At the mouth of the River Mersey New Brighton used to be one of the big fun places to be, with big outdoor and indoor fun fairs and a tower to rival Blackpool Tower underneath which was a ballroom which was famous throughout the North West of England. There was also a ferry terminal that brought crowds of people from Liverpool for a hard earned day out at the seaside. The Ferries Royal Daffodil and Royal Iris could not run fast enough to keep up with the demand. There was also an outdoor swimming pool that hosted many beauty pageants. Although the water was very cold, the pool boasted the highest diving boards. After many years of decay, New Brighton is experiencing something of a revival and is now a very desirable place to live and especially retire.