Southport

The Victorian grandeur hits you before you even reach the seafront. Southport's tree-lined streets and elegant architecture tell of grander times, when this Lancashire resort drew well-heeled visitors for extended stays. The town still carries that air of faded elegance, though these days it's more about day trippers than month-long holidays.

Lord Street remains the jewel. This covered shopping arcade, with its cast-iron and glass canopies, predates anything Paris has to offer. The shops might be more high street than haute couture now, but the bones are magnificent. Walk it on a rainy Tuesday and you'll have the place almost to yourself.

Southport's beach divides opinion sharply. At low tide, the sand stretches for what feels like miles - perfect for long walks but frustrating if you actually want to paddle. The pier, one of Britain's longest, makes up for it. On clear days you can spot the Lakeland fells across Morecambe Bay.

Beyond the town centre, the area turns surprisingly green. Bobbiner's Wood and Goose Dub Covert offer proper countryside walks just minutes from the promenade. These patches of woodland, along with New Plantation and Ainsclough Covert, make for decent dog walking - something the locals at Laurel House Dog Walking Field clearly appreciate.

Getting here couldn't be easier. Direct trains from Manchester and Liverpool take under an hour, while the M58 brings drivers straight into town. Staying at one of the nearby parks like Riverside Holiday Park or Ribby Hall Village gives you the best of both worlds - seaside convenience with space to breathe. The surrounding Lancashire countryside, with its network of forests and quiet lanes, rewards those who venture beyond the front.