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Formby
Liverpool & LancashireA coastal nature haven for wildlife and people
National Trust Formby Countryside Office, Blundell Avenue, Formby, Liverpool, L37 1PH
Important notice
We’re expecting car parks to be busy on sunny days over the Easter holidays. Scroll down to the “Planning your visit” page for more information. Thank you for protecting wildlife by not lighting fires or BBQs and taking your litter home.
M T W T F S S Open
Closed
Opening times for 27 March 2026
Asset Opening time Beaches Open all day Lifeboat Road car park 09:00 - 17:00 Victoria Road car park 09:00 - 17:00 Countryside Open all day Lifeboat Road toilets 09:30 - 16:30 Victoria Road toilets 09:30 - 16:30 Lifeboat Road car parking (until 28 February)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Car £9.00 Lifeboat Road coach parking (until 28 February)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Coach £80.00 Lifeboat Road horsebox parking (until 28 February)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Horsebox £21.50 Lifeboat Road mini bus parking (until 28 February)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Minibus £21.50 Victoria Road car parking (until 28 February)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Car £9.00 Lifeboat Road car parking (from 1 March)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Car £9.00 Lifeboat Road coach parking (from 1 March)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Coach £80.00 Horsebox parking (from 1 March)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Horsebox £21.50 Minibus parking (from 1 March)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Minibus £21.50 Victoria Road car parking (from 1 March)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Car £9.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Car park
- Dogs allowed
- Family friendly
- Picnic area
- Toilet
Accessible toilet and mobility car park spaces, at Lifeboat Road. Accessible paths in some woodlands and throughout the asparagus trail. Beach access via hardstanding path and boardwalk from Lifeboat Road car park. Free parking and designated spaces near paths for Blue Badge holders. Please note the Victoria Road car park and toilets are closed until spring 2026 for a major conservation project - no pedestrian access through the work site area. For more information please download the access guide below. This guide aims to provide clear, useful information to help people know more about what to expect when travelling to and exploring National Trust Formby, particularly for those with additional needs.
- Accessible toilet
- Steps/uneven terrain
- On foot
- Lifeboat Road - arrive by Merseyrail train and get off at Formby station. Go up the stairs and turn right out of the exit. Walk down the bridge pavement and along Kirklake Road. You will see an entrance to the site as the road bends with a large map sign. If you get to St Luke's church, you have gone too far. Access to the beach is on a hard standing path that leads to a boardwalk. Victoria Road - arrive by Merseyrail train and get off at Freshfield. Turn right out of the station and head west down Victoria Road until you reach our entrance. Access to the beach is on uneven ground through the woodlands and over the dunes.
- By train
- With regular services every 15-minutes, travelling by train is the most convenient way to visit Formby beach, particularly whilst the Victoria Road car park is closed for a major conservation project. Formby station for Lifeboat Road – short walk away, access to the beach via a boardwalk, RNLI Lifeguards on duty during peak times. Toilets, bins and refreshments are available in the car park. Freshfield station – short walk away. Access to the beach is on uneven ground through the woodlands and dunes. Toilets, bins and refreshments in the car park.
- Cycling
- National Cycle Network route 62, 3 miles. Thank you for helping to protect the precious landscape at Formby by keeping to designated cycle paths, tarmacked roads or the beach. Cycle racks are available in the car parks at Lifeboat Road and Victoria Road. There are plenty of cycle routes and paths in the local area. You can take your bike for free on the Merseyrail network, without pre-booking. Entry is free for visitors arriving on foot or by bike.
- By road
- Formby is a wild, natural and legally protected landscape. This means there are restrictions on the facilities and parking we can offer. We have two small car parks that fill up very quickly on sunny days. On these busy days we recommend travelling to us by train if you can. For more useful information and top tips for visiting go to the "Planning your visit to Formby" page. Payment: Download and set up the JustPark app before you visit for simple, contactless payment. Parking restrictions and fines in place by Sefton Council on residential roads. Lifeboat Road car park directions – 2 miles off A565. Follow brown signs from roundabout at south end of Formby bypass. Restrictions: Maximum height 2.3m and width 3 metres. Please note entrance gate is locked outside of opening times (exit anytime via flow plates). Lifeboat Road payment location codes for JustPark: Cars 896464 Minibuses 77737 Horseboxes 77738 Victoria Road car park directions - 2.2 miles off A565. Leave the bypass at the roundabout with the BP petrol station. Follow brown signs to Formby point. Payment location code for cars 77806 Payment location code for minibus 77807 Thank you for parking responsibly. Every time you pay to park or scan your membership card you’re helping to protect Formby’s precious wildlife.Sat Nav: Lifeboat Road car park entrance at grid reference SD275065: use postcode L37 2EB. Victoria Road car park entrance at grid reference SD27943 08282: use postcode L37 1LJ.
- Lifeboat Road car park address
- Lifeboat Road, near Formby, Liverpool L37 2EB
- By bus
- Stagecoach operates the X2 bus route to Formby from both Liverpool and Southport. The nearest bus stop to our Lifeboat Road entrance is a approximately a pleasant 40 minute walk away.
National Trust Formby Countryside Office, Blundell Avenue, Formby, Liverpool, L37 1PH
Planning your visit
Article
Planning your visit to Formby
Formby beach is a popular destination on sunny days it's wild, natural and legally protected landscape means parking is very limited . On this page you’ll find lots of useful tips and information to help you plan your visit.
Article
School and group visits to Formby
Pre-booking is essential when visiting Formby as a school or group; discover everything you need to know about how to book a group visit, where to park and about education group memberships.
Activity
Horse riding at Formby
Horses are welcome at Formby. Find out all your need to know about riding your horse on the beach or through the woodlands.
Article
Borrow a sand wheelchair at Formby
We have five sand wheelchairs available at Formby for you to book in advance and borrow for free.
PDF
Highlights
Coast
A coastal nature haven with some of Europe’s best sand dune habitats, where many rare species, including natterjack toads, thrive.
Things to see and do
Article
Things to see and do at Formby
Formby’s coastline is home to many rare species, two shipwrecks and prehistoric footprints. Can you spot a red squirrel in the trees or footprints on the shoreline?
Outdoor activities
Article
Outdoor activities at Formby
Get active, connect with nature and enjoy the great outdoors at Formby including walking, cycling and orienteering. Find out more.
Activity
Horse riding at Formby
Horses are welcome at Formby. Find out all your need to know about riding your horse on the beach or through the woodlands.
Article
Visiting Formby with your dog
Dogs are welcome at Formby, which is a one pawprint rated place. Find out all you need to know about exercising your pups on the sandy beaches and acres of woodland.
Article
School and group visits to Formby
Pre-booking is essential when visiting Formby as a school or group; discover everything you need to know about how to book a group visit, where to park and about education group memberships.
Article
Borrow a sand wheelchair at Formby
We have five sand wheelchairs available at Formby for you to book in advance and borrow for free.
Top trails
Trail
Lost Resort Trail
Learn about the history of Formby by-the-sea, a seaside resort that was never built.
Trail
Devil's Hole Trail
Explore the wildlife-rich dune grasslands of Ravenmeols Local Nature Reserve and learn about the rare wildlife that lives here.
Trail
Formby Asparagus Trail
Discover the history of Asparagus at Formby and how it has helped shape the landscape present today.
Upcoming events
Sorry, there are no upcoming events at this place
About Formby
Discover some of North West Europe’s most important sand dune habitats, where many rare species including natterjack toads thrive. Rich in history, visitors can catch glimpses of the past from spotting pre-historic footprints and shipwrecks to strolling through what was once acres of asparagus fields. Formby’s sweeping pinewoods are also home to the iconic red squirrel. Sunny days and holidays can be busy so you may decide you’ll enjoy your visit more on a quieter day.
History
Article
Discover the history of Formby
Formby is steeped in history if you know where to look. Discover the history of Formby’s asparagus fields, prehistoric footprints and shipwrecks.
Our work
Project
Removing the rubble at Victoria Road and restoring rare sand dune habitats
Find out more about a major conservation project happening at Formby this year and the impact on your plans to visit.
Project
Article
Improving Wicks Lake at Formby
Discover how we’re working with fantastic volunteers to create healthier habitats for wildlife at Wicks Lake and improve this special spot for people to enjoy.
Article
Dune conservation work at Formby
Formby is one of the fastest changing stretches of coastline that we care for. Discover how the team are working with nature to protect rare habitats and wildlife.
Article
Woodland conservation work at Formby
The woodlands at Formby provide important habitats for a wide variety of wildlife. Find out more about our woodland management plan and conservation work happening this autumn and winter.
Article
Freshfield Caravan Park and dune movement at Formby
Find out more about how natural sand dune movement is impacting the caravan site at Victoria Road, Formby.
Project
Woodland creation at Lunt
We're creating new woodlands and more diverse nature-rich habitats on 78 hectares of land in the Lunt area of Sefton. Find out more about this on-going project.
Project
Support us
Article
Volunteering at Formby
Explore how dedicated volunteers help to keep Formby thriving through all seasons, how you can get involved and what’s in it for you.
PDF
Formby autumn winter newsletter 2025
Catch up on all the latest news at NT Formby including the work we've been doing with regular volunteers to care for and maintain this special place.
PDF
PDF
Supporter Groups in the North-West
Find out about the supporter groups you can join in Liverpool and Lancashire including the Bolton Association, Ormskirk and District Association and the Southport and Formby Association.
Donate to conservation work at Formby
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could help fund wildlife surveys to monitor threatened species and guide our conservation work.