Hesketh Park is one of the largest parks in southport. It dates back to the 1800s. The park has…read morerecently celebrated its 140th birthday. There were lots of celebrations during its birthday. There are lots of places to walk around. Many nature trails lead off from the main path. There is a beautiful rose garden, with weaping willows in it too. This is ideal on a hot summers day to go and sit, or lay on the grass. In the park is a HUGE duck pond. No matter what time of day you go, there's always ducks or geese waiting for bread. At the top of the duck pond is a water fountain, which has just been rebuilt in the same style it was 140 years ago. There are many ways to walk around the duck pond, with walls to climb or steps leading off to other parts. The play area is great for children. There is a wide range of things to do for many different ages. Next to the play area is a crazy golf course, although this is only open during the Summer. There is also a lovely gcafe situated right next to the play area. It sells lots of food, soft drinks, tea and coffee. It's perfect for parents to sit in whilst the children play on the slide. As well as all of this there is many more! An Aviary, which doesn't have many birds left, great for in Spring time when the chicks are born. A huge conservatory boasting many different plants and flowers blooming. An Observatory, which isn't open that much. A giant flower clock that tells the time, which is over 50 years old! In my opinion this is the best park in Southport, as it's very spacious and safe. My 2 year old loves it, we try and go at least twice a week.

From the roundabout at the northern end of Lord Street (by the Fire Station and Law Courts),…read morecontinue straight on along Albert Road, to reach the park entrance, at Park Road. Hesketh Park really is one of my favourite parks since its refurbishment. As you walk around the park you will find ornamental lakes, fountains and at this time of year very colourful flowerbeds. If you are lucky you might even come across a red squirrel - they haven't come out for me yet - but they may for you. The park also features a historic observatory; a conservatory; aviary; waterfalls and cascade; American, herbaceous and mixed flower gardens. There is also a clock garden, where a carefully restored floral cuckoo clock 'calls' the hours. Awesome! There's also a café and large play area for children.

Small leisure centre offering a fitness suite, badminton, table tennis and trampolining. No…read moreswimming facilities. 5 a side football pitch available. Friendly staff and clean facilities. Plenty of parking available on their private car park. The main disadvantage is that the opening hours are somewhat limited.

In Southport lies the most *chilling* encounter I have ever experienced in my life! I was truly…read moreterrified! It started innocently enough by walking along the Pier and seeing a little store at the end of the boardwalk. It had all these old fashioned Penny arcade games that I imagine that once was popular back in its heyday. We wandered around to find more games to play until we came upon the scariest sight! It was an old automaton doll dressed in a sailor boy's suit. The doll was sitting inside a glass case and it advertised in paint "Have a laugh with Jolly Jack." The doll had the most sadistic upturned smile and its eyes were rolled back in its head giving it an eerie, possessed look! Its arms hung limply at its side. The rivets on its sailor costume had rusted over and bled into the white fabric which gave it an appearance of dried blood! We had no idea what we would encounter if we paid a penny, but we were way too curious not to. Lukas bravely put a penny in the machine and then we stood back and watched with trepidation. Immediately, Jolly Jack's chest started to rumble up and down like it was trying to catch its breath and then suddenly it broke out into the most shrill and skin crawling laugh I've ever heard! Its whole body bobbed up and down and its head rolled side to side while the mouth cackled in that demonic laugh! I've always had a thing about dolls, but this one topped them all! It just kept laughing! It was by far one of the creepiest things I've ever encountered. Eventually the doll stopped twisting and lolling around and settled back into its original position. It took us a little while to get over the heebie-jeebies. Unfortunately, we saw two young Englishwomen behind us putting money into Jolly Jack. We tried to warn them, but it was too late! From the horrified expressions and their dropped jaws we could tell there is equally traumatized. They walked away in the daze never to return. Lukas and I still have reoccurring nightmares from this!"

The pier itself is a lovely scenic walk with nice views . The arcade at the end of the pier however…read moreis a bit of a let down, most the vintage arcade games take your money but dont work .

Southport beach seems unique to me in that it's the only beach I've been to where you can almost…read morenever see the sea. It's so far away! This actually makes it an ideal place to learn to drive in the evening, you can bring your car down here and give your kids a go, pull handbrake turns, and generally ruin the underside... remember to wash the salt off. The seafront has that lovely dilapidated British coastal resort feel...

Nice walk and good views and you can also collect shells and the prints are amazing the beach is…read moreenormous and the sea is nice and clean

I do enjoy visiting national properties, I guess that's why I have got membership with them. But, I…read morehave suddenly become aware that the properties aren't actually open very early in the morning and when it gets to the winter months, the houses get shut up and you won't get chance to go back in until around March time the next year. Hmm I am not moaning, just a bit surprised and disappointed, I want to be able to make more of my membership. Anyhow, as I was making my way around them all, I came across Rufford Old Hall, and I am glad that I did. It is a tudor building and where William Shakespeare performed once in his younger days - check out the Great Hall there. The house and gardens are stunning and the collection of furniture, ornaments etc are truely spectular.

I visited Rufford on the recomendation of a friend and was not dissapointed…read more At £6.20 per adult to view the house and gardens it may not appeal to all, but if you like to see a bit of living history I'd say it is was well worth it. The hall houses some stunning examples of 17th centry architecuture and artifacts and there was much more to see in the house than I had expected looking at it from the outside. The National Trust staff and volunteers were friendly, helpful and infectiously enthusiastic. The entry price included the option to attend a few different short talks about the history of the house which were pitched just right, not too long and covering the main points of interest. The gardens are compact but make for some enjoyable meandering and afternoon tea in the tea shop was a lovely way to end the visit. Despite being very busy the service was friendly and fast. I would definitly recommend this as a day out.

What can you say about Martin Mere. Besides the mad bird (of the wildlife variety) that actually…read morebarks at you and has teeth Free Willy would be proud of, this is one tranquil place. Have a gander at a pink flamingo, Asian otter, or the humungous African thingies with spiky hair. Apart from the bars on some enclosures, to keep Willy at bay no doubt, this is a great place for photos. I took a holiday from work one day and spent a good few hours meandering around the Mere, which is itself one large body of water engulfed in birds with spotters hiding in the wooden huts. It is a tenner or so to get into the mere, unless you have a £60 odd a year membership in which case its free. The staff are really friendly and happy to talk you around the park, with its many different directions and sections. The cafe does a mean coffee, a prerequisite if I'm to attend, and, considering, isn't badly priced at all.

Martin Mere's wildlife gardens are home to a hundred species of the world's duck, geese, swans,…read morecranes, flamingos and an otter and a beaver enclosure. The reserve hosts thousands of migratory birds each year and the duckling nursery is an award winning experience. With year round programmes of walks, talks, events and spectacular wildlife encounters, this is a wetland wildlife attraction for everyone. Whether you want to feed swans, see the work of beavers or climb across swan flyways, Martin Mere's offers a valuable day out to get close to nature. Their site is amazingly beautiful and diverse which makes it appealing for the young and old. This is relaxing British nature at its finest. There is always something new to display each season waiting to be explored. If you enjoy wildlife spotting, this is a fun and educational experience of doing so.

Victoria Park in Southport is a very large multipurpose park in Southport. It is located virtually…read moreon the sea front. It is used to host the Southport flower show every year where fantastic displays can be seen. It has a children's play area which I spent many a happy day with my children when they were young but unfortunately this is not as nice a place to take your children as it used to be. It has tennis courts and a grass bowling green. Many different organisations will use the park for different functions. A caravan site backs onto the park which is owed by the caravan club so you would need to be a member to stay there.