Another PlaceAntony Gormley at Crosby Beach
One hundred cast-iron figures face out to sea across three kilometres of tidal beach. Each one a cast of Gormley's own body. One of the most quietly powerful works of public art in England — and completely free.
Terry's Take
Why This Stops People in Their Tracks
I've walked Crosby Beach hundreds of times. I've watched the figures accumulate barnacles and seaweed and the occasional traffic cone placed on a head by someone who thought they were being funny. And I still stop when I see them. That's the thing about Another Place: it doesn't diminish with familiarity.
The figures have been here since 2005, when Sefton Council made the (at the time controversial) decision to keep them permanently after their original tour ended. The decision was right. These figures belong here. They belong to the wideness of this particular beach, to the flatness of the light over the Irish Sea, to the long view toward the horizon. You couldn't put them indoors. You couldn't put them anywhere except somewhere like this.
Technically, this is Crosby — about 14 miles south of Southport. But for anyone visiting Southport and the surrounding area, Another Place is a non-negotiable addition to the itinerary. Go at low tide. Go at sunset if you can manage it. The combination is as good as public art gets in England.
The Artwork
About Another Place
The Figures
Each of the 100 figures is a cast of Gormley's own body — made during the early 1990s using his actual physical form as the mould. They weigh 650 kilos each. They stand between 1.5 and 1.85 metres tall, depending on how deep the sand beneath them has shifted over the years. All of them face west, toward the horizon, toward the sea.
The figures are spread across three kilometres of beach, from the promenade at Crosby down toward the Waterloo shoreline. The nearest figures are clearly visible from the promenade at any tide state. The furthest are submerged at high tide.
The History
Another Place was first installed at Cuxhaven in Germany in 1997, before touring to Norway, Belgium, and the United States. It arrived at Crosby in 2005, initially planned as a temporary installation.
Sefton Council voted to keep them permanently after a public campaign and considerable debate about safety, shipping lane interference (the figures are technically in a shipping lane), and — inevitably — whether art belongs on a functional beach. The permanent status was confirmed in 2007. Twenty years later, they've become as much a part of Crosby Beach as the sand.
Gormley's Intent
Gormley has described Another Place as an exploration of the relationship between a person and the world — each figure confronting the horizon, the future, the unknown. The figures don't move. They stand and look outward. Unlike so much public sculpture, they don't perform or gesture. They simply are.
The tidal nature of the beach is central to the work. The figures disappear and reappear with the tides. They accumulate marine growth. They change. "The sea is working on them," Gormley said. "They are becoming part of the beach."
What Visitors Find
At low tide, dozens of figures are visible simultaneously — stretching down the beach into the distance, becoming smaller, becoming abstract. The effect is quietly overwhelming. People regularly stop and stand still when they first see the full installation.
Many figures are dressed by visitors — hats, scarves, flags, hi-vis jackets during major football tournaments. This unplanned participation has become part of the work. Gormley has expressed approval. The figures accumulate the town's character over time.
Planning Your Visit
When to Go
Tide timing
Visit at low tide to see the most figures. At high tide, the outer figures are submerged. Check BBC tide tables or the Merseyside tide app before you go. The best window is 1–3 hours after the tide starts to recede.
Time of day
Sunset is exceptional — the figures are silhouetted against the western sky and the light across the Irish Sea can be extraordinary. Combine low tide with the hour before sunset for the best possible visit.
Season
Year-round, but winter mornings offer solitude and dramatic skies. Summer weekends are busiest. Spring and autumn have the best balance of light, manageable crowds, and reasonable temperatures.
Tide safety — read before visiting
The figures near the promenade are safe at all tide states. The outer figures are in the tidal zone and are submerged at high tide.
Do not walk to the furthest figures without checking tide times. The tide at Crosby comes in faster than expected and can cut off return routes. Keep within 100 metres of the promenade if in any doubt, particularly with children.
Photography Guide
Another Place is one of the most photographed locations on the Merseyside coast. These tips make the difference between a record shot and something genuinely worth keeping.
Directions
Getting There
Hall Road West, Crosby, Merseyside, L23 8SY
By Train (recommended)
Merseyrail Southport line — alight at Hall Road or Blundellsands & Crosby stations. Both are a short walk from the beach. Trains run every 15 minutes from Liverpool Central and connect from Southport. From Southport, journey time is approximately 40 minutes.
Tip: Check Merseyrail.org for live departures. The stations are small — there's no ticket office, buy before you travel or use the Avanti/Merseyrail app.
By Car
From Southport: A565 south through Formby and Crosby — 25-30 minutes. From Liverpool city centre: A565 north, approximately 25 minutes. Parking at Hall Road West car park (L23 8SY) — usually free or low charge. Crosby Leisure Centre car park is a short walk further north.
Tip: The sat-nav postcode L23 8SY brings you to the Hall Road car park, which is the closest to the main cluster of figures.
Practical Information
Address
Hall Road West, Crosby, L23 8SY
Admission
Free — open 24 hours, 365 days
Parking
Free at Hall Road West car park
Nearest station
Hall Road (Merseyrail)
From Southport
14 miles — 25–30 min by car
Dogs
Welcome on leads
Common Questions
Another Place — FAQs
What is Another Place at Crosby Beach?
Another Place is a public art installation by sculptor Antony Gormley, consisting of 100 cast-iron figures spread across three kilometres of tidal beach at Crosby, Merseyside. Each figure is a life-size cast of the artist's own body, standing on the beach and facing out to sea. The installation has been permanently sited at Crosby Beach since 2005.
Is Another Place at Crosby Beach free to visit?
Yes, completely free. The beach is a public beach and the figures are part of it. There is free parking at Hall Road car park and paid parking at nearby Crosby Leisure Centre. No tickets or booking required at any time.
What is the best time to visit Another Place?
Low tide reveals the most figures — at high tide, many are submerged. Sunset is the most dramatic time visually: the figures are silhouetted against the sky and the light across the Irish Sea can be extraordinary. Check tide times before you visit — low tide around 90 minutes before sunset is the ideal combination.
How far is Crosby Beach from Southport?
Crosby Beach is approximately 14 miles south of Southport town centre — around 25-30 minutes by car. By Merseyrail, take any Southport line train toward Liverpool and change at Blundellsands & Crosby or Hall Road stations, both within a short walk of the beach.
Is it safe to walk out to the figures?
The figures closest to the promenade are safe to visit at all tide states. Do not walk out to figures at the far end of the installation — the tide at Crosby can come in quickly and the outer figures are submerged at high water. Stay within 100 metres of the promenade if in any doubt, and always check tide times before visiting.
Can I touch the figures?
Yes — the figures are not behind barriers and visitors regularly touch, photograph, and interact with them. Many figures have accumulated barnacles, seaweed, and marine growth, which has become part of the artwork. Some visitors dress figures with hats, scarves, and other items.
While You're in the Area
Nearby & Worth Combining
Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre
Sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and open-water swimming — 10 minutes from the Gormley installation.
Formby Red Squirrel Reserve
National Trust pine woodland where native red squirrels still live. 8 miles north — easy to combine for a full day.
Southport Beach & Pier
30 minutes north — a completely different coastal experience. England's second-longest pier and 22 miles of beach.
Complete Your Visit
More to Do in and Around Southport
Crosby Beach is 14 miles from Southport town centre. Our complete guide covers every beach, attraction, golf course, and neighbourhood — with the practical details that the official tourism sites leave out.
Things to Do in Southport