People from Liverpool don't realise how close Formby is. You can be on Formby Beach: proper wide empty sand, dunes, pinewoods behind you: in under half an hour from Liverpool Central. Door to beach, 45 minutes if you're not rushing.
I've lived here 44 years and I'm still slightly baffled that more people don't make this trip. The beach is genuinely brilliant. The pinewoods are unlike anything else in the North West. And it's not heaving with tourists the way the Wirral coastline can get on a good day.
Here's how I'd plan it if I were visiting for the first time.
Getting to Formby
By Train: Recommended
Merseyrail Northern Line
- Liverpool Central → Formby: 25 minutes
- Trains run every 15–20 minutes
- No car. No parking faff. Walk straight off the train.
Formby station is on Station Road, L37 4AN. 15-min walk or short taxi to the beach.
By Car
Via A565: Formby Bypass
- Liverpool → Formby: 30–40 minutes
- Manchester → Formby: 60–70 minutes
- NT car park (L37 1YH): book via NT app before leaving
Signal at the car park is poor. Download the National Trust app at home.
If you're driving from Manchester
The M58/A59 via Maghull is usually faster than the M57. Park at the National Trust car park (L37 1YH): about £6–9 via the app. Don't wait until you arrive to book; the car park can fill by 10am on a sunny weekend.
The Ideal Day Out: In Order
Here's how I'd structure it if I had one day and wanted to see the best of Formby without rushing.
Arrive at the National Trust car park
Victoria Road, L37 1YH. From the car park, you're already in the pinewoods. Toilets at the car park: use them before you head off.
Arrive early if you can. By 11am on a good day the car park is at capacity.
Walk the red squirrel trail and pinewoods
The marked trail takes about an hour. Go slow, go quiet, keep noise down. The squirrels are most active in the morning. The walk through the pinewoods to the beach is 15–20 minutes.
Best squirrel sightings: September to February, early morning.
Formby Beach
Wide open sand, massive dunes, Irish Sea views. Bring something to sit on. The beach is enormous: find a quiet spot away from the main path even on busy days.
Check the tide before you go. High tide at Formby means less beach. Low tide is best.
Lunch in the village
Drive or taxi from the beach to Formby village: about 10 minutes. Left Bank Brasserie for a proper lunch, Emily's for something more relaxed, NT café if you don't want to move far.
If you're on the train and don't want to drive to the village, the NT café at the car park does coffee and hot food.
Is It Worth Coming in Winter?
Yes. Genuinely. Formby Beach in winter is one of my favourite things about living here. Empty, dramatic, the light off the Irish Sea on a clear January afternoon is properly beautiful. You need layers, decent boots, and a flask. But it's worth it.
The red squirrel sightings are actually better from autumn through February: they're out earlier and the trees are thinner so you can see them more clearly. If you want to see them, winter is when you go.
The only thing to check in winter is tides. High tides in January can reduce the beach significantly. Look up the tide times before you plan.
What to Bring
Layers
Wind off the Irish Sea is real, even in summer.
Proper shoes
Sandy paths and dune grass: trainers get full of sand.
NT app downloaded
Book the car park before you leave home. No signal at the gate.
Flask
Non-negotiable in autumn and winter. The café isn't always open.
Binoculars
Brilliant for red squirrels and the birdlife on the coastal path.
Check tide times
Low tide = more beach. High tide = dunes only.
The Red Squirrels Are the Real Reason to Come
Formby is one of the best places in England to see red squirrels in the wild. The pinewoods are a managed habitat: they actually live here, year-round. You won't see them if you arrive at 2pm and walk fast and loud. Go early, go slow, go quiet.
Full red squirrel guidePlan your full day in Formby
Restaurants, walks, beach guide, parking info: everything in one place.
