Formby Beach
Wide open sand, dramatic dunes, and the Irish Sea with no crowds. One of the best beaches in the North West — and you don't have to fight for space.
Formby Beach is a proper beach — not a promenade, not a resort. Wide open sand, dramatic dunes, pinewoods at your back, and the Irish Sea in front. On a sunny Saturday in summer it gets busy. On a Tuesday morning in October it's almost empty. Both are valid. Know what you're walking into.
Practical Information
Parking & Getting There
L37 1YH
- •NT Members: Free parking, book via app
- •Non-members: From £6/day via NT app
- •Train from Formby station: 20-min walk
- •Book BEFORE you leave — no signal on site
How Far Away?
From nearby cities
- Liverpool city centre 20–25 mins
- Southport 10 mins
- Manchester 45–60 mins
- Preston 35 mins
What the Beach Is Actually Like
The Beach Itself
Wide sandy beach backed by significant dunes. Pinewoods behind the dunes. Walk through pines takes ~15 mins. Flat paths. Pushchair-friendly on dry days. Sandy path near beach gets soft after rain.
The Sea
Irish Sea — don't expect Mediterranean temps. Swimmable in summer. Significant tidal range. Low tide = lots of sand. High tide = less beach. Check tide times before you go.
Best Times
Sunny + not too windy + low to mid tide = perfect. West-facing, so sunsets are exceptional. Winter visits are brilliant if you like it quiet and dramatic.
Dogs at Formby Beach
Dogs are welcome year-round — no seasonal restrictions. This makes Formby one of the better dog beaches on the Sefton Coast.
Sand Dunes & Formby Point
The Dunes
Sand dunes over 10 metres high. Part of active conservation effort. You'll see fenced-off sections — not jobsworth bureaucracy. The dunes are genuinely fragile and the NT is fighting coastal erosion that's been eating into the pinewoods for decades.
Please don't climb restricted areas.
Formby Point
Headland at the south end of the beach. ~1.5 mile walk from main car park. Views back along the coast are worth it. At low tide, sometimes see prehistoric footprints — over 5,000 years old. They appear and disappear with the sand.
Let the NT know if you spot them — don't disturb.
Facilities
Café
NT café at visitor point. Coffee, cake, soup, light bites. Outdoor seating. Not cheap but decent.
Toilets
At the NT car park/visitor point. Clean and well-maintained. Baby changing available.
Accessibility
Main paths manageable for pushchairs on dry days. Beach and dune paths are uneven. Check NT website for current details.
Safety & Tides
Important Information
- ⚠️No lifeguard service. Swim with care and be aware of the tide.
- 🌊Rip currents present at times. Don't go out far and don't swim alone.
- 📱Check tide times before you go. BBC Weather, Tide Times UK, or Met Office for Formby/Southport predictions.
- ⏱️Tide comes in quickly here. Be aware of where you are relative to the waterline.
- ✅Best for walking: Low to mid tide gives most beach and firmer sand.