Felixstowe guide

Everybody loves a great day by the sea, and Felixstowe has great days for everyone.

Nestled between the rivers Orwell and Deben, Felixstowe is a charming seaside town with a vibrant town centre and a wonderful mix of attractions and activities to suit all ages and interests.

Did you know?

Felixstowe is the only seaside resort in East Anglia to face southwards. Enjoy a cup of coffee at the View Point Cafe and you won’t be able to miss the huge container port at its southernmost point - known to be the largest container port in Britain.

The John Bradfield Viewing Area at Landguard Point offers stunning views across the estuary to the Shotley Peninsula and the Essex towns of Harwich and Dovercourt and if the weather is really clear you can even see the off-shore wind turbines beyond The Naze.

Famous visitors to the town include Wallis Simpson who stayed in the town for six weeks during the abdication and the actor Sir John Mills who grew up in Felixstowe. You can find a theatre named after him in nearby Ipswich.

shopping in felixstowe things to do in felixstowe where to stay in felixstowe where to eat in felixstowe

Location

Felixstowe Highlights

1. Stroll along the prom

Felixstowe Sea Front Gardens

Take a stroll along the seafront taking in the fine Edwardian architecture, the regenerated Seafront Gardens, colourful beach huts and four miles of sand and shingle beach – don’t forget your bucket and spade!

Be sure to stop by Beach Street; A unique and vibrant destination on the seafront of upcycled shipping containers. Discover independent boutiques, artisan producers and street-food eateries...

2. Enjoy a family day out

Towns & Villages - Felixstowe - Mannings Amusements

For family fun, win a teddy or two on the slot machines at the Pier, head to the thrilling children’s rides at Manning’s Amusements and Ocean Boulevard, or challenge your friends to a round of Adventure Golf.

Set around a restored Martello Tower, Martello Park in Felixstowe boasts a play area with climbing frames, surrounded by picnic and wildlife areas, walking and cycling routes. The Splash Pad (open during the summer months) is great fun and there are two kiosks serving snacks, ice creams and drinks.

3. Hop on the ferry

Harwich Harbour Ferry Rides - Child on ferry

Visit the charming fishing and sailing hamlet of Felixstowe Ferry. Walk along the banks beside the river Deben, hop on the little foot ferry for a trip to Bawdsey or pick up some fresh fish for tea.

From Felixstowe, you can also enjoy a trip to Harwich on the ferry with Harbour Ferry Boat Rides; departing from Landguard, the ferry offers the unique opportunity to sail past the huge container ships coming into Felixstowe Port along with beautiful sailing boats and cruise liners. Look out for the porpoises gliding through the harbour too!

For ferry times and information, download the Suffolk Coast Ferries leaflet:

2024 Suffolk Coast Foot Ferries

4. Discover Felixstowe's military history

TTDA - Landguard Fort - Musketeers

Mix the old with the new by visiting the unique Landguard Peninsula with its 18th C. Fort, one of Britain’s best-preserved coastal defences, alongside the fascinating collections of the Felixstowe Museum. Stroll along the boardwalk at the Nature Reserve, home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. And while you’re there you’ll have spectacular views of the giant ships arriving and departing at Britain’s busiest port.

6. Enjoy a night at the Theatre

Felixstowe Spa Pavilion

A glorious seafront theatre and restaurant complex, with stunning views and an art deco auditorium, Felixstowe Spa Pavilion hosts a huge range of live music, tribute acts, musicals and family productions.

7. Hire a Beach Hut

Felixstowe Seashore Village

Felixstowe's new Seashore Village features ‘pod’ style furnished beach chalets and 27 traditional beach huts - all available to hire during your visit! The accessible chalets are set around a fish shaped lawn, amongst landscaped public green space, and with easy access to the promenade, you can make the most of all the attractions on offer at Felixstowe Beach including the new Activity Park with outdoor gym, climbing wall and table tennis, the Pier and Ocean Boulevard and the delightful Seafront Gardens.

Felixstowe Beach Guide

TTDA - Felixstowe Beach - building a sandcastle

The attractive seaside town of Felixstowe is home to a 4-mile beach, with both family-friendly spots and more rural stretches for those looking for a more rural experience. The beach is sand and shingle and backed by a promenade, with the North beach one side of the Pier and the South beach the other (awarded both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award in 2024).

There is wheelchair access to the seafront via a ramp which links the pavement along Sea Road and Orford Road to the beachfront, over the sea defence wall.

For more information and to plan your visit to Felixstowe Beach, check out our Felixstowe Beach Guide.

Useful Information

Have a look at this neat little pocket guide to Felixstowe to help plan your trip and look out for printed copies in town.

Felixstowe Pocket Guide

Public Conveniences and Baby Changing Facilities

Unless otherwise stated, all toilets include disabled access and baby changing facilities

Bath Tap Public Toilets, Undercliff Road East, IP11 7LS

Cobbold Road (in Crescent Road car park), IP11 7JA Baby changing and disabled facilities

Felixstowe Ferry, IP11 9RZ No disabled access

Golf Road Car Park, IP11 7NG Baby changing and disabled facilities

Langer Park Public Toilets, IP11 2DB (located at end of Holland Road - Disabled facilities - Open 1 April to 31 October

Leisure Centre Public Toilets, IP11 2AE (entrance to side of building)- Baby changing but no disabled access - Open 1 April to 31 October

Manor Terrace Car Park, IP11 2EL - Baby changing and disabled facilities

Martello Park South Car Park, IP11 2GD - Baby changing, disabled facilities and outside showering facilities.

Next to Town Hall, Undercliff Road West, IP11 2AG - Baby changing and disabled facilities

Opposite Beach Station Road, Sea Road, IP11 2AU - Baby changing and disabled facilities

Ranelagh Road Car Park, IP11 7ET - Baby changing and disabled facilities

Spa Pavilion, Undercliff Road, IP11 2DX (entrance at rear of building) - Baby changing and disabled facilities

The Dip Public Toilets, Cliff Road, IP11 9SQ - Baby changing and disabled facilities

Felixstowe Tourist Information Point

The Customer Service Centre and Tourist Information is located within Felixstowe Library, Crescent Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 7BY

Felixstowe Beach Hut - Tourist Information Point

The Promenade (opposite Town Hall), Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 2AG

If you need to pick up information during your stay on The Suffolk Coast pop along to the Visit Felixstowe Tourist Information Point Beach Hut, opposite the Town Hall. Open all year, daily (weather permitting), with friendly volunteers sometimes available to help you with local information and advice to help make the most of your visit to the area.

Useful Links

You can find out more about what's on and where to go by checking out Visit Felixstowe's website

Accessibility

Check out AccessAble's detailed access guides to Suffolk and work out if a place is going to be accessible to you.

The access guides cover multiple locations and venues across Suffolk, including places to stay, attractions, places to eat, stations, shops, trails and more.

The access guides are 100% facts, figures and photographs, checked by AccessAble's trained surveyors in person, people who know everyone's accessibility needs are different and understand how important it is for information to be detailed and accurate.

Free town wifi

Free WiFi is available within the town's WiFi zone, making it easy for you to get online during your visit.

See maps of where it is available in eleven East Suffolk towns, as well as instructions on how to access the free WiFi here.

How to Get to Felixstowe - Public Transport

With Suffolk on Board you can plan journeys using public transport from and to a town or village, named station or stop, or point of interest.

As many destinations along the Suffolk coast are rural there can be limited public transport services on many routes, but there are journey solutions through various local community transport services that will get you to where you want to go/your final destination. These tend to need to be booked in advance but you can find out more and plan your journey at Suffolk on Board.

By Bus:

Local services to Ipswich where onward connections can be made. Timetables can be found at www.suffolkonboard.com

By Train:

The town's station is located on Railway Approach, Felixstowe, IP11 9UD with local services by Greater Anglia to Ipswich and on-going connections Lowestoft, Norwich and London.

By Ferry:

A regular ferry service runs from Bawdsey to Felixstowe Ferry Quay Operates from Easter Friday to end of October at weekends only in April and October and daily from May to September.

You can also hop across the border into Essex on the ferry with Harbour Ferry Boat Rides, departing from Felixstowe at Landguard and Shotley, from April to October.

For ferry times and information, download the leaflet:

2024 Suffolk Coast Foot Ferries

Car Parks in Felixstowe

To find parking places in East Suffolk and where parking fees apply, visit the council’s RingGo parking service .

The free RingGo app allows drivers to locate a parking place before starting their journey, receive navigation to it, see how busy car parks are within an area, pay for your parking session and extend it if you need to. Signing up to RingGo is as easy as entering your car’s registration and your payment details. Find out more about registering and using the service on the RingGo how it works page.

Highfield Road, IP11 7BZ

Spa Pavillion, Undercliff Road, IP11 2AG

Ranelagh Road, IP11 7HA

Crescent Road, IP11 7PB

Pier Front, Sea Road, IP11 2AG

Convalescent Hill, IP11 2AQ

Garrison Lane, IP11 7SH

Arwela Road, IP11 2DG

Golf Road, IP11 7NB

Brackenbury Fort, IP11 9PJ

Landguard, Manor Terrace, IP11 2EL

Clifflands, IP11 9SA

Dock Viewing Area, IP11 3TW

Parking for Larger Vehicles and Campervans

The Grove, Felixstowe, IP11 9GA

Garrison Lane, Felixstowe, IP11 7SH (in designated coach bays).

Manor Terrace, Felixstowe, IP11 2EN

Clifflands, Felixstowe, IP11 9SJ

Further details can be found at Larger vehicles and campervans » East Suffolk Council

Walking in Felixstowe

Walking in East Suffolk has just become easier. In partnership with East Suffolk Council, walking app Go Jauntly has launched a collection of East Suffolk walks.

Go Jauntly is a free community-based app to promote walking, wayfinding and nature connection. You can find local walks created by people who know and love them, discover the greenest walking routes from A to B, create your own jaunts and enjoy outdoor adventures with friends and family.

Go Jauntly is available to download, for free, on the App Store and the Play Store.