Top 8 Beaches In Suffolk
The Suffolk coast is one of those places that tends to draw people back again and again – and there’s plenty of variety for those who make repeat visits, or who are lucky enough to live in this lovely area.
Locations like Aldeburgh, Dunwich Heath and Southwold are all part of the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape, which sweeps up along much of the county’s shore. Nature reserves, rare wildlife and little pockets of wildness are all part of the landscape here.
During summer months, resort towns like Lowestoft fill up with happy holidaymakers, who plunge headfirst into adrenaline-pumping watersports or stroll along traditional seaside promenades. Meanwhile, Aldeburgh is home to one of the UK’s top arts festivals – and one of the country’s best fish and chip shops too.
Whatever your interests, there’s plenty to explore around these shores, so join us as we take a tour of Suffolk’s best beaches. And if you want to spend a few days in Suffolk so you can see them all, we can help with that too – Pitchup has an excellent collection of campsites and outdoor accommodation for great-value Suffolk stays.
Southwold Beach
If you’re looking for a classic British seaside holiday, Southwold should certainly be on your list. The sandy beach here is backed by a promenade and lined with colourful beach huts looking. It’s Blue Flag certified, too, so swimmers and paddlers are assured good water quality even if it’s a little chilly; the beach is also lifeguarded in summer for safe splashing.
250m-long Southwold Pier has an amusement arcade, a restaurant, a couple of fun attractions (the Wacky Walk of Mirrors and Under the Pier Show) and the Water Clock (Southwold’s answer to both a cuckoo clock and the Manneken Pis). Other landmarks in town include the Grade II-listed lighthouse, which still guides ships into Southwold harbour, and the Adnams Brewery. For adults, brewery tours are available – or you can sample its output at pretty much any pub in town.
Felixstowe
East Anglia’s only south-facing seaside resort, Felixstowe has a four-mile stretch of beach that slopes down into a sheltered bay popular with swimmers. Like Southwold, it has a promenade and a revamped pier – this time with seaside amusements, retro-style bowling and plenty of places to eat, drink and buy ice creams.
If you’ve got your bucket and spade ready to go, head to the Blue Flag-certified South beach (the section of beach south of the pier). This is sandier than the shingle stretch of North beach (no prizes for guessing the location of this), so it’s a superior spot for sandcastles.
Hit the hippest part of town with a trip to Beach Street, an area made from upcycled shipping containers. It’s home to a range of independent boutiques and street-food eateries, and just right for a sunset picnic.
Lowestoft
Located on Suffolk’s ‘Sunrise Coast’, Lowestoft beach is known for its golden sand (and yep, again it’s Blue Flag certified). It’s popular with swimmers and a whole host of watersports enthusiasts, from surfers to jetskiers; you can hire kit and take lessons on the seafront.
Lowestoft has a traditional seafront with a promenade and – one-upping the other seaside resort towns – not one but two piers. South Pier has penny arcades, entertainment like ten-pin bowling, a gift shop and eateries. Claremont Pier used to be the docking point for steamships, but today it has food and drink options including fish and chips, plus an amusement arcade and a bar.
Covehithe Beach
If you’re looking for something wild, this one’s for you: Covehithe’s coastline has been pushed back more than 500 metres since 1830, as the beach is engaged in a long battle with the North Sea and coastal erosion. Its golden sands are backed by dramatic crumbling cliffs and scattered with wave-smoothed tree trunks that have been washed ashore. To the south of the beach, there’s a lagoon that’s popular with birds.
Park near the church-within-a-church (worth a look in its own right: the current church, built in the 17th century, sits cosily in the giant exoskeleton of the 14th-century church) and follow the footpath through fields and sand dunes to the beach.
Covehithe is a favourite with dog walkers, and one of our favourite places to walk a dog in the area – for more ideas, check out our list of the best dog walks in Suffolk.
Orford Ness Beach
Sorry pups, dogs aren’t allowed at Orford Ness beach (except for assistance dogs). That’s because Orford Ness National Nature Reserve is an internationally important coastal habitat that’s home to a unique array of flora and fauna, including rare species and migratory birds.
It’s also home to some fascinating military history. Orford Ness was once a testing site for weapons including atomic bombs, and this has left the beach with atmospheric buildings like the Black Beacon, Bomb Ballistics Building (climb up to the roof for stunning views out to sea) and the Radar Receiver Building (which now houses an exhibition called Island of Secrets).
Kessingland Beach
Writer H. Rider Haggard (known for adventure stories like King Solomon’s Mines) had a holiday home at Kessingland in the early 1900s, and planted the marram grass that still protects the beach from erosion today. In summer, wild lupins bloom along the low cliffs.
At the southern end of the beach, Benacre Nature Reserve is home to a wide variety of migratory and non-migratory birds (dogs need to be kept on a lead here). While windsurfing and other watersports are popular here, the beach is so big that it rarely feels crowded.
Aldeburgh Beach
Aldeburgh is probably Suffolk’s best-known seaside town. The town was once a Tudor port, where ships like Francis Drake’s Golden Hind were built. Today, the beachfront is still lined with historic buildings like a Norman church, the UK’s biggest Martello tower (small circular forts built to defend England during the Napoleonic Wars) and a 400-year-old Moot Hall. Get takeaway fish and chips to eat on the sand-and-shingle shore – locals say they’re the best on the east coast (or possibly the whole of the UK).
But the real draw of Aldeburgh is its cultural heritage. It has strong connections with composer Benjamin Britten, who founded the Aldeburgh Festival (held every June). Britten is commemorated in visual form by Maggi Hambling’s sculpture Scallop, sitting directly on the pebble beach. Aldeburgh has several art galleries to explore, and other festivals it hosts include the Aldeburgh Literary Festival (March) and the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival (November).
Dunwich Beach
Backed by sand dunes, heather and gorse, Dunwich beach is popular with swimmers and dog-walkers. However, the biggest draw here is the nature that surrounds it.
The beach lies on the edge of National Trust-owned Dunwich Heath, a haven for wildlife like nightjars and Dartford warblers. Visiting with kids? Explore nature trails and walks designed just for them, or head to the den-building area to make your very own wild shelter.
Planning to stay for a few days so you can really explore the Suffolk coastline? Take a look at Pitchup’s range of campsites and outdoor accommodation – with prices starting from just £10 per night, this is a great way to organise a bargain beach break.