Red Rum was trained in Southport by Ginger Baker and won the Grand National 3 times in the 70's. Unforetunately he died a couple of years ago, but was buried at the finishing post at Aintree, home of the Grand National, just outside Liverpool.

Southport is often called the Golfing Capital of Britain.

It is the home of Royal Birkdale, which for many golfers, is quite simply, the best of all the great golf courses to have staged The Open Championship. Southport also boasts another five championship standard courses within 15 minutes drive from the town centre and a sixth only half an hour away. Hillside, Formby, Hesketh, Southport & Ainsdale, Formby Hall and West Lancashire Golf Clubs.

http://www.golf-england.co.uk/index.php

There are plenty of things to do in and around southport. http://www.visitsouthport.com/attraction.p...ttraction=92123

From a walk along the prom to shopping on Lord Street, (which is what the Champs Elise in Pasis is based on!)


To visiting the endangered red squirrels in Formby. The Pesky American Grey Squirrel is forcing the native red ones out!


As for Preston, http://www.madeinpreston.co.uk/outline.html

Its famous for a lot of things. Among others, the first Motorway in Britain, Europes largest bus station, the first Spar 8 till Late shop and the first Kentucky Fried Chicken Takeaway in Britain.

The Stanley Cup, the NHL winners trophy, was bought by and first presented champion hockey team in the Dominion (of Canada) in 1893 by Lord Stanley Earl of Preston and at the time and Governor General of Canada. http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/history/cup/cup.html

One of Prestons most famous sons is Sir Tom Finney who played for Preston North End Football Club (One of the founder members of the football league.) http://www.pnefc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SirT...,,10362,00.html

He was born and bred in Preston, and some argue was the greatest player in the world.
One of the most famous photos of him is The Splash, when the pitch was a little waterlogged!!!


Which has recently been turned into a statue outside Deepdale PNE's ground, which is also where the National Football museum is. http://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/


Preston was a major port in days gone by and is now a huge leisure area



Preston also has St Walburge's Catholic church the 5th highest in the country at 309 ft and the highest that isnt a cathedral. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Walburge's_Church


And as for the local country side well take a look at these...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/content/im...lery_five.shtml
http://www.lancashireimages.co.uk/gallery/...ageId=0&start=0

If you ever visit the area, the one place you have to go is Devils bridge, great twisty roads to get there. There are bikers there virtually every day, but the day to really go is on a sunday.
http://www.first4gear.com/bikemeets/devilsbridge.html