Deansgate Lane Fields
Playing fields on the Freshfield side of Formby with a woodland sculpture trail running through the trees along the edge. Free, open, and honestly more pitches than park.
Days out with the kids in Formby
5 places in Formby, Merseyside, 3 of which cost nothing. Everything below is within easy reach if you live locally.
5 in Formby3 free1 indoor
Formby is one entry in this part of the coast, but the entry is a full day. The National Trust beach stacks three outings into one: dunes big enough to count as an activity in themselves, a wide clean beach, and red squirrels in the pinewoods on the walk in. Arrive before mid-morning on any sunny day, because when the car park is full it is simply full, and Trust membership pays for itself here fast.
The village behind has cafes for afterwards and not much else, which is fine - nobody comes to Formby for the town. When the beach is done, the coast keeps going: Crosby's iron men are ten minutes south, Southport's cheap Victorian pleasures fifteen north. Sand in the car for a fortnight is part of the deal, and everyone signs it willingly.
Places in Formby
Duke Street Park
Formby's main park, a short walk from the station: a large play area, six hard tennis courts you can book for nothing, bowling greens and football pitches. New play equipment was ordered in June 2026.
Freshfield Dune Heath
Eight hectares of lowland dune heath behind Freshfield station, run by the Wildlife Trust. Red squirrels, lizards and dragonflies, grazing livestock, and no car park, no toilets and no cafe of any kind.
Formby Pool
Formby kept the separate learner pool that most places quietly dropped: 12.5 metres, stepped access, a shallow end of 0.65 metres, which is the depth at which a two year old can stand up.
Formby Beach & Pinewoods
Huge sand dunes, a proper beach and red squirrels in the pinewoods behind it. The dunes alone will occupy them for an hour. Free entry if you have National Trust membership.
Also worth the drive
Not in Formby, but close enough for a day out.
World of Glass
Free, indoors and better than it sounds: interactive science aimed at younger children, glassblowing demos, a picnic area and a small playground outside.
Sherdley Park
St Helens' biggest park. Play areas, open space and a walled garden, and it costs nothing.
Dream, Sutton Manor
A 20-metre white head rising out of a reclaimed colliery, with woodland trails around it. Genuinely strange and memorable for kids, and a short walk rather than a hike.
Sankey Valley Park
A green corridor of canal towpath and parkland running from St Helens down towards Warrington. Flat, traffic-free and ideal if the bikes or scooters are coming.
Holiday Clubs (HAF)
Funded holiday clubs with food included, ages 4 to 18, for families on benefits-related free school meals. Worth a look even if you assume you won't qualify.
Prescot & Whiston Play Centres
Space World in Prescot, Sensory Hive in Whiston and Boomerang: the council-listed indoor options when it rains and everyone is climbing the walls.
Family & Friends Playcentre
Soft play with a full role-play village attached, which is the bit that holds a four-year-old's attention long after the frame stops being interesting.
Knowsley Safari
Drive through the reserve from the car, then the sea lion and birds of prey shows. Reviews are split on value, and several warn that families expect a full zoo and find fewer headline animals, so set expectations first.
What’s on near you, every Friday
One email a week: what is on this weekend within a sensible drive, and the places worth booking before they go.