What's Hot This Summer

So, you’ve picked your holiday destination (Suffolk of course!), you’ve bought the beach towels and buckets and spades and brightly coloured flop flops and now just need a little inspiration for what to do with the family when you get here.

The Suffolk coastline is not only stunning with its beautiful beaches and sensational seascapes but also has loads to offer families looking for a traditional seaside fun. Here’s a few ideas to have up your sleeve when you get here…

Pier-fect entertainment

A trip to the Suffolk seaside is not complete without some family fun on one of the regions piers. With arcades, shops, cafés and a host of summer activities, there is plenty to keep the whole family entertained. For wonderfully wacky arcade games, innovative design, good restaurants, head to Southwold pier. Along the coast, in the booming seaside town of Felixstowe, the pier there has undergone a huge programme of redevelopment and features a brand new Family Entertainment Centre as well as The Boardwalk Café Bar with live music and events throughout the summer. Claremont Pier can be found in the coastal resort of Lowestoft next to its super sandy beach. On a rainy day (or any day!), why not try the fabulous ‘Rollers’ rink (situated on the pier) which is a great way to entertain the whole family!

We all scream for ice cream!

Let’s face it, ice cream is one of the best things about the summer! The Suffolk Coast is spoilt for choice when it comes to icy treats, with many shops and cafés tempting your taste buds with a wonderful selection of flavours.

Try Beaches & Cream just beyond the Market Square in Southwold or The Boating Lake and Tea rooms near Southwold pier. In Aldeburgh, Ives Ice Cream Parlour on the high street offers over 30 flavours and the nearby Thorpeness Tea room is the place to head after messing about on a river boat on the famous Meare. For home-made, artisan ice cream in Felixstowe the Little Ice Cream Company is worth a visit.

Saddle up

There are fantastic cycle routes around the Suffolk coast and countryside and there is no need to bring your own bike on holiday. Try Suffolk Cycle Hire who offer a convenient bicycle delivery service for the Suffolk coastal region, including Aldeburgh, Thorpeness, Walberswick and Southwold. https://www.suffolkcyclehire.co.uk/

Movie magic

Suffolk has some fantastic independent cinemas if you’re looking for a change of scene from the beach. On 9 August 2019 Aldeburgh Cinema will reach a major milestone – its 100th birthday! There is an exciting programme of events planned to celebrate including open air films on the beach in August such as Jaws and Grease. To mark the cinema’s 100 years, Film is this year’s theme at The Aldeburgh Carnival on 17th, 18th and 19th August. Winning Family Tourism Event of the Year in 2018, the carnival is the ideal opportunity for a family stay in Aldeburgh. Along the coast in Southwold, The Electric Picture Palace is a unique cinema offering four film seasons a year to members and holidaymakers are welcome to join for a season. And For all the family favourite films, try The Riverside in Woodbridge or East Coast Cinema in Lowestoft.

Gone Crabbing

Walberswick, the idyllic coastal village close to Southwold, is fantastic for families and famous for crabbing! Bring a bucket, a crab line and some bait (crabs like raw bacon!) and see how many you can catch by the river bank. Just don’t forget to put the crabs back in the water afterwards so that they can carry on with their day too!

A-Maizing fun

Voted ‘Best Small Visitor Attraction’ in the 2019 Norfolk and Suffolk Tourism Awards, the Southwold Maize Maze is a wonderful day out for all the family. Team up with your friends to tackle the giant puzzle of pathways set among 8 acres of maize or enjoy the play park with go-karts, bouncing pillows, zip wires and much more. New for 2019, is the Old Hall Café & Walks, open throughout the year and commanding an amazing position overlooking Reydon marshes. You can also stay next to the maze at the fabulous Old Hall Farm House available to book with Suffolk Secrets. Check out the website for details of opening dates for the maze and play park.