Crosby Beach and Another Place
"Another Place" is an artwork by Antony Gormley. It consists of 100 cast-iron figures, each weighing about 650 kg (1,430 lb), spread along roughly 3 km (1.9 miles) of the coast at Crosby, north of Liverpool. They all face the sea. At high tide some of the figures can be under water.
People come for the photographs and for a walk on the sand. It is an easy half day from the city centre. It is also a stretch of coast with real tidal and mud hazards, so read the safety section before you set off. This guide is independent and has no link to the local council or the artist.
Safety first: tides, mud and water
The advice below comes from the local council. Warning signs on the beach and tide times for the day always come first.
Crosby is not a swimming beach
The council is explicit that people should not go into the water here. Lifeguards are present all year, but that does not make Crosby a supervised swimming area.
Stay near the promenade
The council advises staying within 50 m of the promenade on a walk. Do not walk out to the outermost figures. The sand is soft and there is mud, and 50 m is advice, not a guaranteed safe zone at every state of the tide.
Know the tide
As a rough guide for tides of 9 to 10 m, the council says there should be no beach access for about an hour either side of high water. Seeing all the figures does not mean you can reach them safely. Check the tide times and the weather for your day.
In an emergency
If someone is in difficulty in the water, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. Do not go into the water to rescue them yourself.
Liverpool tours to combine with Crosby
Beatles tours, city tours and river trips to fill the rest of your day, with live prices and availability.
Getting to Crosby Beach by train
Take the Merseyrail Northern Line towards Southport. The usual stations for the beach are Waterloo, Blundellsands & Crosby and Hall Road. These are the access points for the beach, so pick the one that suits the section you want to walk.
Check the current fare and timetable for your starting station before you go. For a longer day out on the same stretch of coast, the day trips from Liverpool page covers Formby, where dunes and pinewood take the place of the figures.
If you come by car, follow the parking signs and read the notice board at the car park for charges and rules.
Rules and good manners on the beach
Short list of what the council asks of visitors.
No barbecues
Barbecues and fires are not allowed anywhere on the Sefton coast. Pack a picnic that does not need a flame.
Leave the birds alone
Resting and feeding birds should not be disturbed. Keep your distance.
Photos
Private photographs are welcome. Using images of the artwork commercially needs the consent of the rights holder, so a holiday snap is fine but an advert is not.
What to bring and when to go
The coast is open ground, so plan for the weather rather than the forecast alone.
Shoes you can wet
Wear shoes that can get wet and muddy, and carry a spare pair for the train. The sand can be soft close to the water.
Layers and a waterproof
The Met Office climate figures on our weather page come from the Crosby station. They show rain in every month and mean daily highs of 7.5 to 8.0 °C from December to February. The weather page has the full table.
Pick a time with the tide in mind
Look up high and low water first, then choose an hour when the beach is accessible and the figures are visible. A low-tide walk and a high-tide view are different experiences.
More to plan
Pages that work well with a day on the coast.
Crosby Beach: frequently asked questions
Can you swim at Crosby Beach?
No. The council states that Crosby is not a swimming beach and asks people not to go into the water. Lifeguards on duty do not change that.
How many statues are there at Crosby Beach?
There are 100 cast-iron figures in the artwork Another Place by Antony Gormley. Each weighs about 650 kg and they are spread over around 3 km of coast.
How do I get to Crosby Beach from Liverpool?
Take the Merseyrail Northern Line towards Southport and get off at Waterloo, Blundellsands & Crosby or Hall Road. Check the timetable and fare for your station before you travel.
How far out on the sand can I walk?
The council advises staying within 50 m of the promenade. Do not walk out to the furthest figures, because of soft sand and mud, and treat the 50 m as advice rather than a guarantee of safety at every tide.
Is it free to visit?
The artwork stands on an open public beach and there is no ticket to buy. If you drive, read the parking signs for any charges.
Can I take photographs for a website or advert?
Private photographs are fine. For commercial use of the artwork, the council says the rights holder's consent is needed.