Places to go for the Perfect Day Trip

If you haven’t visited, you really should spend a day in lovely Aldeburgh, which sits neatly between a shingle beach and pastel-fronted high street buildings. Start the day with a delicious and locally sourced breakfast from Alde Café before taking a wander through the independent shops along the High Street, where bakeries, galleries and homeware stores sit side by side with charity shops and restaurants.

Make sure you pop into some of the little boutiques and gift shops along the street, and take note of the beautiful and historic O&C Butcher; an independent outfitters that has been trading in Aldeburgh for over 130 years. For lunch it’s got to be fish and chips from Aldeburgh Fish and Chip Shop, eaten straight from the paper on the pebbles while looking out across the North Sea.

The beach itself stretches north towards Thorpeness, making for a simple coastal walk past the Scallop sculpture, you could even park in Thorpeness and walk to Aldeburgh or vice-versa. Back in town, the timber-framed Moot Hall stands prominently near the shore, housing an intriguing museum that focuses on the town’s maritime past. On until June, The Lasting Britten Exhibition explores the last few years of Benjamin Britten’s life and celebrates his life and legacy.

Nearby the Moot Hall you’ll find lots of fresh seafood stalls selling whatever catch is in season and a very quaint little model boating lake where you can see locals sailing their models. To round off your day, why not sample the seasonal menu at The Suffolk, a stylish restaurant and hotel with roof-top terrace offering sea views, 

Beccles has the homely feel of a traditional market town, with a compact centre that’s easy to explore on foot. Small independent shops and charity shops line the streets around the Market Place, perfect for a bit of bargain hunting in the morning. Oak Fired at The Royal Oak is a relaxed place to pause for lunch - with the pizzas here being highly reviewed by the locals. A short walk leads down to the River Waveney, where the quay opens out onto expansive marshland views and gently moving water.

You can even opt for boat hire at Hippersons Boatyard and skipper your own day boat as you explore the Broads, passing reedbeds and searching for local wildlife. Regardless of the weather,  head to Beccles Lido for a swim in its heated, unique open-air pool set right by the river, it has plenty of seating around the big clean and crystal clear pool, as well as a cafe, showers, and changing facilities. Afterwards hop on the Big Dog Ferry and travel down river to the The Locks Inn for a pint and food.

Lowestoft has plenty on offer for families, particularly along the seafront where arcades, cafes and kiosks line the promenade and gorgeous sandy beach. You could hire one of the stylish modern beach huts for the day; a great landing spot plus somewhere to stow your things, and a place to sit with a coffee while watching the kids play in the sand.

Take a stroll all the way along the seafront, stopping the Claremont Pier with its pirate themed mini-golf and funky rooftop cafe and bar. Make your way along towards the South pier and you’ll reach the East Point Pavilion, a bright and airy space with a modern and welcoming cafe and community space with uninterrupted sea views. If you fancy indulging, afternoon tea at The Hatfield Hotel will hit the spot; with cakes, pastries and finger sandwiches all washed down with a pot of tea.

Just south of Lowestoft, Pakefield is a little quieter and more open, with cliffs and a beach known for fossil finds dating back hundreds of thousands of years. Walking this stretch, you’ll often see people scanning the shoreline after a tide shift, particularly near the base of the cliffs, so it’s a great place to take an amble and see what you can uncover.

At the heart of Snape is the Maltings; a wonderful collection of arts spaces, independent shops and galleries and even a concert hall, housed in Victorian industrial buildings and bespoke contemporary spaces set beside the River Alde.

Outside, with nature as their dramatic backdrop sculptures are positioned along the reedbed walks leading out into open landscape. You can easily spend a day here, taking a ramble around the footpaths that stretch out beyond the main site into quieter marshland, pausing for refreshments at the River View Café Bar or Restaurant which looks out across the stretch of river and beyond. Peruse the gorgeous wares in the shop, from homeware to clothing, toys, books and gifts, you’ll be sure to find something to take home.

The Snape Maltings Food Hall is worth a visit to! With a plethora of produce you can stock up on delicious ingredients and artisan items from the best of Suffolk’s local food producers. Be sure to check what’s on at Snape Maltings itself and take part in a workshop, enjoy an exhibition or even go all-in and attend a concert or recital in the main space- an epic acoustic experience.

From Snape, you could also hop on board and sail from Snape along the River Alde with Suffolk River Trips  - a quietly memorable experiences that captures the essence of the Suffolk landscape. As you drift away from Snape Maltings, the scenery opens into wide marshes, reed beds, and big East Anglian skies, with the gentle pace of the boat giving you time to really take it all in.

The charming town of Southwold is perfect for a day trip and balances seaside tradition and modern amenities. The jaunty Pier extends out over the water with its mix of cafés and stylish gift shops as well as the distinctive eccentric automatons, created by 'genius of the absurd' Tim Hunkin - you have to see them for yourself to really understand!

A short walk along the seafront brings you to Southwold Lighthouse, which sits close to the town centre, where independent shops sit alongside charity shops, galleries and Adnams Brewery, which has been part of the town since the 19th century and offers tours, tastings and a well-stocked shop that’s worth a visit.

Just outside the town, the Southwold Maize Maze is a fun and slightly adventurous addition to a day out on the Suffolk coast. It’s especially great for families, giving kids the chance to run, explore, and burn off energy, while adults can enjoy the fresh air and light-hearted competition of finding the way out. Paired with a trip into Southwold itself—the maize maze adds a memorable, countryside twist to a classic coastal day.

Woodbridge sits along the River Deben and is a lovely little place to explore for the day. Wander down the high street with its mix of cute cafes, independent shops and galleries and even an independent cinema. There are charity shops and antique stores as well as some beautiful artisan boutiques selling things like pottery or locally made perfumes.

The market square, as its name suggests, hosts a weekly market on a Thursday with all sorts of great local produce, but even when the market isn’t on you can find lots of goodies here; the Galley Creamery ice cream shop is well known locally for its inventive home-made flavours and I recently had the most delicious hot chocolate at the cosy Acre Bakery.

Just outside town, Sutton Hoo is one of the most significant Anglo-Saxon archaeological sites in the UK, with burial mounds and an exhibition hall housing some original and some replicas of a wealth of artefacts including Byzantine silver bowls and spoons, jewelled weapons, fine Celtic enamels and large gold ornaments.

One of the most loved elements of Woodbridge is the working Tide Mill and River walk, which are well worth exploring, and you may even spot a seal. If you want to see Woodbridge from a different perspective, Suffolk River Trips offer boat trips along the Deben, allowing you a sailor’s view of the town.

Walberswick is best known for its wide sandy beach, marshland walks and of course…crabbing. Famed for hosting the World Open Crabbing Championships (sadly the event stopped in 2010), dipping a line and some bait into the river is a long-standing tradition, particularly near the footbridge and harbour area where generations of families gather with buckets and lines.

Spend a day in Walberswick and try out this past time for yourself, it can get quite competitive so don’t get carried away and be sure to return the crabs gently to the river when you’ve finished. After a morning of crabbing, you can head to the Black Dog Deli for a speciality coffee and award winning sausage roll or head to one of the many popular pubs for something more substantial.

The Bell Inn is steeped in Suffolk character with low beans, open fires and snugs and alcoves to sit in, it’s rumoured to have secret smugglers tunnels directly below it, leading to the beach. The menu is freshly prepared, locally sourced and always changing so it’s well worth a visit.

The surrounding heath and marsh paths are popular for dog walking, and you’ll be sure to see big dramatic skies and vast stretches of coastline.