Morecambe

After a period in the doldrums, the seaside town of Morecambe and its magnificent Bay is on the up again, spurred in part by the reopening of the Midland Hotel and a completely new promenade walk stretching five miles along the coast. Like its Northwest counterpart, Blackpool, it's looking better than it has done for some time: gone is the dilapidated open-air swimming pool and tatty pathway along the front. In their place is a wide boulevard with a modern play area for children, landscaped flower beds and the iconic statue of the town’s most famous son, Eric Morecambe. There are quirky sea bird sculptures, part of the Tern Project, and poetic quotes set into pavement, and you can either see the Bay in all its glory by taking a walk with 'Queens Guide Across the Sands' Cedric Robinson, or simply  get a bag of chips and watch the sunset across the Lake District fells. Or take a stroll on the pier or Stone Jetty, extended in 1995 after the town lost two of its piers to fire and storm.  There’s a labyrinth and hopscotch set out for children (and grown-ups),  and the views across the sands to the Irish Sea and Cumbrian hills from the café at the end are quite splendid.  Birdwatchers delight in the wide variety of waders and sea birds wheeling overhead and feeding on the shoreline.  Perched on the railings are more examples of the award-winning bird sculptures.  Next  to the jetty is the new Lifeboat Centre, with one of the country’s first rescue Hovercrafts, and of course there's no better place to finish off your exploration  of Morecambe than the covered terrace or Rotunda Bar at the imposing Midland Hotel.