Pembroke Gardens

A quiet patch of green right in Bridlington's heart, Pembroke Gardens won't set your world alight but serves its purpose well enough. The lawns are kept tidy, there's a decent playground for the kids, and the flower beds put on a reasonable show through summer months.

Families staying at nearby South Shore Holiday Park will find it handy for a quick leg-stretch between beach sessions. The children's area is nothing fancy - standard swings and slides - but it'll keep the little ones happy for half an hour while you grab a coffee from the seafront cafés just a short walk away.

Don't expect anything grand here. This is municipal gardening at its most functional, though the rose beds do look rather lovely in June and July. The benches are well-positioned for watching the kids play, and there's enough open space for a kickabout if the beach gets too crowded.

Twenty minutes is probably enough unless you're desperate for some peace and quiet. It's free, always open, and perfectly adequate for what it is - a breather spot in a busy seaside town. Those based at Haven Thornwick Bay or the other coastal parks might prefer the more dramatic cliff-top walks at nearby Flamborough, but for a quick pit-stop in Bridlington itself, these gardens do the job.