The old police station of Lark Lane is a great place to step into if you're strolling down at the…read moreweekend. There's always something going on and the chances are you'll come away with your arms laden with treasures. You can practically see the dollar signs covering your eyes after you take it all to the Antiques Roadshow. This never happens. The Grand Charity Flea Markets are the best events to attend. It's here that books and videos are sold by the tonne, as well as household bric-a-brac, furniture, collectibles and a whole lot of crap. The fact the admission fee is a laughably small 30p makes it seem like something from the 1940s and is another jewel in the crown of the lane.

St. Michael's and Lark Lane Community Assosiation or the SMLLCA is home to a massive variety of…read moreactivities, workshops and events for the local communty. The community association is a registered charity which is run by its members. It is the heart of Lark Lane. Many different groups use the centre including self help groups, after school groups, pre-school groups, sports groups and tarde unions. Many different events take place at the centre such as polling day, jumble sales, flea markets, fairs, music events, exhibitions, record fairs and public enquiries. The building used to be the police station on lark lane and is often referred to as the Oid Police Station by locals. It comprises of 2 large halls which are used to their full potential are I doubt are rarely unused throughout the year. It seems that in this day and age we have forgotten the meaning of the word community. If you need reminding of this then check out the St. Michael's and Lark Lane Community Assosiation.

Spindles Liverpool is based in the basement area beneath the landmark Adelphi Hotel. I joined this…read moregym as a student and I've stuck with it for four years. The swimming pool is only half size and the equipment is fairly limited, however there is a great community atmosphere on this gym, unrivalled by some of the big name gyms in Liverpool. Although the gym is fairly small, it has running machines, cross trainers, a free weight and machine weight area, a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. You can purchase protein shakes and smoothies, you can also attend plenty of classes such as Pilates and Yoga as part of your membership. You can opt for a personal trainer if necessary for motivation once or twice a week. Membership is inexpensive, paying £30 for six weeks as a student membership! The staff are excellent, when I joined they wrote me a full training programme as part of my induction and have been nothing but helpful ever since. The location is also brilliant, being bang in the centre of town! I would recommend going in the daytime if you want to spend a long time on the machines, as the gym busies up between 6-9pm! Or get there when they open at 7am Mon-Fri if you want the gym/pool pretty much to yourself!

I've recently joined the Spindles Gym, and whilst it will never win any awards for style (or for…read moreits changing rooms), it's really not a bad little place. For the low low price of £20 per month, you get to play about with a really nice range of up-to-date equipment, including numerous cardio machines and a wide array of weights. Plus, from my first impressions, it seems to be the gym of choice for a wide range of people - from housewives and bus drivers to students, meaning you won't be made to feel inferior by a load of model-esque sculpted gym bunnies when you pull your flabby form onto a treadmill (or at least, this has been the case in my experience anyway). The Spindles Gym also appears to have a decent sized pool, a sauna and (rather pleasingly) a steam room, so you can sit and blast all of the crap out of your pores whilst listening to their piped CD of various Liverpudlian bands Greatest Hits. Indeed, I would even go so far as to say that Spindles is possibly the only place you'll be treated to Echo and the Bunnymen's 'Killing Moon' whilst you're on the cross trainer. Rather intriguingly, Spindles also offers something called a 'Russian Shower' on their leaflets. I've yet to discover what this is, but preliminary queries appear to suggest that it involves having a bucket of freezing cold water thrown over you by an overweight and decidedly grumpy slavic person. So you might want to avoid that.

Excellent facilities and everyone is friendly. I've packed on a solid 23lbs of muscle but the…read morehardest things to lift arent weights but our feelings. The gym helps me cope with my divorce. Often I cry at the squat rack so if you see me just give me a moment please. I often tell friends when I turn up to coffee with my eyes swollen and red that someone urinated in the pool again but they know I've been crying again.

As part of Liverpool Council's Lifestyles range of sports centres and gyms, you can see the money…read moreand effort that has been put into this place to bring it into the 21st Century and make it an integral part of the community. The centre has been here for nearly 30 years and was greatly underused except for the many football parties I went to as a kid! Now the gyms are kitted out with state of the art gear, there are regular fitness classes for all levels in the sports hall, two decent sized astro-turfs can be found at the front - and if they are not being used by the local kids they seem to attract a lot of 5-a-side - and a good size pool with sauna and steam room. I can't really knock the place because it is well cheap and is obviously doing a very good job at placing itself at the heart of the Garston community, however, this also measn that the place can be very busy at peak times and it is often very hard to judge when it will not be full of kids! The pool always seems to have school groups or out of hours swimming clubs. While this commendable they also seem to find their way into the gym and will often hang around - or off - much of the equipment! But there is a waterslide!

The three level ark health and fitness club inside the Radisson SAS Hotel Liverpool, has an indoor…read moreswimming pool and Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna located in the relaxation area, fully equipped, hi-tech gymnasium, dance studio including spinning facilities and beauty treatment rooms. 28 classes per week. Great club!

This oasis like spa and "wellness centre" in The Radisson Blu hotel is perfect for those of you…read morelooking for a bit of escapism from the daily stresses of life. If it's pampering you're after its pampering you'll get here. It is a perfect way to treat your lady with spa treatments ranging from body therapies and facials to manicures, pedicures and waxing. There are personalized spa packages which will gain you supper browny points with the Mrs fellas!!! One such package will set you back just under £360 but hold your horses. That gets you romantic dinner for two at theri award winning Filini restaurant, two luxury spa treatments each, a night at the hotel followed by a super buffet breakfast. So pretty much a turbo charged quick get away but with an ultra cool relaxation twist, whirlwind indeed eh!!! Or alternatively you could just get her or him ...or yourself the spa relaxation package at £160. Another great option and a great idea mind you is for the soon to be mums. It can be a testing time for mothers to be during their pregnancy. Ark have a a mother to be package at £90 which is great for relieving tension and alleviating swelling in the hands and feet. It also includes all the rest of the featured stuff like manicures and pedicures et al. This really is a great way to unwind yourself or your partner.

Crosby Comrades is.. ok…read more. It's a local event space hired for parties and community events and mediocre shows such as psychic nights. Personally I would not choose Comrades for a celebration of mine; it's old and dark and I just don't feel it reflects the imporatance of an occassion such as a wedding-the receptions of which are held here. The dance floor is small, the bar is small, and while there is ample seating, the whole place just feels claustrophobic and depressing. I think it's quite cheap to hire and is convenient for locals but.. it's nthing special

Crosby comardes has been around for years, i have know alot of people to have the wedding reception…read morehere or birthday parties. It has a great atmosphere with a dance floor right in the middle of a big room, a stage and seating all around the outside. There is plenty of room if you have a big party.The decoration and bar could probably do with a bit of updating as it does look a bit 80's but it is always clean and tidy in there.

Although I've not been to a cricket match here, I have been to a social event at the club and can…read morerecommend it as a venue for such occasions. The bar area and room we had hired were both very suitable. The staff were friendly and helpful, and couldn't have done more to make the event a successful one. The bar prices were not extortionate either, which was appreciated as we were basically a captive audience! -- though sadly I was driving Car-parking was good and the club is easily accessible (and well sign-posted) from the main road. All in all, a very good venue, and firmly recommended.

Another fine sporting institution where I've spent many a happy day both on the field of play and…read morewatching the action, some may say they couldn't see any difference although I did once manage to score a century here. Founded in 1807, Liverpool Cricket Club is the oldest amateur sporting establishment in Merseyside. They regularly host Lancashire 1st team games on the top pitch and have over the years played host to some of the greatest cricketers ever to have played the game. Such cricketers as WG Grace and Wasim Akram have all been impressed by the standard of facilities at Liverpool. As well as cricket, they also have excellent squash, tennis, hockey, bowls, lacrosse and rugby facilities that are available to all members. Away from the sporting arena, there are 3 very popular function rooms that are available for hire all year round. Today 14/9/08 thay host Lancashire CCC in a 40/40 game which is vital to their hopes of avoiding relegation so it should be a great day.

I teach yoga in the centre come and try it everyone can do yoga it's not complicated. Wednesday…read moremorning 10am to 11.30am Thursday evening 8pm to 9.30. Learn how to relax, you will love it Elaine

There is lots going on at this leisure centre - childrens swimming pool is great. There are plenty…read moreof classes for everyone, and 'jungle jims' soft play is good for little ones. There is a creche so you can attend a class without your child and pick them up when you have finished. My only problem is that the toilets never seem very clean both inside the pool area and in the reception.

This came as an enormous surprise to me about twelve years ago, as my youngest son asked could he…read morestart rowing on a regular basis and I asked, Where?. While still a teacher, I had been reliably (I thought) informed that the council wouldn't allow any form of boating on this stretch of the Mersey, nice though it looked, as the field nearby had been a sewage treatment plant and rubbish tip in the past. I had wanted to teach our pupils how to paddle a kayak. Then the Warrington Rowing Club started attracting members and my son spent a good while learning the basics before growing bored as he did with most things (teenage boy!) The Club, since then, has gone from strength to strength and now has representatives at all major national and international events. They still encourage and train youngsters and have boats from single sculls up to rowing eights as well as elaborate training machines. I still think that their choice of venue is a little suspect, but have to admit that they have made a huge success story of it. Every summer, they stage the Warrington Regatta, this year's was really impressive as it lasted right through the day and many of the competitors showed amazing skills and power - future (and present) internationals.