Top 10 Days Out - Come Rain or Shine!

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. With miles of golden sand at Lowestoft, windswept dunes in Walberswick, wild stretches of shingle providing habitats for rare wildlife all along the coast, piers and amusements at Felixstowe and Southwold, promenades and sculpture at Aldeburgh there's a beach for everyone on the Suffolk Coast

Click here for our guide to Suffolk Coast beaches

Explore the winding lanes and country roads on The Suffolk Coast with bike hire from Southwold Cycle Hire; there's a wide range of bicycles to choose from, all with cycle helmet, lock and pump as standard, plus there's also bikes with child seats and trailers. 

If the weather is warm, cool down with a dip at Beccles Lido – a traditional outdoor swimming pool in the pretty town of Beccles, or set off on foot to explore the historic town of Halesworth and the Blyth Valley; the Millennium Green, offering 50 acres of wildlife close to the town centre.

Riding along Lowestoft and Pakefield beaches has to be up there for an outdoor experience, you can trust Pakefield Riding School to find the horse for you along with their BHS qualified instructors - the perfect way to see the Suffolk Coast and countryside!

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Fancy messing about on the water? There's a whole host of ways you can explore the coasts, rivers and water ways of The Suffolk Coast;

• Waveney River Tours - offer trips along the River Waveney on board their 100 seater passenger boats
• Deben Boat Trips - join the 'Oystercatcher' for a 30 minute river trip along the River Deben from the pretty village of Waldringfield.
• Orwell Lady River Cruises - cruising up and down the beautiful and historic River Orwell, from Orwell Quay in Ipswich; their Orwell Bridge cruise sail lasts approximately 1 hour so is ideal for families with children.
• Oulton Dayboats - Be the captain of your own ship and take control of the wheel with a day boat hire along the River Waveney from Oulton Broad to Beccles.
• Sailing Barge Victor - a trip on board offers a truly memorable and affordable opportunity to experience living history on board this 19th century traditionally rigged sailing vessel. 
• Hippersons Boatyard - set sail from Beccles and travel along the River Waveney to Oulton Broad. Alternatively, hire SUPs and canoes for a leisurely able up the river.
• Iken Canoe - enjoy an exhilarating day on the Alde Estuary and hire out Canadian canoes, sit-on-top kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.
• Suffolk River Trips - offering river trips with commentary, from three locations in Suffolk; Snape Maltings Quay, Orford Town Quay and Woodbridge Town Steps.

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The Suffolk Coast has a wealth of history. There are museums throughout the area that will give you a real sense of our past…

The Long Shop Museum in Leiston provides a lasting memento of this region’s history of manufacturing.

It tells an inspiring story of enterprise and endeavour through the stunning collections, hands-on displays and the remarkable family behind the factory.

It’s called ‘The Long Shop’ as it was the world’s first purpose built workshop for assembly line production and as its output grew, it was staffed by engineers who designed and made ploughs, steam engines, peat harvesters, trolley buses, washing machines and more, which were exported across the world.

Experience riding on working trams, trolley buses and a narrow gauge railway at the East Anglia Transport Museum in Lowestoft. With exhibition halls, period street scenes, 'Tar, Sweat and Steam building', a café serving hot and cold snacks and a souvenir shop. The museum accommodates examples of trams, trolleybuses and motor buses from various parts of the country, with a  number of examples of motor buses built at the Eastern Coach Works in Lowestoft.

Woodbridge Tide Mill is one of the Suffolk Coast’s most iconic buildings and one of just two working Tide Mills in the country. Why not visit this beautiful mill and live a miller’s life for the day and kids will love meeting the Millie the Tide Mill Mouse!

Southwold Railway Steamworks set in a one-acre site is dedicated to the 3-foot gauge Southwold Railway that connected Southwold to Halesworth from 1879 to 1929.The Southwold Railway Trust are dedicated to preserving the memory of this special little railway and re-opening as much of the old route as they can. 

The Trust is collecting and building 3-foot gauge locos and rolling stock, a station and engine shed, with cafe and shop. You can also enjoy a 7¼ inch miniature steam railway which rides around the landscaped site! Perfect for enthusiasts young and old!

The music of Benjamin Britten is the soundtrack of The Suffolk Coast. At The Red House in Aldeburgh you can explore the life and work of this world-famous composer in the place where he lived and worked. 

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If you love nature then a trip to The Suffolk Coast is a must. Big skies, big landscapes – the beautiful backdrop to a wonderful selection of flora and fauna.

Wander among the wetlands and woods at RSPB Minsmere. Potter along the beach, and pause to watch some amazing wildlife. Explore the Wild Zone with the family, then sample some delicious home-cooked, locally-sourced food in the café.

From tiny meadows to rolling heaths, the Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s reserves are as varied as the animals and plants that live in them. You are welcome to explore them anytime free of charge or come along to one of the many events that take place in the year which are organised by their education officers and wildlife groups.

The Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a stunning landscape packed full with wildlife and exciting places to explore and discover. There's something for everyone - tranquil and unspoilt landscape including wildlife-rich estuaries, ancient heaths, windswept shingle beaches and historic towns and villages.

Bawdsey Hall offer wildlife watching, photography workshops and hide hire at their private nature reserve on the Suffolk Heritage Coast. With records dating back to the 17th Century, it now provides a quiet retreat with charm and character. The grounds have meadowland, large ponds and mature woods, offering a variety of different habitats for wildlife. Bawdsey Hall offers an unforgettable wildlife experience. 

A day trip to Dunwich will offer you the chance to walk, relax, explore and enjoy this beautiful surrounding. From July to September the heath comes alive with colour; a patchwork of pink and purple heather and coconut-scented yellow gorse is an unmissable experience.

Running along the border between Norfolk and Suffolk, the Waveney Valley is an unspoiled haven with idyllic villages and unique market towns. Escape the frantic pace of everyday life with tranquil surroundings and warm hospitality. 

For walkers there are miles of tracks through stunning countryside, you can enjoy the freedom of cycling through beautiful villages and quiet country lanes, or get out on the water and explore the picturesque river by boat or canoe.

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Southwold Pier is famous for eating and drinking across the sea, under the sun and over the waves!

From The Boardwalk to the Beach Café and Clockhouse, Southwold Pier has a fabulous choice of restaurants and cafés to fill the gap from breakfast, through to morning coffee and pastries, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner!

View Point Cafe in Felixstowe is a warm and friendly cafe with both indoor and outdoor seating. Serving all day breakfasts, snacks, fish and chips, 'dish of the day', cakes, ice cream, teas and coffees while you take in the stunning views across the river and the opportunity to watch the huge cargo ships being loaded and unloaded at the Port of Felixstowe. 

When you visit Snape Maltings drop into The Granary Tea Shop to rest a while and enjoy the extensive range of teas, coffees and hot chocolate with wonderful cakes and slices.

For an exciting selection of take away food pay a visit to Beach Street in Felixstowe, and follow it up with mouth-watering sweet treats including ice creams, waffles at The Little Ice Cream Company. 

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The Suffolk Coast is packed full with things to do for the whole family. The Suffolk Punch horse has been a part of the Suffolk landscape since the early sixteenth century. 

The Suffolk Punch Trust is an educational and environmental charity dedicated to breeding and preserving the Suffolk Punch horse. Their home, the Hollesley Bay Colony Stud, is the world’s oldest and largest Suffolk Punch stud farm. It is the perfect place to meet these magnificent horses and to find out how they shaped the landscape of East Anglia.

Relax while the children enjoy the Southwold Boating Lake. Bring back your own childhood memories watching your children paddle away on the lovely lake in the little paddleboats. Afterwards, travel bar car or across the River Blyth on the foot ferry to Walberswick; stop off in the cafe for a slice of cake before setting up your bucket and line for an afternoon of crabbing! 

At the southern end of The Suffolk Coast, the family-friendly town of Felixstowe is a great place to visit whatever the weather. If it's a bit soggy, you can stay dry at Mannings Amusements; here you can spend a few hours playing on the traditional seaside amusements, followed by a round of crazy golf, a ride of the funfair, a game of ten-pin bowling. 

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If you fancy a spot of culture head to the theatre or maybe catch a film…

The Marina Theatre in Lowestoft plays host to major West End productions, top comedy, orchestral concerts, touring drama and musical productions, opera, ballet, music, dance and top notch amateur theatre as well as a successful cinema - boasting the largest screen and cinema auditoria in the town.

Enjoy a night of theatre under the stars at Thorington Theatre. With a packed programme of events to suit all tastes and ages; from Hansel & Gretel and Wind in the Willows to Romeo & Juliet, Jane Eyre and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

A Suffolk Coast spectacular, Snape Proms includes everything from folk and jazz, world music, classical, comedy and poetry in the glorious setting of Snape Maltings Concert Hall throughout the summer. For each concert, 100 tickets are available at just £6.50! Definitely a must-do experience for anyone visiting this summer!

Or check out one of the many shows by MTP presents Theatre on the Coast, with performances including 'Summer Holiday', plus cabaret, comedy and Shakespeare. 

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Are you the sort person who loves to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in? Love nature and animals? Then this will be right up your street!

Have you ever wondered what life at Africa Alive! is like? With their adult and junior keeper experiences, you can enjoy a taste of what life is like as a keeper!

Both the adult and junior experiences provide an opportunity to work with knowledgeable keepers and a variety of animals in the park. You will receive an experience T-shirt, colour photo and a certificate to remember your time at Africa Alive!.

Easton Farm Park, near Woodbridge, welcomes visitors, young and old, to enjoy the fun activities the park has to offer,  including pony rides, train rides, meeting all the animals and even cuddling a few of them, too.

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Sometimes the weather seems to have it in for us! And when it’s raining you’re best to head indoors and try these attractions…

With indoor racing karts and their professionally designed, exhilarating multi-level circuit, Anglia Indoor Karting brings the thrill of motorsport to all adrenaline-seekers! The Karts are easy to drive, with no gears or clutch pedal – simply brake or accelerate! 

There are more than 50 museums in Suffolk. Aldeburgh Museum, Felixstowe Museum, and Ipswich Museums are perfect for exploring on a rainy day, and the iconic Woodbridge Tide Mill is the perfect place to spend an hour or two.

Or find out about amazing archaeological finds at National Trust Sutton Hoo and the fascinating story of the development of Radar at Bawdsey - there’s something for visitors of all ages to enjoy on The Suffolk Coast!