Things to see and do in Southwold, Walberswick and the surrounding Suffolk Heritage Coast
Southwold Town
Come to the delightful seaside town of Southwold on Suffolk's Heritage Coast for a traditional beach-centred family holiday, or for those who are child-free just to enjoy the relaxed pace of life in this unique town with its many attractions. Ice-creams and fish-and-chips are never too far away!
Lighthouse View is centrally placed for the seafront with its beach and award-winning pier, all with the backdrop of colourful beach huts. Try a paddle before breakfast! The art of sandcastle-building thrives on Southwold beach, with frequent breaks in construction for a refreshing paddle in the sea.
To explore this thriving and lively town just step out from the front door of Lighthouse View. Nearby there is so much to enjoy. The working Lighthouse opens its doors to visitors from around Easter to Autumn with the admission fee benefitting Southwold's Millennium Trust. You can climb to the very top to take in the impressive view.
Nearby is the Sole Bay Inn, the Adnams Southwold pub which is the one closest to the Adnams Brewery. Learn more about Adnams' award-winning products on one of their Brewery Tours. The town Museum in Victoria Street is packed with items of interest as is the clifftop Sailors Reading Room. Among the independent shops in the High Street the fascinating Amber Museum is contained within The Amber Shop. There are art galleries and tea rooms too. Divert from the Market Place to South Green and Gun Hill, complete with the clifftop line of cannon all facing out to sea.
Stroll on to Southwold Harbour for fresh fish and seafood, or a visit to the Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum. From the tearoom or The Harbour Inn you can watch many types of boat coming and going.
Our Suffolk skies tempt you to get out and about. For children there is play equipment on Tibby's Green next to St.Edmund's church. Near the Pier find the Putting Green and the Model Yacht Pond where visitors are welcome. The Common is home to football, rugby and golf clubs, but there is plenty of space to play chase, catch a frisbee or fly your kite.
Southwold is a lively and independent town which loves a celebration. Various long-established outdoor Fairs take place on its Greens and Common in the warmer months. In December Southwold heralds the forthcoming festive season with an evening Christmas Lights Switch-On Event on the first weekend of the month. Santa always finds time to come along too.
All year round there are a range of indoor events including theatre, lectures, cinema, exhibitions, concerts and talks held in Southwold's various meeting halls, churches and tiny cinema. You will be most welcome to come along and join in!
Sports and Actvities
For those who love sport Southwold has many clubs and societies including golf, football, rugby, bowls and tennis. The area is well-known for birdwatching and walking, with Public Footpaths criss-crossing the surrounding countryside.
You can arrange sea fishing from the end of Southwold pier or boats based at Southwold harbour offer fishing trips to those happy to venture out onto the sea. There are also trip boats at the harbour which will take you around the bay at high speed, or on an excursion along the coast or upriver rather more sedately - or you can arrange your own exclusive excursion if you wish. Indeed the working harbour is a great place just to explore and buy fresh fish. There is always something to watch plus tea rooms, museum and a pub. A seasonal foot-ferry will take you to Walberswick with its village green, pubs, heathland and picturesque church standing within the ruins of its predecessor.
Southwold is the home of the award-winning Adnams Brewery which is handily close-by Lighthouse View and which offers Brewery tours. The town's pubs are all delightfully individual, as are all the pubs in local villages and towns. Many pubs feature open fires, beams and even thatched roofs.
Further Afield
If you chose to venture further afield you can either use your car or perhaps check the timetables to ride on the modern buses which operate from the inland end of the High Street to destinations which include Norwich via Halesworth and Bungay, to Lowestoft and on to Great Yarmouth.
Within 15 miles of Southwold ~
- Inland, Halesworth and Bungay are both small friendly market towns, linked by a Roman road. Both feature independent shops and lively theatres, 'The Cut' at Halesworth and the 'Fisher Theatre' at Bungay. Halesworth also has an out-of town golf course, and fishing lakes. Bungay has a ruined castle at its centre and an indoor public swimming pool.
- On the coast north of Southwold is Kessingland where 'Africa Alive' is home to dozens of enthralling species of African wildlife.
- To the South is Leiston, a town with an engineering history and home of The Long Shop Museum, also an indoor public swimming pool and an independent cinema.
The Suffolk Coast
The nearby Suffolk Coastal area abounds with great wildlife and outdoor experiences, to be explored on foot, by bicycle or by car. There are super views from Dunwich Cliffs (National Trust) to Southwold and also over RSPB's Minsmere Nature Reserve, deer and Dartmoor ponies in Dunwich Forest, several local nature reserves in the care of Suffolk Wildlife Trust, open commonland in Westleton, Wenhaston and Walberswick ....... Come and see for yourself from your comfortable base at Lighthouse View in Southwold.
