Raven Meols Lane

Raven Meols Lane is a free car park in Formby, which is handy because parking around the National Trust Red Squirrel Reserve and Formby Beach can be a proper nightmare, especially on sunny weekends. It’s located right off Raven Meols Lane itself, so you can’t miss it.

It's not massive, so get there early if you're planning a beach day. Bank holidays? Forget about it, you'll be queuing down the road. Weekdays are generally fine though.

It's a simple, no-frills car park – just a place to leave the car. No toilets or anything like that, so bear that in mind, especially if you've got kids. It's about a fifteen-minute walk from here to the beach and squirrel woods.

If you're heading to Formby for a walk or to see the red squirrels, this is your best bet for free parking, as long as you don't mind a bit of a stroll. Remember to bring your wellies if it's been raining, the path to the beach can get a bit muddy.