National Trust Formby: Lifeboat Road Car Park

Right, so if you're heading to Formby beach and pinewoods, the Lifeboat Road car park is your best bet. It's the main one run by the National Trust, so it's well-kept, but it does get seriously busy, especially on weekends and school hols. You'll find it right on Lifeboat Road, funnily enough, and from there it's a short walk through the woods to the beach and the red squirrel reserve.

It's not free, mind you. You'll need to pay, unless you're a National Trust member, in which case you can scan your card. It's open 9am to 5pm every day, which is worth knowing so you don't get locked in. Generally, people seem happy with it – it's got a 4.3 rating from over 270 reviews on Google. Can't argue with that, eh?

It's a decent sized car park, but like I said, it fills up fast. There's usually someone there to help direct traffic, but be prepared to queue, especially if the weather's good. If it's rammed, you could try parking on one of the residential streets further back, but be respectful of the locals, yeah? Don't block anyone's drive!

Worth knowing: they do close the car park when it's full, so get there early to avoid disappointment. And remember to bring change or a card for the machine – phone signal can be patchy there.