Felixstowe is two towns sharing one promenade — the largely-Edwardian seaside resort with formal seafront gardens and a long pier, and the largest container port in the UK throbbing away at the southern end. The combination is genuinely unusual and unexpectedly compelling — small children love watching the cranes load five-storey-high stacks of containers onto ships from the viewing area, while older relatives enjoy a properly English seaside afternoon.
Main things to see and do
- Beach Street. Repurposed shipping containers turned into independent restaurants and shops on the seafront — fish and chips, ice cream, tapas. Year-round but busiest in summer.
- Felixstowe Pier. Modern pier (rebuilt 2017) with arcade and food. Free entry; limited rides at the seaward end.
- Port viewing platform at Landguard. Free viewing area at the southern end — watch container ships, ferries and tugs. Sit in the car park café for an hour and you’ll see a million pounds of trade move through.
- Landguard Fort. English Heritage 18th-century fort guarding the harbour entrance. Self-guided audio; the rooftop view to Harwich is the highlight.
- Felixstowe seafront gardens. Edwardian terraced gardens climbing the cliff between the pier and Landguard — the prom walk takes about 90 minutes end to end.
Where to stay
If you are making a weekend of it, the Suffolk coast has more good self-catering than is reasonable for a coastline its size. We use Sykes Holiday Cottages for most of our family breaks here — their holiday cottages in and around felixstowe cover most of the price brackets and most of the dog-friendly properties. (Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)
Practical bits
- Postcode: IP11 (centre of town)
- Region: Suffolk Coast
- OS map: OS Explorer 197 — Ipswich, Felixstowe & HarwichBuy from OS →
- Public transport: the Coastlink and 99 bus services run the length of the Suffolk coast in summer; check the live timetable with Suffolk On Board.
Correct as of 28 April 2026 — please check before you travel, especially on Bank Holidays, Easter and between Christmas and New Year.
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