Crosby Beach is an iconic stretch of shoreline about 6 miles north of Liverpool town center that offers gold sand, cool, clear waters and an iconic modern art installation. It's been open to the public since being stabilized in the mid-19th century when dunes were built to create coastal defenses.
Later, the remnants of bombed buildings from the Blitz were used to bolster the defenses, the remains of which can still be seen poking out from some of the dunes. The beach must be reclaimed regularly to protect homes nearby. Despite its attractions, it's not a good bathing beach and danger warnings are common.
Crosby Beach in Liverpool - one of the highlights of 6 Best Family Things to Do in Liverpool and 10 Best Road Trips near Liverpool (Read all about Liverpool here)
Highlights of Crosby Beach
Arguably the biggest attraction along Crosby Beach is the Another Place sculptures collection by Antony Gormley. These statues are a line of iron men buried up to their knees on the beach, all facing the water and looking out over the horizon. They were allowed to remain as a permanent fixture in 2007.
The nearby Waterloo Marina was redeveloped and reclaimed to serve as a part of the beach visitor's center. The revamped Marina opened in late 2009 and today is called the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Center, offering additional fun in the sand for visitors.
Good things to know about Crosby Beach
Crosby Beach, despite being an iconic sightseeing attraction, is not a good place to go for relaxation or bathing. The beach itself has a red flag rating, which warns visitors to avoid the water and indicates dangerous conditions. There have even been reports of visitors getting stuck in quicksand.
As such, the beach has listed safety zones that visitors are not supposed to pass when they go to see or photograph the statues. The beach can be reached from several railroad stations or by bus, which stops about a 10-minute walk away. A carpark is also available.
Crosby Beach in Liverpool
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Where to stay in Liverpool
Titanic Hotel Liverpool
The Municipal Hotel Liverpool - MGallery
Hotel Indigo Liverpool City Centre, an IHG Hotel
The Resident Liverpool
Ropewalks Hotel
Maldron Hotel Liverpool City
Britannia Adelphi Hotel
Hard Days Night Hotel
30 James Street
