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Crosby Beach
Crosby Beach (5469).jpg
View out to sea, with the Iron Men in view
Map showing the location of Crosby Beach
Map showing the location of Crosby Beach
Location in Merseyside
Location Crosby, Merseyside
Coordinates 53°28′37″N 3°02′31″W / 53.477°N 3.042°W / 53.477; -3.042
Length 2.5 miles (4.0 km)
Geology Beach
Patrolled by Her Majesty's Coastguard
Access Blundellsands and Crosby railway station Hall Road railway station

Crosby Beach is a famous part of the Merseyside coastline. It is located north of Liverpool in England. The beach stretches about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) from the Seaforth Dock to Waterloo. It is well-known as the permanent home of the "Another Place" sculptures. These unique artworks were created by the artist Antony Gormley.

History of Crosby Beach

The beach has been made more stable since the mid-1800s. Before this, very high tides could reach the first row of houses. This caused problems for people living nearby.

You can still find parts of old wartime defenses in the sand dunes. These are located north of the coastguard station. A shipping channel runs parallel to the beach. This channel connects the River Mersey to the Irish Sea.

Crosby Beach was even featured in a 2012 BBC drama called Good Cop. Local officials hoped the show would encourage more filming in the area.

Fun Things to Do at Crosby Beach

Crosby Beach offers several interesting activities and sights. It's a great place to visit for art, water sports, and outdoor fun.

Another Place Sculptures

The "Another Place" sculptures are a major attraction. They were created by the artist Antony Gormley. In 2007, the local council decided they could stay permanently. Gormley chose Crosby Beach because he saw it as "terrific and brutal." He felt it was a working beach, not just a pretty one.

Waterloo Marina and Adventure Centre

Waterloo Marina (August 2017)
View of Waterloo Marina

Near the beach is the Waterloo Marina. A big project helped to improve this area. The goal was to create a visitor's center for the beach. This new center opened in late 2009. It is now called the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre. It is also home to the Crosby Scout and Guide Marina Club.

Protecting the Coast

Crosby Beach has important coastal defenses. These help protect the land from the sea.

Managing the Dunes and Sea Wall

Crosby beach - panoramio - jim walton (2)
Part of the Sea Wall barrier

Efforts to manage the sand dunes are ongoing. This includes planting old Christmas trees. A sea wall has also been built. These actions have helped reduce problems from high tides.

In the early 1900s, land erosion was a big issue. Dunes and even house gardens were washed away. Some houses had to be torn down. Measures were put in place in the 1930s to control this erosion.

Sand Movement for Protection

Between 2011 and 2012, a lot of sand was moved. About 4,000 tons of sand went from Crosby Beach further north. This sand was used to strengthen coastal defenses for the village of Hightown. These new sand dunes are expected to last for about 30 years.

Beach Safety

Crosby Beach has a red flag rating. This usually means there is danger in the water. Visitors are advised not to enter the sea.

There have been times when people got stuck in quicksand. Some of these incidents happened when visitors went too far out. They were trying to get a closer look at the iron men sculptures. It is very important to stay in safe areas.

Getting to Crosby Beach

Crosby Beach is easy to reach.

  • By Train: You can walk to the beach from Hall Road railway station, Waterloo railway station, or Blundellsands and Crosby railway station.
  • By Bus: The number 53 bus goes along South Road in Waterloo. It stops near Waterloo Station. From there, it's about a 10-minute walk. You walk to the end of South Road, where the Marina begins. Crosby Beach is just over the sand dunes.
  • By Car: There is also car parking available at Crosby Swimming Baths.

Sports and Activities

Crosby Beach is a great place for sports and staying active.

  • Parkrun: A parkrun takes place every Saturday morning at 9 am. The course starts on the beach. It then goes along the promenade before returning. The total distance is 5 kilometers (about 3.1 miles).
  • Crosby Leisure Centre: This center is located at the beach. It has an indoor swimming pool.

Awards and Recognition

Crosby Beach has received good reviews and awards.

  • As of July 2017, Crosby Beach had a high rating on Trip Advisor. It received an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars from around 500 reviews.
  • In 2011, the beach was given the Quality Coast Award. This award comes from the Keep Britain Tidy group.
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