Take a short drive from the coast at Royal Birkdale Golf Course and you’ll come upon the lively market town of Ormskirk, West Lancashire. There’s been a market here since 1286 when monks at nearby Burscough Priory were granted a Royal Charter by Edward I. Nowadays Charter Market takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays and its 120 stalls attract a bustling crowd of locals and visitors. Take a wander along the pedestrianised, cobbled streets and you’ll also discover a mix of traditional high street shops and local speciality stores. Ormskirk has a large student population, courtesy of the Edge Hill University, ensuring there is a vibrant nightlife with countless bars and restaurants. Discover more about Ormskirk’s 800-year history with a visit to the unique Ormskirk Parish Church, which was originally built in the 12th century. Named for two saints, St Peter and St Paul, the church is one of only three in the country to have both a steeple and a spire. The steeple was built in 1548 to house the bells from Burscough Priory after the dissolution of the monasteries. Round off your tour of the town with a visit to another historic landmark, Ormskirk’s Grade-II listed Clock Tower, which was built in 1876 in dramatic ‘gothic’ style.