Among the most popular on this coast, one of the best beaches in the UK for extreme kite activities. Zones for kite buggy (permit required) & landboard use, plus kite surfing on the water. Golden sands for walking or sunning. Some discreet cruising in the dunes -- gay men of all ages later in evenings when police patrols and families have gone.

Driving, take the A565 road north from Liverpool, look for signs to Ainsdale just before getting to Southport. Merseyrail trains depart Liverpool Central station and arrive at Ainsdale station in about 40 minutes. They run frequently, all day from about 8:30 until after 11pm - costing just over five pounds for a round-trip ticket.

100 cast-iron, life-size sculptures by Antony Gormley on Crosby beach, stretching over three kilometres, almost one kilometre out into the water. Each one weighs 650 kilos, made from casts of the artist's own body, looking out to sea and the horizon in silent expectation. Anthony Gormley: " ...no hero, no ideal, just the industrially reproduced body of a middle-aged man trying to remain standing and trying to breathe." At Crosby, 20 minutes by train, north of Liverpool - not a swimmer's beach.

As soon as you're born they make you feel small, By giving you no time instead of it all, Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all, A working class hero is something to be, A working class hero is something to be.  They hurt you at home and they hit you at school, They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool, Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules,
A working class hero is something to be, A working class hero is something to be.

When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years, Then they expect you to pick a career, When you can't really function you're so full of fear,
A working class hero is something to be, A working class hero is something to be.

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV, And you think you're so clever and classless and free, But you're still fucking peasents as far as I can see,
A working class hero is something to be, A working class hero is something to be.

There's room at the top they are telling you still, But first you must learn how to smile as you kill, If you want to be like the folks on the hill,
A working class hero is something to be. A working class hero is something to be.
If you want to be a hero well just follow me, If you want to be a hero well just follow me.  

"Working Class Hero"

- from John Lennon's first post-Beatles solo album, 1970's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. 

Also covered by Marianne Faithfull, Green Day & Marilyn Manson, among others.