Top 10 things to do in Aldeburgh
Published: Friday 16th Aug 2019
Written by: Suffolk Secrets Team
Aldeburgh is truly a wonderful place to visit. There’s so much to see and explore! There’s something for everyone and come rain, come shine Aldeburgh will keep you entertained. Read on for our Top 10 Things To Do in Aldeburgh to make the most of your visit to this part of the Suffolk coast.
1) Visit The Red House
Take a tour of The Red House and experience where the iconic Suffolk composer Benjamin Britten and his partner, singer Peter Pears, once lived and worked. Today The Red House is the home of the Britten—Pears Foundation, which invites you to discover where the musical magic happened. The Studio where Britten composed is open to visitors all year-round, as is the Gallery, the historic Library and the Gardens. The House itself is open during the summer months.
Admission is free (£5 parking in summer). For more information check out their website here.
2) Shop ‘til you drop
Aldeburgh is a great place to indulge in some retail therapy. From well know high street favourites such as Fat Face and Jack Wills to lovely independent shops such as Tilley and Grace and O&C Butcher. With clothes, crafts, gifts, food, home and garden shops there’s something for everyone on the high street.
3) Go on a relaxing walk
The Eastbridge Pub & Dog Walk is a great walk for the whole family. Starting at the Eels Foot pub in the hamlet of Eastbridge, this walk combines forest, heath, meadow and beach, giving you a chance to take in some of Suffolk’s most beautiful surroundings! To check out the itinerary and lots of other useful information about the walk click here.
4) Discover Martello Tower
The Aldeburgh Martello Tower, owned and run by the Landmark Trust, is the largest and most northerly of the Martello Towers built to keep Napoleon out. The Martello Towers were round structures about forty feet high with thick walls and wide roofs. A total of eighteen towers were built along the Suffolk coastline. Take some time to wander along the coast and take in the fascinating architecture and history behind the magnificent building.
5) Watch a movie at Aldeburgh Cinema
Take a moment to relax and watch a good film with loved ones. Aldeburgh Cinema has been screening films since 1919! You’ll be able to enjoy popular film classics as well as new releases in a wonderfully traditional atmosphere. The auditorium retains a number of original features, including a number of beautiful art deco lights.
To check the latest screenings, be sure to call the Box Office on 01728 454884 or visit online.
6) Immerse yourself in culture at Snape Maltings
A little trip to Snape Maltings is definitely worth a visit if you’re in Aldeburgh. A centre for culture and dining, there is something for everyone at the Maltings. The concert hall stages many musical triumphs, from classic opera to contemporary performances. There are lots of delicious places to eat from tea rooms to restaurants. For those who love wildlife, a walk around the marshland is also a lovely way to spend the afternoon.
7) Take a boat trip along The Meare, Thorpeness
If the sun is out, we recommend taking a boat trip along The Meare, Thorpeness. The Meare is a boating lake complete with little islands to explore, each inspired by J.M Barrie’s Peter Pan. Some firm favourites are the Pirate’s Lair and Wendy’s House island. Beware of the wooden crocodile on one island!
The Meare is open from 8.30am until 5.30pm every day from the start of the Easter holidays until the end of the October half term.
8) Visit The Long Shop Museum
If you’re in Aldeburgh you might want to take a visit to The Long Shop Museum, Leiston. Only a short journey away from Aldeburgh, the museum is bursting with history, telling the story of more than 200 years of the town’s life and work. There’s something to interest everyone with a vast collection of objects, ranging from full-size steam engines (the Richard Garrett & Sons engineering business made many hundreds of steam engines here) to touching mementoes of the lives of the working people of the town.
9) Go on an adventure with Treasure Trails for Suffolk
If you’re looking for a fun day out with the whole family, why not try the Aldeburgh Treasure Trail. Trail Writer Dave Senior has created 12 Treasure Trails for Suffolk; each offering an imaginative and fun way to explore – and learn about – the local area and its history. Contained within each neat A5 booklet is a Treasure Hunt, a Spy Mission or a Murder Mystery. Each trail consists of an easy route, via a series of clues, involving some interesting, scenic and historical sights along the way. It’s truly a great way to explore the hidden treasures of Aldeburgh. All are available online.
10) Indulge in Fish and Chips!
No trip to Aldeburgh would be complete without tasting some of the famous fish and chips. Aldeburgh is the king of fish and chips, boasting three amazing shops; The Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop, The Golden Galleon, and The Upper Deck. Each slightly different with their own unique character, all with the same great taste with their freshly caught fish and locally grown potatoes. ‘The Times’ have described Aldeburgh fish and chips as ‘possibly the finest on the East Coast’. You can have them wrapped to enjoy at home or eat them the Aldeburgh way: sat on the seawall watching the waves breaking against the pebbles. Either way they’re delicious!
