix of stuff in there, from clothes and jewellery to art and little gift bits. It's all indoors, which is a bonus if the Southport weather is doing its usual thing. Don't expect a massive food court or anything, it's mainly shops.

The doors are open most days from around 9am to 5:15pm, even Sundays they open at 10:30am, but close a bit earlier at 4:15pm. You can give them a ring on 01704 542087 if you're after anything specific.

One tip: parking on Lord Street itself can be a nightmare, so best bet is to use one of the car parks just off the main drag, like the one near the Atkinson.