Welcome to
Formby.
I'm Clare. I live here, and this is the honest guide to our beach, the pinewoods, spotting the red squirrels, and where to actually get a decent coffee afterwards.
Quick links
Explore Formby
Skip the tourist traps. Here is what you actually need to know.
See red squirrels in the wild
Formby is one of the last reliable places in England to see red squirrels. The National Trust pinewoods on Victoria Road are home to a thriving colony: go early morning, September through February is the best window, but you've got a decent chance year-round.
Even my teenagers stop moaning the moment they spot one.
Full guide: where, when & what to bring →Planning your visit
- 📍Postcode: L37 1YH (NT Victoria Road car park)
- 🅿️Parking: From £6: book via NT app before you leave. No signal on site.
- ⏰Best time: Early morning, September to February
- 🐕Dogs: Welcome: on leads in the squirrel reserve
- 🚆By train: Formby station (Merseyrail) → 20 min walk
Where to eat in Formby
We are spoilt for choice in the village. These are the places I actually book for myself (and the ones that are good with kids).
Formby Beach
Wide, wild and brilliant. Sand dunes, sea, and dogs welcome year-round. The postcode is L37 1YH: book NT parking before you leave.
Beach guide →Formby Pinewoods
Ancient pinewoods running down to the coast. Walk through them to the beach, or just do the squirrel trail loop: 30 minutes, flat all the way.
Pinewoods guide →Local guides & stories
Written by locals, for visitors and residents.
Easter at Formby Beach 2026
How to do Easter weekend at Formby without spending half of it stuck in traffic on Victoria Road.
Why Formby Makes a Better Open 2026 Base
Southport is sold out. Formby is 7 minutes by train from Birkdale station. Here's why it works.
Wild Garlic in the Pinewoods. April.
The pinewoods smell different in April. Here's where to find the wild garlic and what to do with it.
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