May half-term Southwold ideas -- with tweens?

[dutchlinda]

We've just booked a last minute half-term trip to Southwold. I'm a bit worried about what we will do there for almost a week! We have a car. Any ideas? Kids aged 9 and 11, and still love the beach but looking for other ideas as well, esp. if the weather is not great.

We had many happy holidays in Southwold with smaller kids. The pier is fun and has games on it. We did a an Adnams brewery tour. Go to Walberswick and get the little rowing boat/ferry over. There is the BEST fish and chip shop in a shack there. My husband still talks about it. Buy bacon and go crabbing. Pretty sure we visited the lighthouse too. Take raincoats and have a great time!

We loved Southwold when dc were similar ages. Hire a beach hut for the day (can be ££). There are some lovely places to eat or take picnics onto the beach. Visit the pier, there’s a putting green, little boat lake, Crabbing, bird spotting and walks. There’s a small amusement arcade. Walberswick on the little ferry across the estuary is nice for a wander and lunch. In Lowestoft there’s a roller skating place indoors and a cinema that has kids films during the school holidays. Further afield there’s a safari place in Kessingland and there’s Great Yarmouth too.

Going south from Southwold there's Iken Canoe near Snape Maltings, and Framlingham Castle.

Iken Canoe | Kayak Hire | Aldeburgh | Suffolk

Day trip to Norwich. Visit the castle, shops etc. Walk along the river.
Yarmouth for tacky, traditional arcades, pleasure beach etc - total contrast to Southwold but still fun, they have a great swimming pool on the seafront with slides, Sealife centre etc
Zoos - Banham, Africa Alive, Thrigby