Enjoy a day out or holiday by the sea at one of Suffolk's beautiful beaches. From family-friendly resorts, to rural and wild stretches plan your visit with our Suffolk Beach Guide.
Whether you’re in search of a great family day out, a birdwatching haven, or trip back in time, the beaches along the Suffolk Coast will provide you with a memorable day out whatever the time of year.
In the winter, Suffolk's beaches take on a whole new persona; with windswept dunes, crashing waves, and bracing winds, they are the perfect place to blow away the cobwebs, stroll hand in hand with your loved one, or enjoy a solitary dog walk.
Our guide takes you from Lowestoft in the north of the county to Felixstowe in the South...
Lowestoft Beach
Lowestoft beach is home to two award-winning stretches of golden sandy beach - Lowestoft South Beach and Lowestoft North beach.
Lowestoft South Beach is a wide sandy stretch, located between Claremont Pier and Pakefield. This year it has once again received a Seaside Award, recognising the high standards of beach management, cleanliness, and safety. A favourite with families, the beach is backed by a promenade with beach huts, boasting a cafe which serves ice creams, hot and cold drinks and snacks.
The beach is popular with watersports including paddle-boarding, surfing, jet skiing, wind surfing and kite surfing.
Lowestoft North Beach is the stretch of beach between the two Piers; Claremont Pier and South Pier. The beach is backed by a promenade with hotels, cafes, beach kiosks and a children's play area.
Check out our Lowestoft Beach Guide for more information.
Pakefield Beach
A little more wild than the neighbouring beach at Lowestoft, Pakefield Beach is made up of a sand and pebble beach, with marram grass and dunes and fishing boats to sunbathe amongst.
A little more wild than the neighbouring beach at Lowestoft, Pakefield Beach is made up of a sand and pebble beach, with marram grass and dunes and fishing boats to sunbathe amongst. Children will love searching the shores for flotsam and jetsum and throwing stones in the sea.
The promenade, which leads from Lowestoft Beach, runs as far as the Church and is lined with pretty-pastel coloured beach huts, some of which are available to hire. This stretch is a popular spot for fishing, horse riding, wind surfing and kite surfing and those looking for a more rural beach experience.
Check out our Pakefield Beach Guide for more information.
Kessingland Beach
A huge stretch of beach framed by imposing cliffs, Kessingland is perfect for those looking for a wild beach experience.
The beach is long and wide with a mixture of sand and shingle. The beach is protected from coastal erosion by marram grass which was planted by the writer Henry Rider Haggard, who owned a holiday home here in the 1900s.
Rural and unspoilt, this wild beach is perfect for those wanting to avoid crowds, but doesn't have any facilities like neighbouring Lowestoft. The beach is a located a short walk from the village, through windswept dunes, with the golden sands forming a spit. Depending on the tide, pools and lagoons often form which are perfect for padding.
A popular spot for wild swimmers, wind surfers and kite surfers, the beach is also home to Benacre Nature Reserve; a protected area which is home to a variety of birdlife and often, nesting birds.
Check out our Kessingland Beach Guide for more information.
Covehithe Beach
One of The Suffolk Coast's wild beaches, Covehithe is a beach where you can escape the crowds and get away from it all.
The beach is reached by a single track, so is only accessible on foot. Make the walk from the village, through fields and along a footpath and you are greeted with a golden stretch of sand framed by imposing crumbling cliffs.
This is a wild beach and so care needs to be taken to respect the wildlife and the environment; with Benacre's lagoon and conservation area sitting to the south, the beach is dotted with the North Sea's offerings; sand blasted tree trunks of trees that once lined the cliff top.
Check out our Covehithe Beach Guide for more information.
Southwold Beach
Officially recognised as an environmentally-friendly beach, Southwold is a top spot for those wanting to take a paddle in the sea and a stroll along the prom.
The town is home to two beaches; Southwold Pier Beach to the north and Southwold Denes Beach to the south.
The Pier beach is popular with visitors, offering a traditional seaside experience with beach kiosks serving ice creams, a beach hut lined promenade (some of which are available to hire) and the famous Edwardian pier. The winner of a Seaside Award, the beach has been recognised for ensuring visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, safe, attractive and well-managed coastal stretch.
A wilder beach than the neighbouring Pier Beach, the Denes is a sand and shingle beach, backed by dunes and marshland, located to the north of the town towards the Harbour and the mouth of the River Blyth. A great spot for kite flying, this stretch is also popular with windsurfers, surfers, paddle boarders and wild swimmers.
Check out our Southwold Beach Guide for more information.
Walberswick Beach
A wilder beach than neighbouring Southwold, Walberswick Beach is a favourite with families, dog walkers and sea swimmers.
Just across the River Blyth from Southwold, you find Walberswick. Home to a stone and sand beach, you access the beach by crossing the harbour bridge and walking through the dunes. The beach is wild and windswept, with Walberswick Nature Reserve to the north. With views of Southwold to the south and Sizewell to the north, this stretch is also popular with surfers, kite surfers and canoers.
Just a short walk from the pretty village, where you will find cafes, pubs and shops, the Harbour is also the perfect spot for crabbing.
Check out our Walberswick Beach Guide for more information.
Dunwich Beach
Popular with pups and with those wanting to avoid the crowds, Dunwich is one of The Suffolk Coast's popular wild beaches.
Once a thriving seaport and home to 8 churches, the village of Dunwich has been at the mercy of the North Sea over the years, with stories of church bells ringing from under the sea as parts of the village tumbled over the cliffs.
Today, the wide shingle beach is perfect for a dog walk, a spot of fishing or a paddle in the sea. Owned by the National Trust, the beach is surrounded by heath and marshes should you wish to continue you walk away from the shore.
Check out our Dunwich Beach Guide for more information.
Sizewell Beach
The small fishing village of Sizewell is home to a wild beach, back by dunes. The predominantly shingle beach sits adjacent to Minsmere and is off the beaten track, so if you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle this stretch is ideal.
Overlooked by the Power Station, the beach is reached by travelling through the village, and there is parking nearby. Whilst there are no beach kiosks, there is a small cafe, Sizewell Tea, in the village.
Check out our Sizewell Beach Guide for more information.
Thorpeness Beach
The enchanting coastal village of Thorpeness is not only home to the famous Meare, but also a charming shingle beach. Backed by pretty, pastel-coloured villas and coastal cottages, the shingle beach slopes towards the sea with views of Aldeburgh to the south and Dunwich to the north.
Whilst there are no facilities on the beach itself, the beach is only a short walk from the village centre where you will find an array of cafes, pubs and ice cream selling kiosks
Check out our Thorpeness Beach Guide for more information.
Aldeburgh Beach
The delightful pebble beach at Aldeburgh is a favourite for a day at the seaside on The Suffolk Coast.
The beach is backed by a promenade and pretty pastel-coloured villas, and is just a short walk from the High Street. Predominantly shingle, make your way past the fishing boats and the beach slopes steeply towards the sea.
Whilst there are no kiosks on the beach, after a morning paddling and throwing stones in the sea, make your way into the town to get freshly caught and cooked fish & chips from Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop followed by an ice cream from one of the many delis and cafes.
Aldeburgh beach was also a favourite of composer Benjamin Britten; during his time living in the town, he would enjoy walking along the beach from Aldeburgh to Thorpeness most days. A tribute to him now stands on the beach; the iconic Scallop sculpture by artist Maggi Hambling.
Check out our Aldeburgh Beach Guide for more information.
Shingle Street Beach
A remote stretch of coastline, Shingle Street on the Deben Peninsula is located to the north of Felixstowe, known for it's shingle and pebble beach. The beach is at the mouth of the River Alde facing the 10-mile-long shingle spit, Orford Ness. The beach is a cove, with lagoons, where you can find Tern eggs nestled in the shingle and seals basking at the estuary entrance.
Whilst the lagoons may look tempting, quicksand can form and the sea bed is unstable so swimming in not advised.
There’s a small free car parking but no facilities, so make sure you take everything you need, and take it home with you at the end of your visit.
Check out our Shingle Street Beach Guide for more information.
Felixstowe Beach
The attractive seaside town of Felixstowe is home to a 4-mile beach, with family-friendly spots and more rural stretches for those looking for a more rural experience.
The sand and shingle beach is backed by a promenade complete with traditional beach huts, some of which are available to hire. The area of beach south of the pier is known as South Beach, and is sandier than the mainly shingled North Beach.
In 2021, this stretch of beach received a Blue Flag and Seaside Award for the second year in a row, recognising the high standards of beach management and water quality. South Beach has all you need for a fun, family day out; with amusements, cafes, shops selling buckets and spades and kiosks selling ice-creams and snacks.
A quieter stretch than South Beach, Felixstowe North Beach is backed by the promenade and the beautiful Seafront Gardens. The beach here is ideal for swimming and is mostly with a pebble and shingle and there is a beach hut serving ice creams and snacks on the promenade.
Check out our Felixstowe Beach Guide for more information.