West Park

If you want somewhere to actually switch off for an hour, this is the one. The lake is the main draw — ducks, geese, the lot — and on a quiet weekday morning it genuinely feels like the town disappears. There’s a water feature the little ones gravitate toward, plus enough open grass to let kids run properly while you find a spot under the shade trees. The paths are well maintained, so pushchairs and older visitors manage fine without any grief. Parking’s easy too, which sounds basic but makes a real difference when you’re just nipping out for a bit of fresh air.