1.
Lowestoft BeachThe award-winning Blue Flag beach is a favourite amongst families and is said to have been the inspiration for Benjamin Britten's first masterpiece. With wide golden sands, beach huts, a pier and toilet and shower facilities it's perfect for swimming and paddling, building sandcastles and enjoying a walk along the prom. Or for those outdoor and active types why not book a horse ride along the beach with Pakefield Riding School! Or for a more sedate experience you can enjoy a stroll through the Victorian seafront gardens or be entertained at the Royal Plain Fountains.
Lifeguards are present at the beach from April to September.
2. Oulton Broad
The gateway to the Broads National Park, Oulton Broad offers year-round water sports, cute cafes, riverside restaurants and bars and an Edwardian Park; Nicholas Everitt Park.
From Easter to October there is also a River Taxi in operation, travelling between Lowestoft and Oulton Broad it's a great way to see the Suffolk Coast!
3. Pakefield & Kirkley
From Lowestoft town, you can get to the pretty village of Pakefield by walking along the Victorian promenade. Home to historic pubs, a church situated on the cliff top, restaurants with sea views and cute cafes serving tea and cakes.
The village of Kirkley sits just south of Lowestoft and is the ideal place to enjoy a family day out. It is famously the birthplace of composer Benjamin Britten and the impressive buildings facing the sea along Marine Parade were commissioned by national treasure and entrepreneur Sir Samuel Morton Peto. It has a bustling heart full of independent local retailers, cafes, restaurants and great places to stay!
4. Historic Scores
A unique feature of the town, The Scores are a series of narrow lanes created over the years by people forming paths in the cliff as they travelled between the historic High Street and the Beach Village. Spend an hour or two walking The Scores trail to understand Lowestoft's history and it's long relationship with the sea. Every year in September, hoards of runners assemble in the historic high street for the annual Scores Race. The 4.75 mile race runs up and down the historic scores, with a total of 401 steps and passageways!
Whilst here, you can also enjoy a walk through the Sparrows Nest Gardens and check out the Lowestoft Maritime Museum to learn about the town's long history with the sea.
5. Nature and Wildlife
With some of the UK's rarest birds being spotted on Pakefield beach, and Oulton Broad the start of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, Lowestoft and the surrounding area is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and those who enjoy exploring the great outdoors. In the neighbouring village of Carlton Colville, you will also find Carlton and Oulton Marshes; a Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve. Here you can spot Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tits and Snipes.