Suffolk’s Best Towns for a Seaside Break

Posted 4th February

Suffolk’s coastline is quietly captivating (quiet being the operative word) with its uncrowded beaches, rich wildlife, beautiful estuaries and quaint towns, not to mention those famous big blue skies, owing to its drier climate.

Yes, Suffolk is consistently recognised as the driest region in the UK, allowing you to enjoy more sun and outdoor fun. Whether you opt for an elegant seaside resort, a quirky village or a wild, un-spoilt beach backed by dunes and heathland, Suffolk promises the best weather the UK has to offer. This section of the East Anglia coast is perfect for families and nature lovers needing a restorative beach break.

Here is a guide to the best seaside resorts from north to south Suffolk to help you make the best of what this region has to offer.

1) Lowestoft

Located at Britain’s most easterly point, the classic British seaside town of Lowestoft has a rich maritime history which is woven into its layered architectural heritage. Sensitive modern town-planning provides tourists with every amenity, especially around its two gorgeous sandy beaches (North Beach and South Beach). A working harbour, a cool cultural scene and great eateries make it a good choice for self-catering family beach holidays.

Best Beaches

South Beach: A fun, award-wining stretch of sand with a traditional pier and promenade backed by beach huts that includes great facilities including toilets, cafés and amusements. There is a summer lifeguard patrol, but dogs are banned during the peak season. Nearby Pakefield Beach allows dogs year round.

North Beach: A quieter, less commercial beach backed by sand dunes and a promenade with cafes, kiosks and toilets within the pavillion. A lifeguard service operates in summer, but dogs are banned May-September.

Things to Do

1. Don’t miss Ness Point, Britain’s most easterly spot
2. Make time for the Lowestoft Maritime Museum
3. For adventure head to Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park

Where to Eat

• The Jolly Sailors is an excellent gastro pub
• Murrays Fish & Chips are the best in the region
• The Hatfield Hotel for sea view meals on the beach

2) Kessingland

Further south lies Kessingland, a much quieter seaside village offering a relaxed, no-frills coastal atmosphere with big skies, great coastal walks and easy access to seaside nature reserves. It’s ideal for visitors who want peaceful beaches with a village close by for amenities and a convenient base.

Best Beach

Kessingland Beach: A nature reserve of sand and shingle, backed by wild dunes and golden cliffs, which often expose Jurassic fossils. It is the perfect beach for nature lovers with lagoons and pools at low tide forming havens for marine life and provides fun splashing for the kids. Whilst there are no facilities on this beach, you can find toilets on Church Road, which is nearby. Some Nature Reserve restrictions apply to dogs during the nesting season.

Things to Do

1. Discover the amazing animals in Africa Alive! Wildlife Park
2. Walk along the clifftop coastal path and spot migrating birds and maybe the odd fossil
3. Explore nearby Benacre National Nature Reserve

Where to Eat

• The Waterfront Restaurant ideal for casual meals
• The Sailors’ Home for simple food and sea views
• Pakefield Plaice amazing fish n chips to eat on the beach

3) Southwold

Southwold is arguably Suffolk’s most classic seaside town due to its multi-coloured beach huts, quintessentially Victorian pier and elegant streets. It promises that perfect mix of natural beauty, finesse and traditional seaside fun, with excellent food, cool shops and plenty of culture. It has two beaches and nature trails along the River Blyth to the marshland landscapes.

Best Beaches

Southwold Pier Beach: Located close to the town and made up of sand and shingle backed by beach huts with great facilities including toilets, cafés, pier amusements and seasonal RNLI patrols. Dogs are restricted to certain sections of the beach away from the pier and town.

Southwold Denes Beach: A wilder shore north of the town, next to the River Blythe and made-up of shingle and sand backed by dunes and marshland. Toilets and cafes can be found nearby at the harbour. Dog friendly but dog owners should respect the seasonal nesting protection in the dunes, which is clearly sign-posted.

Things to Do

1. A scenic stroll down Southwold Pier
2. Don’t miss the lighthouse tour which lasts 20 mins
3. Get lost at the Southwold Maize Maze
4. Visit Walberswick Beach via the Southwold coastal path

Where to Eat

• The Swan Hotel for fine dining
• Sole Bay Fish Co. best for seafood posh nosh
• Mrs T’s Fish & Chips a local favourite

4) Dunwich

Much of the mysterious medieval town of Dunwich lies beneath the sea, leaving a small hamlet, so it’s hard to imagine that it was once the capital of East Anglia with seven churches. What remains is a stunning natural beauty in the form of gorgeous beaches backed by dunes and heathland, as well as marshland, nature reserves and woodland, making it ideal for nature lovers and bird watchers seeking a tranquil coastal break.

Best Beach

Dunwich Beach: Forming part of a nature reserve and wildlife habitat, this beach offers a long stretch of shingle backed by dunes and heathland. Managed by the National Trust it is ideal for peaceful walks and wildlife watching and there are seasonal beach facilities near the carpark. Although it is dog friendly, it’s important to keep an eye on your pup for the protection of the wildlife.

Things to Do

1. Picnic on Dunwich Heath and Beach
2. Visit the Dunwich Museum
3. Walk, or cycle through Minsmere RSPB Reserve

Where to Eat

• The Ship at Dunwich does the best traditional pub grub
• Dingle Hill Tearooms do genuinely delicious homemade cakes and lunches
• Flora Tea Rooms is a family run café that does amazing food

5) Aldeburgh

Aldeburgh is perhaps Suffolk’s most distinctive resort, perfectly blending its arty heritage with Victorian seaside charm with pastel coloured seafront cottages, pretty boutiques and an elegant feel. Its long shingle beach, neat promenade and proximity to the Alde’s picturesque natural beauty and wildlife add to its peaceful pace of life.

Best Beach

Aldeburgh Beach: This wide shingle beach is ideal for long walks, beach-combing and watching the fishing boats come and go with the tides. Great facilities and amenities along the seafront make for easy family beach days with a choice of cafes, ice-cream and fish ‘n’ chip shops. This is a dog friendly beach with easy-to-follow dog rules in the summer, but there are no lifeguards.

Things to Do

1. Visit the Moot Hall Museum and learn about Aldeburgh’s maritime past
2. Scenic coastal walks from Aldeburgh to Thorpeness on the coastal path
3. Explore the nearby Alde-Ore Estuary for wildlife watching

Where to Eat

• Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop is famously excellent, and so is the Golden Galleon
• The Lighthouse Restaurant offers impressive, refined dining using local produce
• Two Magpies Bakery makes the most perfect breakfast, lunch and beach picnic

6) Thorpeness

Thorpeness is a peaceful seaside resort a few miles from Aldeburgh with interesting architecture and a charming vibe. It feels upmarket, relaxed and is surrounded by nature and stunning landscapes that can be explored by bike or on foot, and it’s close enough to Aldeburgh if you need a bit more action.

Best Beach

Thorpeness Beach: A peaceful shingle beach near a pleasant walk from the town that is lined with dunes and pretty pastel coloured cottages. Take a picnic as there are no facilities on the beach. Dogs are welcome all year round but there are some restricted areas (clearly signposted) in the summer.

Things to Do

1. Visit the House in the Clouds water tower
2. Go rowing on Thorpeness Meare
3. Enjoy the coastal walk to Aldeburgh offers 2 miles of seaside landmarks

Where to Eat

• The Dolphin Inn – great food, welcoming atmosphere day and night
• Thorpeness Golf Club Café – picturesque and perfect for lunch
• The Kitchen at Thorpeness – fun and family owned

7) Orford

This beautifully preserved, historic fishing village on the edge of the Alde-Ore Estuary is rich in history and surrounded by stunning nature reserves. Straddling a riverside and beach with a medieval castle this coastal town offers a culture and nature fix at a nice, slow pace, perfect for those needing a restorative beach holiday.

Best Beaches

Orford Beach: On the edge of Orford Ness nature reserve, wild and peaceful with no facilities. Whilst it is dog-friendly, dog owners should be cautious of wildlife and nesting.

Orford Ness Beach: This remote 10-mile-long shingle spit is the largest in Europe and a nature reserve managed by the National Trust with wildlife-filled marshes and lagoons only accessible by boat from Orford Quay.

Things to Do

1. Visit the beautiful Norman Orford Castle
2. Cycle/walk around the Alde-Ore Estuary
3. Orford Ness on a boat trip, preferably the Lady Florence Food Cruise

Where to Eat

• The Riverside Tearoom for waterside breakfasts, brunches and lunches
• The Butley Orford Oysterage for locally produced seafood
• The Crown and Castle is an AA award-winning gastropub

8) Felixstowe

At the southern-most tip of Suffolk, Felixstowe offers its visitors traditional beach fun mixed with beautiful scenery. It boasts a nature reserve, and pretty beaches backed by coastal gardens, a long promenade, colourful beach huts and Pavilion facilities. Its location at the mouth of the River Orwell means lovely scenic coastal walks are possible.

Best Beaches

Felixstowe South Beach: An award winning, family-friendly, fun sandy beach with safe swimming and excellent facilities, including toilets, cafes and amusements along its lovely promenade and pavilion. Lifeguards patrol in the summer and the beach is dog-friendly with signposted seasonal restrictions.

Felixstowe North Beach: A more calm, less crowded shingle beach popular for water sports and sunbathing near the gardens and ferry depot. Dog-friendly with easy-to-follow seasonal restrictions.

Things to Do

1. Walk along Felixstowe Seafront Gardens
2. Visit Landguard Fort
3. Explore the Orwell Estuary walks

Where to Eat

• The Alex Café Bar & Grill for sea view dining
• The Best of Suffolk Café for lunch
• Ruby’s Kitchen is a café with yummy food and sea views

Book a Coastal Holiday in Suffolk

Experience the best of the Suffolk coast with a stay in one of these outstanding seaside towns. Choose from a handpicked collection of coastal holiday cottages, from dog-friendly Suffolk cottages with sea views to properties offering direct access to the beach. Start your search for Suffolk cottages by the sea and find your perfect coastal escape.