Southport

Southport built its reputation as one of England's great Victorian seaside resorts, and that legacy still shapes the town: wide tree-lined streets, ornate ironwork, and a promenade laid out for genteel strolling rather than amusement-arcade noise. It sits on the Lancashire coast north of Liverpool, and while the sea has receded from the shore over the years, the town has kept its resort character intact, with gardens, a lake, and a high street built for leisurely days out.

Visitors tend to stay in the guest houses and small hotels clustered around the town centre, within easy walking distance of Lord Street and the seafront. Places like Bay Tree House Southport, Bliss Hotel Southport, Dukes Folly Hotel, and Edendale House offer the kind of personal, home-run stays this sort of town does well, while Bowden Lodge Hotel and Hotel 21 suit those wanting something a little more polished. For a change of pace, Willowbank Holiday Park gives access to Southport without a hotel stay, useful for those touring the wider coast.

Days out in Southport lean family-friendly and unhurried. Hesketh Park and Churchtown Botanic Gardens are the obvious spots for a slow afternoon, while the Lakeside Miniature Railway and Model Railway Village appeal to younger visitors and railway enthusiasts alike. Playtown Southport and Tenpin Southport give children an indoor option when the weather turns, and the Southport Treasure Trail is a good way to see the town's landmarks with a bit of purpose. In the evenings, Vue Southport covers the cinema-going crowd.

Altogether, Southport works well as a base for a traditional seaside break with more substance than the average resort town, whether that means a wander through the gardens, an afternoon on the miniature railway, or simply working through its long list of places to eat.