Sefton Park (much of South Liverpool, in fact) was, famously, once a huge hunting ground for Tudor royals - and it’s just possible to get a sense of that in certain areas of the park to this day.

We all know about the Palm House, the grottos and the boating lake - but few know about one of Sefton Park’s hidden gems. A pub in a park that offers regular free entertainment and one of the most stunning views in the city.

Sefton Park Cricket Club is an urban oasis. Not like those bars that refer to themselves as such, but genuinely, it is.

There are two bars and a beautiful garden, but Sefton Park CC’s greatest USP is a spectacular view that could fool you into thinking you were deep in the countryside, if it weren’t for the odd looming tower block.

Located on the western side of the park where the Upper Jordan enters the park - between Ullet Road and Smithdown and within striking distance of Lark Lane - the club hosts games most days of the week in Summer, and generally two games on Saturdays and Sundays.

This Summer is Sefton’s 150th anniversary, so there are a host of events on, including visits from the MCC and a Solstice Cup match, played at the crack of dawn on 21 June.

Sefton Park isn’t the countryside but, nursing a pint of anniversary ale and watching a game unfurl at the cricket club, it might as well be.

Sefton Park, Liverpool, Merseyside L17 1AP