Outdoor Play Areas on The Suffolk Coast

Beccles Quay

Located on the banks of the River Waveney in the charming town of Beccles, the park at Beccles Quay is great for families with children of all ages. The enclosed park includes new play frames, swings, seesaw, roundabout and nest swing and picnic benches. Across the footbridge there is a cafe serving hot and cold snacks and ice creams, plus public toilets and showers. 

Need to know:

• There is nearby pay and display parking, 2 hours free but a ticket must be displayed.
• Dogs are welcome on the Quay but not within the enclosed park area.
• Toilets and baby change facilities are available across the footbridge.
• Beccles Quay, Fen Lane, Beccles NR34 9BB

Beccles Common

Set on the edge of the common, the enclosed park has a selection of playframes, swings and a roundabout. Next door, there is also a skate park with a back and forth layout with plaza features in between. There is also a rhythm section consisting of two table-top jump boxes.

Need to know:

• Free parking is available.
• Dogs are welcome on the common but not within the enclosed park area or skate park.
• There is a cafe serving meals, hot and cold drinks and ice creams along the gravel path as you head into the wooded area of the common.
• Beccles Common, Common Lane, Beccles NR34 9BY

Holywells Park

You can make a day of it with a visit to Holywells Park in Ipswich. The play area 'The Discovery' has a fun galleon theme, commemorating the local vessel that founded Jamestown in 1607. It offers a a range of play frames, swings and slides ideal for children aged 2-10 years. There's also a paddling pool too (open in the summer months only), orienteering trail and sheltered picnic areas.

The park is also home to a visitor centre and cafe, which serves hot and cold meals, snacks, ice creams and drinks. There's also a set of 16 circles to be found on the orienteering trail, which keeps energetic older kids nice and busy!

Need to know:

• Parking is available on site
• There are toilets and baby change facilities.
• Dogs are not allowed in the park.
• Holywells Park, Cliff Lane, Ipswich IP3 0PG

Christchurch Park

A Green Flag Award park, Christchurch Park is a beautiful setting and one that will appeal to both adults and children. There is a well equipped children's play area with traditional swings, slides and playframes. Older children, teenagers and adults can enjoy use of the tennis courts, bowling greens and croquet lawn.

The park is also home to a cafe which serves hot and cold meals and snacks, ice creams and drinks.

Need to know:

• There is no parking on site but nearby Pay & Display car parks are available.
• Toilets are available but there are no baby change facilities.
• Christchurch Park, Bolton Lane, Ipswich IP4 2BX

Set around a restored Martello Tower, Martello Park in Felixstowe boasts a play area with climbing frames, surrounded by picnic and wildlife areas, walking and cycling routes. The Splash Pad (open during the summer months) is great fun and there are two kiosks serving snacks, ice creams and drinks 

Need to know:

• Pay & Display parking is available.
• Toilets and baby changing facilities are available.
• Dogs on leads are welcomed.
• Martello Park, Orford Road, Felixstowe IP11 2DY

The Ness

The most easterly park in the UK! The park in Lowestoft is accessible for the public to enjoy, with cycling, wheelchair and pedestrian access to the sea wall, Ness Point and the coastal path, a novel play and picnic area for families and a performance stand. The park boasts a giant slide with climbing wall, seesaws, swings and scrabble nets - inspired by the original drying nets used by the fishing industry.

Need to know:

• There is free parking available (spaces are limited) and a larger car park at next door Sparrow's Nest.
• Dogs are welcome but should be kept on a lead.
• The Ness, Whapload Road, Lowestoft NR32

Royal Green

A great all-weather play area over-looking Lowestoft's glorious beach. This park is enclosed and features a range of playframes arranged in the form of a ship, including ‘walk the plank’ stepping poles, a ‘ship’s bow’ with low level climbing wall and a ‘crow’s nest’ lookout tower, plus swings and springing ride ons. There's a range of cafes and ice cream parlours nearby and it's just a short walk away from Claremont Pier.

Need to know:

• Pay & Display/mobile parking is available on Royal Green
• Dogs are not allowed in the play area.
• Royal Green Play Park, Lowestoft NR33 0QN

Nicholas Everitt Park

Open all year round (restrictions on some facilities), Nicholas Everitt Park in Oulton Broad is an impressive green space sitting comfortably alongside the River Waveney and the Broads National Park. The traditional park hosts a tea room, Lowestoft Museum, bowling, tennis, trampolines and children's play area.

Need to know:

• A large pay and display car park is accessible from Bridge Road, a second smaller car park is located to the rear of the Harbour Master's Office and is accessible from the High Street.
• Limited short-term free parking can be found at The Crescent to the front of the main entrance into the park.
• Toilets and baby change facilities are available. 
• Dogs are allowed in the park but not in the play area.
• Nicholas Everitt Park, Bridge Road, Oulton Broad NR33 9JR

Kingston Fields

This is a perfect place to finish a riverside stroll in Woodbridge. This enclosed play area alongside the River Deben has a large sandpit, a zip wire, swings and climbing frames. The tennis courts and petanque piste are very popular in the summer months, and the pavilion has a café with ice creams and snacks.

The large area of open grass is great for picnics and ball games, and one of the latest additions is an outdoor table tennis table. Every so often trains will chug past on the branch line to Ipswich, which is an added excitement for youngsters. Less than 5 minutes walk away is a model boating lake and the excellent Tea Hut café, as well as easy access to the riverside path with lovely views across to Sutton Hoo.

Need to know:

• Parking is free parking and pay and display close by.
• Kingston Fields Playground, Woodbridge, IP12 4BN

Rendlesham Forest

Traffic-free walking and cycling combined with enormous wooden outdoor play structures mean you can easily spend several hours in this magical forest with its spooky UFO trail. When you arrive in the car park you will see a small metal play ground which is great for younger children; however the really exciting activities are hidden just a short walk away in the woods (it is worth noting that there are not very clear directional signs). Spread out among the trees is a zip wire, swings, climbing walls and a giant wooden ship that will entertain toddlers through to teenagers.

Need to know:

• Parking is £3.30 per car per day.
• There is a small kiosk selling drinks, but no café.
• Cycles can be hired, or bring your own and explore the well marked trails – including a “black” run for experienced mountain bikers and an obstacle course.
• Dogs are welcome.
• Rendlesham Forest, Tangham, IP12 3NF 

Tibby's Green

Southwold has many varied and exciting entertainments including the pier and amusements and the sandy beach and prom, which is perfect for cycling. Tucked away behind the Church just off Victoria Street in Southwold, Tibby's Green is a wonderful playground with up-to-date, well-maintained equipment and picnic tables.

There is giant spider web climbing wall for primary school aged children and a pirate ship for toddlers. The basket swing will have children grinning and slight looks of fear appearing on the faces of the adults as it flies higher and higher.

Need to know:

• There is free on street parking around the play area. For those looking after the little ones there is a short cut through Tibby’s Triangle (the modern flats) to the Adnams Cellar & Kitchen, where coffees and hot chocolates will warm you up.
• Tibby's Green, 3 Field Stile Road, Southwold IP18 6LA