Planning your visit to Formby

Published:: 26 March 2026

A lady and three children enjoying a walk through the dunes at Formby — A family enjoying an adventure through the dunes at Formby | © John Millar

We want everyone to feel welcome and well-prepared for a visit. Formby is a wild, natural and legally protected landscape. This means there are restrictions on the facilities and parking we can offer. On this page you’ll find lots of useful tips and information to plan your visit.

Useful downloads

Top tips for visiting Formby

Formby’s natural beauty is best enjoyed on quieter days.
Visitor numbers soar on sunny days and parking is very limited.
Check our Facebook page for live parking updates before you set off.
Look out for the car parks full message on digital signs on Formby by pass.
Head to Lifeboat Road (L37 2EB) for boardwalk access to the beach.
Lifeboat Road also has RNLI Lifeguards on duty at peak times.
Check tide times before visiting – often very little beach at high tide.
Download the JustPark app for a quick way to pay, you'll find it here.
Bring a bag for your litter and please don't light fires or BBQs.
In an emergency on the beach call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Parking at Formby

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. During opening hours, members of the team will be there to welcome you. Pop by and say hello – we’re always happy to chat and share information.

Every time you pay to park you’re helping to support our work to protect wildlife, restore rare habitats, and maintain this special place now and in the future.

£9 could help fund equipment and time to clear litter left behind before it harms wildlife.

£21.50 could help fund equipment and time to remove invasive scrub before it destroys rare habitats.

£80 could help fund wildlife surveys to monitor threatened species and guide our conservation work.

£75 could help replace damaged planks on the boardwalk, supporting maintenance of this vital access route.

Please note for safety and security both car parks are fitted with ANPR (automatic numberplate recognition).

Answers to your parking questions

With regular services every 15-minutes at peak times and two stations just a short walk away travelling by train is the most convenient way to visit Formby.

Formby station for Lifeboat Road at the south of the site - access to the beach via a boardwalk.

Freshfield station for Victoria Road at the north of the site - access to the beach through the woodlands and over the sand dunes.

Plan your journey here
For up to date prices click here

Everyone arriving on foot, by bike or public transport can visit for free. Blue badge holders and National Trust members don’t pay to park. Members please scan your card at the machines or in the JustPark app.

Visit often? You could save money, support our conservation work and enjoy free entry to over 500 special places including NT Formby by becoming a National Trust member. Sign up with the welcome team when you next visit.
Download the JustPark app before you visit and when you arrive pop in the payment station reference and pay to park. The machines also accept coins and contactless card payments. Our car parks are ticketless.

Visitors often find that their signal may improve as they walk around. Alternatively, you can make a note of the location code on the JustPark machine and pay when you are able to do so.

If you forget to pay or leave without completing your payment, you’ll have up to 48 hours to complete it using the JustPark app or payment page. You can find out more here.
There isn't a park and ride option at Formby. A recent visitor traffic survey commissioned by Sefton Council provides an interesting insight into the complexities of managing extremely busy days across the region and makes recommendations for potential solutions.

The report concluded a park and ride wouldn’t solve busy day challenges at Formby. Highlighting that they work best for busy historic towns or city centres where there is constant demand, reliable journey times, several access roads and very limited if any alternative parking options.

While there’s no quick fix for busy days, we’re continuing to work closely with Sefton Coast Landscape partners and listening to feedback from visitors and the community to find solutions that will support both people and nature.

You can read the Sefton Coast Visitor Traffic report here
Visitor numbers soar on sunny days. To help you plan ahead look out for:

Live parking updates on our Facebook page @NTFormby before you set off

Digital information signs on the Formby bypass

We will also soon have digital parking capacity signs at the entrance to each car park, which will be regularly updated throughout the day with a simple full or spaces message.
Visitor numbers soar on sunny days and our car parks fill up very quickly. If you’re looking for a quieter time to visit, we recommend weekdays and early mornings. It’s best to avoid sunny weekends, school and bank holidays.

Early spring and autumn are great times to explore Formby, with lots of wildlife around and still plenty of daylight hours. In winter, the frosted dunes and pinewoods are often transformed into a shimmering, almost magical scene - perfect for a crisp, invigorating walk.
Campervans
Space for campervans is limited and we recommend using our Lifeboat Road car park (L37 2EB), visiting on quieter days, and arriving early.

Please note, overnight parking is not permitted to help protect local wildlife.

Minibuses
Space for minibuses is also limited. Groups are welcome to prebook a mid‑week visit to the Lifeboat Road car park during normal opening hours.

Unfortunately, we are unable to take bookings for minibuses during busy periods, including weekends, bank holidays, local school holidays, or when the car park is fully booked.
Horseboxes

Parking for horseboxes is only available at our Lifeboat Road car park in Formby (L37 2EB). Space is limited, especially on sunny days, weekends and during school or public holidays, so we recommend visiting on quieter days and arriving early. Please note that overnight parking is not permitted to help protect wildlife.

Coaches

Parking for coaches is also available at the Lifeboat Road car park. Groups are welcome to book a visit mid‑week during normal opening times. However, we are unable to take bookings for minibus or coach access during busy periods, including weekends, bank holidays, local school holidays or when the car park is fully booked.

If you are visiting as a school or group please ensure you pre-book your visit find out more here

Thank you for being mindful of other visitors and parking your vehicle between the bay lines of one space if you can (the parking bays are standard 2.4 metres wide by 4.8 metres long).
Introducing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) at NT Formby will help create a safer experience for visitors and keep the site more secure. This familiar technology is used widely in public car parks and is also being trialled at a number of National Trust places.

As a charity we rely on the money raised from parking to care for Formby. Every penny from parking goes directly into protecting wildlife, restoring habitats, and maintaining this special place now and in the future.
As many people tend to stay for the day parking spaces rarely become available on sunny days. Check our social media @NTFormby for live parking updates before you set off. The surrounding area is residential with parking restrictions and fines in place by Sefton Council.

If you arrive and the car parks are full, we recommend trying alternative parking for the same stretch of beach on the Sefton Coast at Crosby, Ainsdale or Southport, exploring the Wirral Coast or planning your visit for another day.

Find out more about alternative beach parking along the Sefton Coast here.

Discover the top 5 Wirral beaches here

What to expect at Victoria Road

The north of the site is a very wild and natural space where you can discover woodlands, dune grasslands and rolling sand dunes. Access to the beach is on uneven ground through the dunes. Please note due to our major sand dune restoration project there is no longer a car park next to the beach.

Car park – nestled in the woodlands on the right-hand side as you enter. The car park has a one-way system. You're welcome to drive round and look for a space. If no spaces are available, please leave the car park to prevent queuing and either head to alternative beach parking along the Sefton Coast or plan your visit for another day - thank you for your support.
Getting to the beach – just over a half-mile walk from the car park on uneven ground through the woodlands and over the sand dunes.
Nearest train station – Freshfield a short walk away, plan your trip here

Thank you for giving the sand dune restoration area where the old beach car park used to be time and space to heal as nature restores and reconnects this special habitat.

What to expect at Lifeboat Road

The south of the site is also a wild and natural mosaic of woodlands, dune grasslands and rolling sand dunes. However, you’ll find better access on to the beach via a boardwalk. RNLI Lifeguards are also on duty here in the spring and summer months.

Car park – you’ll spot the 3 car park bays as soon as you drive in. All of the bays are connected in a looped one-way system. You're welcome to drive round and look for a space. If no spaces are available, please leave the car park to prevent queuing and either head to alternative beach parking along the Sefton Coast or plan your visit for another day - thank you for your support.
Getting to the beach – approximately a 500 metre walk away from the car park on a hard standing path that leads to an accessible boardwalk, with benches along the way to rest if you need to.
Nearest train station – Formby a short walk away, plan your trip here

Two young children balancing on tree stumps at the Formby Kirklake natural playtrail in the woodlands — Children enjoying the natural playtrail at Kirklake, Formby. | © Harriet Wilkinson

Facilities at Formby

To help you plan ahead and make the most of your visit to Formby we've sumarised the main facilities available below.

Toilets are available during opening times at both Victoria Road and Lifeboat Road car parks.

Victoria Road - there is a toilet block located in front of the car park. The female toilets have 5 cubicles. The male toilets have urinals and 1 cubicle. Both toilets have a baby changing table and small bin for used nappies. There is also a toilet with accessible features , which requires a RADAR key. The toilet can only be accessed with a RADAR key during the toilet opening hours. Please note there are currently temporary port-a-loos available whilst we clean and re-fresh the toilet block.

Lifeboat Road - there is a gated block of temporary port-a-loos, this is because there is no water supply to this end of the site. One of the toilet cubicles has accessible features. We are also trialling two compostable toilets here.

If you’re visiting outside of our toilet opening times, the nearest accessible toilet facilities can be found at either of the two local train stations Formby or Freshfield.
Like lots of special coastal and countryside places, we provide large industrial bins at both of our car parks. The red bins are for non-recyclable waste and the blue ones for mixed dry recyclable waste.

By focusing waste disposal in these well used and easy to access locations we’re protecting Formby’s precious habitats and wildlife. We also support the nationwide campaign that is encouraging people to take their litter home with them. Please plan ahead, bring a bag and together we can keep Formby special for people and wildlife.
We’re delighted to work with local traders who provide refreshments at both Lifeboat Road and Victoria Road during peak times over the spring and summer months.

Formby village

A visit to Formby village is also a delightful addition to your trip. Just 1.5 miles from the coast, it’s an easy onward journey and offers plenty to enjoy after a walk through the dunes or woodlands.

With lots of lovely cafés, pubs, bars and independent shops, it’s the perfect place to pause and treat yourself, whether that’s a comforting cuppa, a bite to eat, or a special souvenir of your day out. There’s plenty of parking available in the village, making it a convenient and relaxed stop during your visit.

The Formby Heritage Centre, a small volunteer-run local museum, which brings the history, archeology and communtiy stories of Formby to life through exhibits and archives, is also located in the village above Woodwards bar and is open between 11am and 2pm every Saturday.

We hope you enjoy discovering all that this charming local community has to offer.
There are two natural play trails to help connect little explorers with nature. Look out for the large map signs to find out where they are located

Kirklake playtrail - located to the south of the site behind St Luke's Church. The nearest car park is Lifeboat Road. This super fun space is nestled in the woodlands and was created in partnership with pupils from nearby Woodlands Primary School. Their awesome ideas and drawings inspired the trail, which is shaped like a giant tree with fun activities branching out everywhere. There's so much for you to explore and discover!

Cornerstone playtrail - tucked away to the north of the site along Cornerstone Path, you’ll discover another woodland playtrail waiting to be explored. Just a short wander from the Victoria Road car park, this natural play space invites little explorers (and grown‑ups too!) to hop between balancing tree stumps, test their agility on rustic beams, and bring the forest to life with a wooden xylophone hidden beneath the trees.

A perfect spot for imaginations to run wild and for families to connect with nature at its playful best.

Finding your way around

At Formby we care for a space around the size of 700 football pitches. To help you find your way you’ll see large map signs in popular spots across the site. There are also some wooden ladder signs highlighting the direction and distance to popular places so you know you're on the right track.

Answers to popular visitor questions

You are welcome to swim in the sea anywhere at Formby, but as with any sea-swimming, this is at your own risk. Heading to the coast or out on the water is a great way to have fun and stay active. But, if you're not careful, it's a lot easier to get into trouble in the water than you might think. Conditions can change quickly and if you're not prepared, you can easily get caught out. Here’s our top tips for swimming at Formby;

Check tide times before you visit

Be aware of your swimming ability

Let someone know you are swimming and when you plan to be back

Read through RNLI’s general water safety advice here

Be mindful of the wildlife all around you including jellyfish in the sea or washed up on the shoreline. Many are harmless but some can give a painful sting.

Head to Lifeboat Road and swim between the flags, where RNLI lifeguards are on duty during the local school summer holidays and at weekends from Easter until early September
Well-behaved dogs are welcome to wander with you right across the site. Please keep dogs under close control across the rest of the site. It’s always best to keep them on a lead if you’re unsure.

There aren't many shaded areas in our car parks, so please don’t leave dogs unattended in cars as even on cloudy or cooler days a dog can overheat quickly.

For more useful information and top tips for visiting with your dog visit our website click here
NT Formby is a great place to take your horse for a gentle ride. We ask horse riders to only use the official bridal route, a map can be downloaded here. There is no access on to the beach for horses via the boardwalk.

Please note that the Sefton Council Public Space Protection Order (PSPO - click here to view), introduced in July 2022 details specific restrictions for horse riders to help protect the special Sefton Coast landscape and the wildlife that calls it home, whilst keeping everyone who loves to visit safe;

Horses are not allowed into the designated bathing areas between 1st May and 30th September, nor to enter vegetated areas on or adjacent to the beach or to ride through flocks of roosting/feeding birds or gallop anywhere on the beach.

Horses must not be ridden dangerously or within 2 hours either side of high tide.

Horses are not allowed to be ridden on the coast other than on designated bridleways and those beaches with access via an authorised route.

Please visit our webpage for useful information to help you make the most of your trip with your horse and have a safe and enjoyable ride click here
As NT Formby is a wild and natural space you won’t find any water sports facilities or equipment.

Along the Sefton coast we would recommend you launch from Ainsdale, the same beach a couple of miles up the road from Formby. You can park on the beach there in spring and summer and it is much safer and easier to get to the water with your equipment. Check details with Sefton Council as they manage that section of the coast.

You may also be interested in visiting the water sports centres at the local Marine Lakes at nearby Crosby and Southport.

Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre

Southport Marine Lake | Marine Lake | Southport Watersports | Boat Hire
RNLI lifeguards are on duty at the stretch of beach to the south of the site at Lifeboat Road during the main holiday seasons between 10am to 6pm.

In 2026, patrols run from:

28 March to 12 April - Daily for Easter Holidays

2 May - 17 May - Weekends and Bank Holidays

23 May - 1 June - Daily for May Half Term

6 June - 28 June - Weekends only

4 July - 6 September - Daily for Summer Holidays
The Sefton Coast is recognised as one of the most important dune habitats in north-west Europe, and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Formby’s dunes, heathlands, grasslands and plantation woodlands create a mosaic of habitats where many rare and more common plants and animals thrive – everything from natterjack toads, sand lizards, red squirrels and internationally important wading birds, to a wide variety of wildlflowers, butterflies and moths.

You can find out more about all the wonderful wildlife at Formby here

Working in partnership

The Sefton Coast is a truly special place. On sunny days, people’s fondness for a trip to the coast naturally draws a huge amount of visitors and demand for parking far exceeds what the area can support. While there’s no quick fix, we’re continuing to work closely with partners along the Sefton Coast, including Sefton Council, Merseyside Fire and Police, to explore new ideas that support both people and wildlife as well as the communities who live nearby.

Recent improvements include:

Installing new digital entrance parking capacity signs, regularly updated with a full or spaces message. (ordered - awaiting delivery and installation date from supplier)
A replacement inland car park at Victoria Road away from where the dunes will continue to naturally roll back. Although the car park has the same capacity as before there are marked parking bays, an improved car park surface, better layout with a proper turning circle to help traffic flow more efficiently on and off site.
We have also invested, alongside Sefton Council, in improved digital messaging on the bypass, which will be installed as part of a wider scheme across the road networks at a later date

We’ll also continue to share live parking updates on our Facebook page, encourage travelling to us by train and using alternative beach parking along the Sefton and Wirral coast.

You can help keep Formby special by:

Not lighting fires or BBQs anywhere on site.
Taking your litter home and leaving nothing but your footprints.
Being mindful of all the wonderful wildlife around you.
Parking responsibly and keeping access clear for emergency vehicles.
Considering alternative beach destinations at busy times – we're open 7 days a week all year round.
Traveling by bike or train if you can – Merseyrail's Formby and Freshfield stations are only a short walk away. Plan your trip here.

The Sefton Coast has a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to help make sure the precious landscape and wildlife here can thrive. This means some activities aren’t permitted to keep this special place safe, clean and welcoming for everyone. Find out more click here

Areas A-Z

Things to do

Place types

Planning your visit to Formby

Useful downloads

Top tips for visiting Formby

Parking at Formby

Answers to your parking questions

What to expect at Victoria Road

What to expect at Lifeboat Road

Facilities at Formby

Finding your way around

Answers to popular visitor questions

Working in partnership

You can help keep Formby special by:

You might also like

School and group visits to Formby

Borrow a sand wheelchair at Formby

Things to see and do at Formby

Outdoor activities at Formby

Horse riding at Formby

Visiting Formby with your dog

Dune conservation work at Formby

Formby newsletter winter 2025

Sign up to hear more from the National Trust

Planning your visit to Formby

Useful downloads

Top tips for visiting Formby

Parking at Formby

Answers to your parking questions

Can I travel to Formby by train?

Where can I park?

How much does it cost to park?

How do I pay to park?

How many parking spaces are there?

Do you have accessible parking?

Is there a park and ride?

How do I know if the car parks are full?

Can I park overnight?

When are the quieter times to visit?

Do National Trust members park free?

Can I park for free if I am a National Trust Scotland member?

Is there parking for campervans and minibuses ?

Is there parking for horse boxes and coaches?

Why do you have ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition)?

Is there alternative beach parking if the NT car parks are full?

What to expect at Victoria Road

What to expect at Lifeboat Road

Facilities at Formby

Toilets

Bike parking

Sand wheelchairs

Bins

Refreshments

Picnic tables

Natural play trails

Finding your way around

Answers to popular visitor questions

Can I swim in the sea?

Can I have a fire or BBQ?

Can I bring my dog to the beach?

Can I ride my horse on the beach?

Can I do water sports at Formby?

Are there RNLI Lifeguards on duty?

Can I use inflatables in the sea?

What wildlife can I see at Formby?

What outdoor activities can I do at Formby?

Working in partnership

You can help keep Formby special by:

Sign up to hear more from the National Trust