Lowestoft - worth a visit?

[AnneLovesGilbert]

I don't know Suffolk well so would anyone recommend Lowestoft or anywhere else on the coast around there for a few days break?

Or Woodbridge, pin mill

I quite like Lowestoft Beach (south of the Pier) but don't bother with the town.

Southwold is great, but seems to view cashpoints as a bit low brow so only has the one (and lots of very expensive shops that don't take cards - go figure!)

Swan at lavenham is also lovely, but not near coast.. mill in Sudbury is on river. Agree bury st Edmunds is cute. I love the Suffolk rivers over the coast. Pin Mill in particular. Many happy memories of thorpeness and pretending to be explorers

Concorde Hotel in Great Denes Gt Yarmouth is a nice family run Boarding House (its B&B and evening meal, or was) . Went there in 1992 and its the same family running it ,
Very close to Great Yarmouth Horse Racing track as well and a quieter end of Great Yarmouth .

NobodyToVoteForNow see it’s that sort of advice you just don’t get anywhere else!

Aldeburgh, Southwold, Walberswick, Orford, Dunwich? All lovely. Lowestoft and Felixstowe? Less so. Lavenham is lovely so is Bury St Edmunds.

The south beach is gorgeous and sandy and massive. Great for swimming. There is a small petting zoo good for little ones. It hardly rains there.

Sudbury is pretty & long melford, lavenham all a bit inland yy aldeburgh Southwold & Woodbridge.

I'd agree with Southwold and Aldeburgh. Both very upmarket and some good places to eat and stay. We stayed in the Martello tower in Aldeburgh and it was just incredible.

Personally I found Thorpeness creepy, just something that made me uneasy. Great Yarmouth is awful.

If you don't mind being inland, there are so many stunning Suffolk villages, including beautiful Lavenham (have stayed at the Swan a few times - such a lovely building). Long Melford, Cavendish and Clare. Or you could venture down to Dedham Vale, also very lovely.

So many gorgeous sounding places. Thank you so much, grateful for what sounds like a lucky escape... I’m sure Lowestoft has great features should anyone see this who lives there! But I’ve got an idea in mind of what we’d like and you’ve showered me with ideas.

Yarmouth was grim when I went there as a child but it’s been transformed and we’ve had a few trips the last couple of years and it’s perfect for a mad time with DC, good food, loads to do, busy, fun, great beach.

This time I need p&q.

Checking out the Swan now!

I prefer Aldeburgh to Southwold, though the stone beach at Aldeburgh is not really for sitting on. Orford is absolutely glorious and has the best bakery in the UK imo. Eccles cakes are worth the trip alone). Also, decent pubs and restaurants, plus a castle if you like that sort of thing. No mobile reception so you'll definitely get some peace and quiet!

The Crown and Castle in Orford looks v nice.

There’s an amazing restaurant a bit of a way in land called the Fox and Goose. Their set lunch menu is truly spectacular for a sum total of £22. They aren’t big courses but they are delicious. It’s at Fressingfield.

And yes to the bakery at Orford, their Portuguese custard tarts and almond croissants are to die for.

Afternoon tea at the Swan is not to be missed wherever you stay!! I had the savoury one last time....... ( need to go again) Afternoon tea at Wivenhoe Park in Colchester ( University of Essex campus- hotel managment) is good too- the hotel is supposed to be good as well but away from your preferred destination.

Having looked at the Swan I’m sorely tempted to blow the budget and just book it.

I’ve had a small pay rise and a ridiculously stressful last few months, I’m beyond exhausted, we can have a day by the sea even if it’s not on the coast and I’m a big fan of afternoon tea. A savoury version sounds even better!

Nacreous. Oh yes! The Pump Street Bakery almond croissants are the food of the gods. 🥐🏆

Anne. If you don’t want to eat at The Swan all the time there is a great little restaurant just behind it in Lady Street called Number 10. Also worth checking out Retail Therapy, two shops opposite each other just along from the Swan for divine handbags, scarves and jewellery. You can see I’m a Lavenham regular. 😄

I'd go the whole hog if you're staying at The Swan, and book one of their rooms with loads of character. They are wonderful. And the dining room is frankly astonishing. The Airmen's bar is a step back into more modern history.

There's a zoo nearby (we used to caravan next to it, and hear the lions at night) - Kessingland.

Lowestoft 🤣 I'm from Norfolk and no I wouldn't be visiting 'Lowee' anytime soon!

I'm from the Suffolk area.
Lowestoft-no if you want peace and quiet, not going to happen, majority of the place is rough!
Felixstowe-similar to lowestoft I think, quite rough and some of the people
Aldeburgh-beautiful place but the majority of the people there are SO stuck up, I guess if your only going for a few days it wouldn't matter so much!
Thorpeness I've been to once, a couple of minutes from Aldeburgh so you can go there on your stay, pretty little place but not much to do.
Southwold-don't go often, it is expensive but it is a gorgeous little place.
Gorleston-only familiar with the beach area really, beautiful beach and some lovely restaurants (The Cliff hotel for food-Amazing!!!) town is a little run down.
Someone suggested Ipswich-No! Just don't do it, crime rate is so high at the moment, it's so run down.
Dunwich is a lovely little place.
Minsmere-nice
Halesworth-about 30 mins from Lowestoft is a nice little town.
Oulton Broad a few miles from Lowestoft has some lovely parts, The Wherry is nice (hotel and restaurant)
Enjoy your stay wherever you decide! :)

Also have a look at Snape and Walberswick!

the majority of the people there are SO stuck up

That did make me laugh, it is true. We went into the shops at Snape Maltings and DH described them as a place where posh stupid people went to pay ridiculous prices, when they could buy the same thing elsewhere for much less