Formby sits on the coast in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, a few miles north of Liverpool and fronting the Irish Sea. It’s best known for its wide sandy beaches, shifting dunes and the pinewoods at Formby Point and nearby Ainsdale, much of which is protected by the National Trust and local conservation groups; the area is famous for its red squirrel population and coastal birdlife.
The town has a mix of Victorian and more modern suburban housing and functions partly as a commuter settlement for Liverpool, while tourism linked to the beaches and nature reserves supports local shops, cafés and small businesses. There’s a long social tradition of seaside leisure and conservation activism, and ongoing coastal-management work reflects both the historic value and the vulnerability of the shoreline and dune systems.
Postcode districts covering Formby
Most populated places nearby
- Liverpool 12.3 miles
- Birkenhead 11.9 miles
- Preston 21 miles
- St. Helens 15.6 miles
- Wigan 17.4 miles
- Warrington 22.9 miles
- Blackpool 18.5 miles
- Southport 5.7 miles
- Runcorn 21.7 miles
- Widnes 19.1 miles
- Wallasey 9.8 miles
- Huyton with Roby 13.1 miles
Neighbouring places
- Harington Ward 0.4 miles
- Little Altcar Parish 1.1 miles
- Ravenmeols Ward 1.6 miles
- Hightown Built-up area 2.5 miles
- Ince Blundell Built-up area 2.7 miles
- Great Altcar Parish 2.8 miles
- Downholland Parish 3 miles
- Ainsdale Ward 3 miles
- Manor Ward 3.8 miles
- Halsall Parish 4.2 miles
- Thornton Parish 4.5 miles
- Rural West Ward 4.7 miles
Example postcodes in Formby
L37 2EN, L37 8DH, L37 3AA, L37 7EH, L37 4EZ, L37 8BN, L37 7EJ, L37 7BZ, L37 1PF … See all
Transport links
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport 17.8 miles
- Manchester Airport 35.4 miles
- Formby Railway Station 0.5 miles
- Freshfield Railway Station 0.7 miles
Hotels near Formby Ad
- The Royal Hotel 3 6.2 miles
- Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa 4 1.8 miles
- The Vincent Hotel 4 6.6 miles
- The New Talbot Hotel 6.4 miles
- Miller & Carter Aughton by Innkeeper's Collection 4 5.9 miles
- Lynwood House Hotel 4 7.1 miles
- The Bold Hotel 4 6.9 miles
- The Lord Street Hotel 4 7 miles
- Waterfront Southport Hotel 4 6.9 miles
- Hotel Tia 9.5 miles
Schools in Formby
- Formby High School Secondary
- Freshfield Primary School Primary
- Our Lady of Compassion Catholic Primary School Primary
- Range High School Secondary
- Redgate Community Primary School Primary
- St Jerome's Catholic Primary School Primary
- St Luke's C of E Primary School Primary
- Trinity St Peter's C of E Primary School Primary
- Woodlands Primary School Primary
Local points of interest
- Formby Beach Beach 1.5 miles
- Cabin Hill National Nature Reserve Nature reserve 1.7 miles
- Ainsdale Beach Beach 3.5 miles
- Paddock Wood Forest 6.4 miles
- Haig Avenue Stadium 6.5 miles
- Such Hey Wood Forest 6.7 miles
- Old Wood Forest 6.7 miles
- Spring Wood Forest 6.8 miles
- Meadow Hey Wood Forest 6.9 miles
- Dam Wood Forest 7.1 miles
- Aintree Racecourse Recreation 7.4 miles
- Goodison Park Stadium 9.1 miles