Suffolk is a county in the east of England and offers a large stretch of often undisturbed coastline bounding the North Sea. Historically, Suffolk was the closest seaside destination for Londoners and has remained a popular place for those wanting to escape from the stress of urban life. Its delightful coastal towns, open sandy beaches and windswept romantic skies can offer you a fabulous spot for a holiday.
Whatever the time of year, you'll find something to love about Suffolk's ancient seaside towns and villages. Discover Southwold with its famous pier and colourful beach huts, the artists' haven of Aldeburgh or the golden sandy beaches of Lowestoft.
For nature-lovers, you'll be hard-pressed to know which way to look, so abundant is the choice! Some of the country's rarest wildlife can be found here on the Suffolk coast. Soak up the charm by taking a stroll on one of the many wide open beaches, where in Spring in particular the whole area is bursting with new life.
Walking, cycling and sailing are all popular pastimes and with the Suffolk Coasts and Heaths being a designated Area of Natural Beauty, the largely undeveloped beauty of this part of the country can be explored on foot, on a bike or by taking to the waters!
Why not check beaches nearby as we have 13 beaches in Suffolk, or have a look at our list of Suffolk dog friendly beaches, or even our United Kingdom Blue Flag beach list.
Suffolk Coast Search Bar
Where would you like to go? Use our search bar to search across all our local listings, ideal for finding that nearest spot to visit:
Want some ideas on where to visit?
Every favourite location must be visited for the first time. Want some ideas, why not check out the below small selection of coastal locations, including beaches, activities, things to see and do, places to stay and eat:
- Claremont Pier was constructed in 1902/03 and used originally as a mooring for Belle steamers. The pier was designed by D. Fox at 182 m in length and 11 m in width. In 1912, it was extended to a length of 230 m. A storm in 1962 washed a section of it away, reducing its length to 218 meters.
- The Claremont Pier South beach, also known as Lowestoft South beach, is a sandy beach backed by a promenade. Facilities at the beach include car park, summer lifeguards, shops, food, toilets.
- Christchurch Mansion is a stately home within Christchurch Park. A Grade I listed building, the mansion houses a collection of pottery and glass, a contemporary art gallery and a collection of paintings by artists including John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough. There are rooms preserved as past inhabitants would have known them, complete with original items of fine clothing. The house sits within a 70 acres (280,000 m2) public park which features many beautiful trees, rolling lawns and ponds.
- Dunwich Heath is an area of coastline on the Suffolk coast near to Saxmundham. Rich in wildlife, you can explore the sandy cliffs and beach as well as the heath which bursts into colour during the summer months, The heath is home to several rare species including nightjars, woodlark and adders. Here you can really escape from it all as it is haven of peace and tranquility and offers stunning views. For visitors to this beautiful stretch of Suffolk coast, there are heathland marked nature trails to go on, or take a picnic to the family-friendly Dunwich Heath beach. The coastal centre is run by the National Trust and has parking (for a fee), a shop and a tea room; www.nationaltrust.org.uk
- Dunwich beach is part of a long shingle rural beach in Suffolk. Facilities include car parking, tearooms and toilets.
- The beach to the North of Claremont Pier is a sandy beach with zones in place for watersports. Facilities include beach chalet hire, summer lifeguards, toilets, shops, food, parking
- The Denes beach at Southwold is a quiet shingle beach backed by sand dunes and marshes less busy than the main Southwold beach. The beach is between the mouth of the river Blyth and the historical seaside town of Southwold. Popular with walkers or those wanting a rural beach. The beach has toilets, parking and summer lifeguards with more facilities just a short walk away at Southwold.
- Trinity House responded to petitions regarding the dangerous sandbanks and shoals around the East coast by constructing Lowestoft lighthouse.
- Orfordness Lighthouse, in Suffolk, is situated at the end of a 13 mile spit which runs parallel to the coast. The dangers of this area (swift tides, banks and shoals) although not immediately apparent have long been notorious. On one night alone, in 1627, thirty-two ships were cast up on Orfordness with scarcely a survivor amongst their crews.
- Walberswick beach is a sandy beach with some pebbles that sits on the opposite side of the River Blyth to the much busier Southwold. The beach is popular with walkers as it is rural and consists of a sandy beach, backed by sand dunes and the Walberswick Nature Reserve. There is a small ferry in the summer that takes you across the river with a 10-minute walk along The Denes beach to Southwold. Facilities at the beach are limited but the village of Walberswick has tea rooms, restaurants, pubs, art gallery and some craft and gift shops.
- Kessingland beach is less popular and more barren than the nearby Suffolk beaches at Lowestoft and therefore is less popular with families but attracts sports like kitesurfing, buggying and landboarding. A WD Council and Kiteboarding UK’s approved teaching/ kite zone with strict rules, the buggy area is located a short distance away from the kite zone. Facilities at the beach include toilets, cafe/restaurant, pub, Caravan park and campsite. The car park is a little back from the beach in the village and if you have a lot of kit it is best to drop off and then go and park the car.
- Felixstowe Pier is a wooden pier built in 1905 and designed by the Rogers Brothers. The pier extended to a length of 2,640ft (800m) and was little more than a promenade deck, with railings along the entire length, and a T-shaped landing stage at the head. A large pavilion was at the shoreward end. The pier deck had an electric tramway takeing passengers and luggage to the steam boats. The pier was partly demolished for safety reasons and due to lack of funds looks set to disappear in the near future. Note that due to the lack of development plans the state of the pier could change. If anyone has an update please leave a comment.
