Known for it’s family owned brewery Adnams, Southwold is a charming seaside town surrounded by beautiful beaches and lush countryside. Situated on the East Suffolk coast line it’s a popular tourist town for many Londoners trying to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and is the perfect place to explore.
It’s a fairly small town but has many delightful shops and pubs to spoil yourself with so it really is a great spot for a holiday. There are a couple of Deli’s in the town so you can get some wonderful, local, and homemade produce to fill a picnic with or to have a cosy night in.
If you are lucky to be there on a sunny day then I would head to The Denes beach, get a cosy spot up in the dunes and take a picnic, and a bottle of Adnams Rose Fizz and spend the afternoon people watching and dipping your toes in the sea. Our guide below details all the best places to explore in Southwold.
Where to stay
- Mole End – A stylish pet friendly seaside cottage
- The Crown – Pub rooms full of character and charm
- The Smokehouse Cottage – A chic seaside home which welcomes 1 dog
- The Swan – Beautiful boutique style pub with rooms
- The Treasure Chest – A sweet flat in the heart of the town
Where to eat and drink
- Enzo’s Pizzeria – A taste of Little Italy by the sea
- Harris and James – Ice Cream delights for you and your dog
- Sole Bay Inn – Have a taste of the local beers at this Adnams owned brewery
- The Sail Loft – Beachside hideaway offering relaxed dining
- The Swan – Sophisticated dining and fantastic cocktails
Where else to go
Walberwick
Walberwick is a small village, with a sweet village green surrounding the cottages. It’s lovely for a look around and I would definitely recommend walking to it from Southwold. The village is just on the other side of the river from Southwold so you can easily walk to it. If you follow the beach till you hit the river, you can then get a small boat over (you will just need to check they are running this service for when you plan to go.) It’s about a 3 mile walk but is flat and through marshland so it’s lovely for a mix of sea, beach and countryside.
Old Hall Cafe and Nature Reserve
Old Hall is a great place to visit, as it’s just a couple minute drive out of Southwold and with lots of things to do. We visited for breakfast one morning which I would highly recommend and then did a walk around the nature reserve, which was extremely idyllic as you eventually follow the River Blyth. There is a maize maze, an outdoor play area with zip lines and go karts too, so a great stop for the family.
Aldeburgh
This delightful town is nestled right on the sea front so you get the best of both worlds here. The only downside is it can be very popular, especially on a sunny day so you may struggle to find somewhere for lunch. However there are plenty of local gift, home and clothes shops to admire and a walk along the seafront is a must.
From here you can either walk or drive to Thorpeness, it’s about a 2 mile walk along the seafront so is an easy walk if you are up to it. Otherwise you can just drive it and park up in the picture postcard village instead.
Thorpeness
This is a quaint little village with just a handful of places to eat but really is something straight out of a painting. With people rowing on its lake, the beautiful village green, a windmill and the pebbled beach just a stone’s throw away, it really does make you smile and realise how breath taking England really is.
Walk around the village to see the Suffolk cottages, visit the windmill and house in the clouds, go rowing on the lake, play crazy golf at Thorpeness Golf club and sit around the lake with an ice cream or G&T. What more could you want.
Snape Maltings
This is a beautiful Victorian building that is best known for its concert hall, however they also have wonderful shops providing home wear, books, children’s toys and a garden centre. There are so many lovely things to treat yourself too here, so it’s definitely worth a stop.
They also have a wonderful farm shop with many delights – we treated ourselves to a small bottle of gin and fancy flavoured tonic water for a beach picnic.
Before you leave the Snape Maltings there is a great walk to do where you follow the river, go through the woods, and then around the village of Snape. It’s under 4 miles so not too far and family friendly so I would recommend this as a good walk to stretch your legs and see some lovely countryside.
Oulton Broad
Now there isn’t much in the town, however you can hire a small boat and go down the broad to see the amazing houses that line the water. Dogs are allowed on the boats, so it makes for a fun family fun trip, even if just for an hour or two.
For more places to visit in Suffolk read our blog here, and for a wonderful place to stay in Suffolk, check out our review of Retreat East.
Hello my loved one! I want to say that this article is awesome,
nice written and come with approximately all important infos.
I would like to see extra posts like this .