Food
Days Out
Beach
Bike & Hike
Sports
Nature
Gardens
Activities
Historical
Eating & Drinking
Mariners - 3.5 Miles (5.6 KM)
Seamanlike precision translates very easily it seems into the all-important area of the galley of this floating French brasserie. Moored in the marina, Mariners takes full advantage of the ready availability of excellent local produce. An absolute must!
Join the Lady Florence for a relaxing cruise cruise on the Rivers Alde and Ore. Start your day with panache on a cruise lasting two and half hours during which an American style or champagne brunch is served. Or perhaps pick the evening cruise, on which you will be served a delicious dinner, whilst you relax on the river.
Food from the oceans is very popular at this well established restaurant. Dedicated and friendly staff serve a good range of interesting fish dishes as well as a wide selection of meat, poultry and game.
The Lemon Tree is set in the heart of Colchester and with its good food and professional and friendly team offers very pleasant informal dining.
At over 500 years old this is a lovely pub within the beautiful town of Diss. Enjoy delicious food or just a drink and relax within wonderful surroundings. Have a night out and watch the fabulous live events often playing at the Cock Inn.
This splendid French-style restaurant specialises in delicious fish dishes, although carnivores are not completely overlooked and the menu carries a section rather grimly entitled 'Butcher's Corner'.
Home to its own brewery, St Peter's Hall is housed in a former monastery, serving a weekly changing menu that is uncomplicated and very dependent upon local produce, some grown in the surrounding gardens. Surely the former occupants would have thoroughly approved.
Fun Days Out
Jimmy?s Farm is a great day out for all the family. There is a nature trail, adventure playground, working farm, shops, butchery, café, garden shop and much more. They also run educational courses for children in the school holidays. (wheelchairs are welcome, but it is a working farm with muddy conditions)
A well established family entertainment park on the Felixstowe seafront, with something for all the family, including an amusement arcade, children's theme park, indoor crazy golf, a Sunday market, pool and snooker, 10-pin bowling, bars and cafes.
There is always lots to do on the Farm, with daily pony rides, pat-a-pet, meeting Major, one of the big Suffolk Punch cart horses, barrel train rides, pony and cart rides (and harnessing), lamb feeding and pig feeding.
With over 60 owls and birds of prey and free flight demonstrations as well as red squirrels, a woodland walk and songbird hide, this sanctuary is well worth a visit. Activities for children include a quiz trail, mini maze and play area.
Walton Pier - 12.9 Miles (20.6 KM)
Walton Pier has a whole host of rides and attractions for children as well as Pirate Pete's Adventure Land.
To see over 260 species of animals Colchester Zoo is your place. Winner of the 'Large Visitor Attraction of the Year' award you will be certain to enjoy your visit! Say hello to the penguins, Komodo Dragons, tigers and many more and watch over 50 displays. Kids will love the undercover soft play area and 4 outdoor adventure parks.
Specialising in the work of artists with an East Anglian connection, The Halesworth Art Gallery aims to 'exhibit modern painting and sculpture of the highest possible standard on a non-profit-making basis and for the general enjoyment for all'.
With an impressive collection of working locomotives and a fabulous 20 acres of gardens housing 8,000 species this is a great family day out! Take part in a steam journey and choose from 4 different journeys. Dad's Army fans will be in their element as this is the official home to the 'Dad's Army Appreciation Society' therefore offering many exhibits.
The high speed boat tours of Solebay offer a hugely popular adrenaline rush but on the quieter river trips you can spot marsh harriers, heron, osprey and many types of wading birds, both resident and migratory.
Banham Zoo - 29.8 Miles (47.7 KM)
Innovative enclosures set amongst 35 acres of beautiful parkland and gardens provide sanctuary for almost 1,000 animals from big cats to birds of prey and siamangs to shire horses. Educational animal feeding talks and thrilling Birds of Prey displays also feature.
Beach
Dovercourt Bay - 7 Miles (11.2 KM)
A delightful family resort with lots to see and do. Try your hand at some crazy golf or have fun on the boating lake. With exceptional views of Harwich, historic streets and some cute local seals there is something for everyone at Dovercourt.
Dunwich Beach - 22.3 Miles (35.7 KM)
Dunwich beach is run and maintained by the National Trust in this beautiful and remote part of Suffolk. There are some extremely fine walks to be had on the wild heathland and local wildlife can be found in abundance. There's also a great fish and chip café by the beach and a village pub.
Walberswick Beach - 27.3 Miles (43.7 KM)
Walberswick is a quiet beach popular with families, and makes an interesting change from Southwold. If sunbathing and beach activities should pall, then there's the popular pastime of crabbing nearby. Just catch the 'ferry' from Southwold Harbour or drive down there yourself and purchase the catch of the day.
Southwold Beach - 27.6 Miles (44.2 KM)
A wonderful Suffolk beach, with golden sands perfect for sandcastles and sunbathing. Take a dip in the water and visit the old lighthouse, before getting some fish and chips. With an excellent pier, complete with old fashioned amusements and the more traditional arcade games, there is something for everyone. The beach is a regular winner of the acclaimed 'Blue Flag' award, its golden sands perfect for lazy summer days or brisk winter walks.
Biking & Hiking
A fairly hilly route on mainly country roads. It would take an average rider approximately 2 hours to complete it as it is just over 21 miles.
Golf & Sports
This purpose built indoor race track offers all the challenges of a full size racing circuit plus all the comforts of an indoor venue.
Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club is was established in 1880, making it one of the oldest courses in the country, and has a long and esteemed history and continues to be a prosperous golf community where you will also receive a warm and friendly welcome. It contains a genuine 18 hole links course, the Martello course and the 9 hole, Kingsfleet course, they are located next to the sea and have fantastic views over the East Anglian coast and Deben River. This rolling course is suitable to all level of golfer and offers a number of challenges, from the testing borrows on the green, deep bunkers, tight fairways, unforgiving rough and the constant presence of winds from the coast. The course is in superb condition, fairways are good and the greens are receptive and fast, with a nice mix of holes. Staff throughout are excellent, friendly, professional and really helpful, they really enhance the overall experience of playing here. The clubhouse is warm and welcoming with excellent amenities, and the food they serve is excellent, well cooked and presented and superb value for money. Felixstowe Ferry Gold Club is a true traditional course with excellent clubhouse and staff and offers a great game of golf at very competitive prices a must if you are in the area, highly recommended.
Why stand by looking at the water when you can go out and enjoy it? Bawdsey Quay Watersports Centre offers many ways to experience life on the gently rippling tides. Royal Yachting Association courses are offered and include dinghy sailing and power boating. Programmes are available for all age groups with specialised courses in safety and coaching.
This 25 x 50m roller skating rink is claimed to be the finest roller skating surface in Europe. Equipment hire, refreshments and quasar game section also available.
These six fishing lakes otherwise known as the Weybread Pits sit on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Day tickets can be purchased from the local post office.
A great place to keep fit on holiday. This centre has a 25 metre swimming pool and gym, along with numerous classes including, Ab?s, Back and Flex and Aqua Aerobics.
Carp and general coarse fishing is available at Heartsmere lake, one of the cluster of small lakes that makes up Waveney Valley Lakes.
Rivenhall Oaks Golf Centre prides itself on being a family friendly golf centre. This 18 hole parkland course is comprised of two nine hole courses, the Oaks course and Acorns course. Both courses offer a variety of challenges to all standard of golfer, the Oaks course has bunkers, lakes and trees lining the fairway and greens, the Acorns course caters to beginners with mainly par 3 and 4 holes but, will allow more experienced players to enhance their short game skills. Regardless of the course you play you will find the greens and fairways in excellent condition, the courses are well maintained overall. The staff are friendly, attentive and professional and will ensure you have a pleasant experience here. The facilities are very good, the driving range offers the ideal place to practice and the pro shop is well stocked. The clubhouse is welcoming and comfortable, they serve an excellent selection of hot and cold dishes that are really tasty, well presented and real value for money. The green fees offer excellent value for money and with the breakfast deal it is fantastic value. Rivenhall Oaks Golf Centre is a friendly club that extends a warm welcome to all with great facilities and fantastic green fees, highly recommended.
Nature Reserves
Landguard Bird Observatory is situated in a disused military building next to the Local Nature Reserve at the southern end of the town of Felixstowe. It is an independent organisation and is operated by a registered charity and is dependent on friends and volunteers to function. The purpose of the observatory is to observe and document the wildlife of the complete Landguard peninsula, for the purpose of education and improvement of our knowledge of our feathered friends. Their location makes them the main migration watch point in Suffolk. They are open throughout the year but, all visits and tours are by appointment only. The best time to come and see birds is early in the morning and during the Spring and Autumn when migration takes place. However, the afternoons are generally better to see insects. There is a daily notice board where they state what birds are around, it is not unusual for rare birds to come in by container ship or be blown in by winds. They organise a series of events throughout the year including information walks, watching the moth traps being emptied or clean up operations that you can get involved with. Landguard Bird Observatory plays an important role in maintaining the wildlife of this area and offers a prime location to observe and enjoy the wildlife who make their home here.
Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Countryside Project are enterprises made up of a small team whose primary aims are the conservation and enhancement of the unique characteristics of the area. The beauty and rich heritage of the site is worth protecting and this admirable project has taken huge strides over the last twenty years to encourage respect for the land and its history. Please see the website for more information as to how you can volunteer and contact tourist information centres in Sudbury, Colchester and Newmarket for local information.
Orford Ness is considered an internationally important nature reserve which is also significant in terms of military history. See Europe's largest remote shingle spit and learn about military activity from the 20th century. Trails wind through the reserve, providing many ways to see the area's most beautiful scenery up close.
Gardens & Woodlands
Rendlesham Forest offers a peaceful escape for nature lovers, cyclists, horse riders, walkers and general explorers. Cycle trails are available, including the 6 mile Tang Trail and the 10 mile F.I.D.O,. trail. Discover a beautiful region that is also significant because of the controversial UFO incident that allegedly took place there.
Enjoy the special atmosphere of this beautiful park, with its red deer, spectacular moated Hall and famous gardens. The stunning walled kitchen garden features exquisite herbaceous borders and beds of vegetables interspersed by tunnels of sweet peas, runner beans and gourds.
Discover a wonderful collection of fine trees and shrubs including many rarely seen growing in East Anglia. The majority of these unusual plants originated from George Forrest, the renowned plant collector.
The park surrounding the Barn is famous for its magnificent bluebell woodland and magnificent old trees including an avenue of ancient lime trees and a venerable oak, with a 30 foot trunk, said to be over 1,000 years old.
Wyken Hall - 24.3 Miles (38.9 KM)
A vibrant garden, mostly created at the end of the 20th century as a series of outdoor rooms divided by hornbeam and yew hedges. Of particular delight are the knot garden and formal herb garden designed by Arabella Lennox-Boyd and the long pergola smothered with roses.
Located nearby the lovely, historic town of Clare, this stunning park offers a peaceful and tranquil environment in which to relax and unwind. Soak up some of the fascinating local history and admire the 13th century castle with it superb views. Spend some time at the old goods yard which served the old Clare railway, and follow the 'history trail' to unravel the mystery of this gorgeous park.
Local Attractions
The Port of Felixstone is Britain's largest and most hectic container port, as well as being one of the biggest in Europe. They employ more than 2,500 people and deal with more than 3,000 ships every year and in excess of 3.7 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units annually. The largest container vessel in the world MSC Oscar made its maiden call at the Port of Felixstowe. If you have an interest in seeing a major and busy port in action then you will get the perfect opportunity here at the Port of Felixstowe. See the containers being loaded and unloaded and moved around the yard, it is a mesmerising sight to see a well organised and sleek operation in full flow.
A pretty town, with a great mile long sandy beach. Relax and soak up the atmosphere before mooching around the shops and maybe playing some golf in Walton-on-Naze. Try your hand at some watersports and have a stroll along the promenade with its many beach huts.
Snape Maltings is a great place for lots of different activities such as shopping in interesting specialist stores, listening to musical performances, visiting the farmers' markets and cafes and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
West Cliff Theatre is a premier venue in Clacton-on-Sea, it is located in a beautiful retro building close to the beach. This historic venue is full of charm and character and represents what a theatre stood for. It is run by volunteers who do a fantastic job, so professional, you will find them to be so friendly and helpful. They show a diverse and interesting selection of productions with comedy, drama, live bands, tribute acts, dance, musicals, local talent and much more available. The bar is well stocked and the prices are very reasonable, there is also a small shop where you can purchase sweets and drinks. It is an intimate venue, that is clean and well maintained. The auditorium is lovely, seating is well laid out and very comfortable and the lighting and acoustics are excellent. West Cliff Theatre is a real community theatre that the locals are lucky to have, a real gem and it shows a fabulous selection of shows with something to appeal to everyone with the extra benefit of excellent customer service, it makes for a great night out.
Enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere and take a ride on an award winning period country railway. A pretty line, relocated station buildings, signal boxes and bridges, all lovingly restored and rebuilt.
Historical & Heritage Sites
Home to a giant Woolly Mammoth, Egyptian gallery and artefacts from civilisations around the world, the museum in the historic town of Ipswich has something for everyone.
Sutton Hoo - 5.7 Miles (9.1 KM)
Sutton Hoo is a treasure trove of archaeological fascination. In one of the burial mounds a royal Anglo Saxon ship-burial was discovered. The grave is thought to be that of Raedwald, King of the Angles and Overlord of England. In addition to the burial ground there are some great displays on early English history.(Restricted wheelchair access)
Landguard Fort is a formidable structure situated on a split of land close to Felixstowe at the mouth of the River Orwell, it served well as a defence for many years and has a long and distinguished history. The actual site was the last opposed seaborne invasion of England in 1667 as well as the first land battle of the Royal Marines. The current fort was constructed in the 18th century, was altered in the 19th century and underwent major extension in the 19th and 20th century. There are guided and audio tours of the fort available, these are accompanied by an audio-visual presentation, detailing the site's history, as well as life size figures demonstrating life here. It is a bit eerie walking through the dark corridors. The different rooms cover various subjects of military life. The fort is open from March through to November from 10.00 am to 5.00pm and there is a small charge for entry, children under five are free. During the year they organise various activities and reenactments, full details can be obtained from the website. There is a small gift shop that a selection of gifts in addition to drinks, ice creams and confectionery. Outside are picnic benches for your use. Landguard Fort is both historic and interesting and gives an insight into the counytrys military history, in addition to having some amazing views across the River Orwell.
Felixstowe Museum is an intimate museum and is located at Languard Point next to the Dock Viewing Area, a short distance from the town centre. The museum is home to an interesting and diverse collection of exhibits including military, archaeology and social history, spanning the past 300-400 years. The museum is well laid out even though it is awkwardly shaped, the rooms are well lit and spacious. There is a number of permanent and temporary exhibits that are frequently changed so there is always something new to see. They are open throughout the year, from 1.00pm to 5.00pm, and the opening days are different depending on the season and there is a small admission charge, full details can be obtained from the website. There is a tea room where you can get a selection of hot and cold beverages as well as snacks, there is seating inside and outside for those nice days. The Museum shop stocks a nice range of gifts and souvenirs with something to suit everyone and all reasonably priced. The staff are all friendly, helpful and knowledgeable on both the exhibits in the museum and the local area and will answer any questions you might have. Throughout the year they organise a number of events with many aimed at younger visitors they are both fun and interesting, with lots of activities to keep everyone entertained. Felixstowe Museum has something to cater to all ages and interests, it is an informative and interesting museum that is also inexpensive, you could easily spend several hours walking around, a real gem and a credit to Felixstowe.
Orford Castle's excellent site and distinctive construction allowed the garrison command of the field of fire without exposure to the enemy. The impressively preserved keep is of unusual polygonal design, with the addition of three rectangular towers and a forebuilding.
The Woodbridge Museum provides a chronological look at the development of Woodbridge. The area began as an Anglo Saxon settlement then evolved into a Medieval market town. Learn more about what life was like through the centuries as Woodbridge moved on to become a ship building centre and garrison during the Napoleonic wars.
Framlingham is an impressive late 12th-century castle built by Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk. It was designed both as a stronghold and to reflect the power and status of one of the most influential people at the court of the Plantagenet kings. (Disabled access in grounds and on ground floor only)
Discover the history and natural world of East Anglia in this beautiful 75 acre site. Fascinating East Anglian crafts, traditional Gypsy culture, huge Suffolk Punch horses and rare breed sheep and pigs are among the attractions.
Lots of hands-on exhibits that will appeal to children and adults alike. There are displays on castle prisons and medieval and Norman Colchester, so lots going on. (Wheelchair access to The Castle Museum, but is limited in the castle itself)
A superlative moated Tudor manor, Kentwell's restored interior includes a working Tudor kitchen and Hall with minstrels' gallery, while the gardens feature a Tudor Rose pavement maze and a Camera Obscura. Kentwell hosts historical Tudor and 1940s re-creations throughout the year.
St Edmundsbury became a cathedral in 1914. However, there has been a structure of worship on the site for over 1000 years. A site of pilgrimage, it was only after the death of Edmund, King of the East Angles in 869 that an abbey was built. This new building contained Edmund's remains and St. James Church was built within the precincts at a later date. This beautiful cathedral which is so steeped in history is well worth a visit.
One of the more eccentric of stately homes and topped by a massive rotunda, Ickworth was built for the 4th Earl of Bristol in 1795 to house all his art treasures. Paintings by Titian, Gainsborough and Velazquez are on display. (Dogs on leads allowed)
This museum has an amazing quantity of aeroplanes and equipment from many decades for you to look at. Check out the Lightwing Rooster and admire the Supermarine Spitfire. With so much to see you'll be spoilt for choice! Take a look in the shop and enjoy refreshments by the River Waveney.
