Summary of Attractions in Felixstowe
Situated on the North Sea between the Orwell and Deben Estuaries, Felixstowe is a coastal town that boasts both an elegant Edwardian spa resort and a significant shipping port.
The Port of Felixstowe holds the title of the busiest port in the UK, with nearly half of Britain’s containerised trade passing through it each year.
This extensive operation is located on the Orwell Estuary, bordered by the appropriately named Landguard Peninsula.
This peninsula was the site of the last attempted seaborne invasion of England in 1667 and is home to one of the best-preserved artillery forts in the nation.
As a holiday destination, Felixstowe gained popularity in Edwardian times when affluent visitors sought the restorative properties of the spa waters.
The seafront is adorned with splendid ornamental gardens from that era, accompanied by a Spa Pavilion that hosts live entertainment and a newly renovated Edwardian pier.
Let us delve into the premier attractions in Felixstowe:
1. Landguard Fort
The Landguard Peninsula has been fortified with a fort since 1540 to safeguard the approach to Harwich Harbour.
In 1667, this site witnessed the last opposing seaborne invasion of England when a Dutch force of 2,000 troops landed at Felixstowe Beach and were repelled by the Royal Marines in their first land battle.
The fort, as it stands today, was reconstructed in the early 18th century, with additional outer batteries added throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Decommissioned in 1956, the fort features a maze of rooms and passageways that visitors can explore with the aid of audioguides.
The magazines display information about the firepower this facility was once capable of, and visitors can ascend the Harwich Bastion for remarkable views of the Port of Felixstowe.
2. Felixstowe Museum
Housed within the Victorian submarine mining establishment at Landguard Fort, Felixstowe Museum displays an abundance of artifacts across 14 rooms.
Among its exhibits, visitors can view mammoth tusks, cannonballs, fossils, medieval coins, Roman ceramics, and even peep into a submarine mine, alongside details of the steamers that once docked at Felixstowe Pier.
The museum also features intriguing medical displays from the now-closed St Audry’s Hospital.
During World War II, Felixstowe served as a Coastal Forces base, with artifacts including an aircraft seat, models, and RAF uniforms commemorating that period.
From the 1st to 4th centuries AD, the area was inhabited by Romans, who left behind pottery, coins, and jewelry, a selection of which is on display at the museum.
3. Felixstowe Seafront Gardens
North of the pier lies a series of eight Victorian and Edwardian gardens, which contribute to Felixstowe’s reputation as “The Garden Resort of East Anglia.” These charming gardens are arranged in terraces that slope down the cliff, providing a continuous area of leisure.
The Seafront Gardens originated with the establishment of a pump room that permitted visitors to “take” the naturally occurring spring water from the cliff’s rock.
The gardens extend for a kilometer along the seafront, preserving much of their original planting, pathways, and numerous turn-of-the-century features.
Visitors can enjoy Pulhamite grottos, waterfalls, fountains, sculptures, and elegant old shelters, all combined in a splendid display of vibrant flowerbeds, exotic palms, and meticulously maintained shrubs.
A designated heritage trail highlights the enduring fixtures that have survived for over a century.
4. Felixstowe Pier
Since its opening in 1905, Felixstowe Pier has been central to the town’s waterfront. The pier originally featured its own train station and served as a docking point for steamers connecting Felixstowe with places like London and Great Yarmouth.
During World War II, fearing a German invasion, the pierhead was demolished, and after years of gradual decay, the remaining structure was closed to the public due to safety concerns in 1999. Fortunately, a multimillion-pound redevelopment has recently been completed at the landward end, featuring a family entertainment center with arcade games and retro-style ten-pin bowling.
In addition, there is an ice cream parlor, a fish and chip shop, and the Boardwalk Cafe Bar, perfect for enjoying scenic sea views.
5. Felixstowe Ferry
Located three miles up the coast from Felixstowe Pier, Felixstowe Ferry presents a quieter and more tranquil environment.
This picturesque maritime hamlet sits at the mouth of the River Deben, featuring historic boat sheds, timber-framed houses, a public house, a church, a sailing club, and a boatyard.
Moored in the estuary are houseboats and small fishing vessels, and in the mornings, visitors can purchase freshly caught fish right by the water.
Two of Felixstowe’s four Martello towers, which are coastal defenses from the Napoleonic era, protect the waterfront at Felixstowe Ferry.
This captivating locale is accessible on foot from the main promenade.
After exploring the hamlet, visitors can take a ferry across to Bawdsey Manor or continue along the Deben Estuary.
Venturing just inland, one can find the King’s Fleet, a historic waterway used by Edward III to gather his fleet before embarking on his campaign to claim the French throne at the outset of the Hundred Years’ War in 1338.
6. Felixstowe South Beach
One of the primary reasons many families flock to Felixstowe during the summer months is to enjoy the four miles of beach along a sheltered, gently curving bay.
Although the beach is continuous, the segment to the north of the pier is commonly referred to as North Beach and consists mostly of shingle, whereas the extended South Beach comprises both sand and shingle, making it the preferred option for families.
Stretching along the entire beach is a tarmac promenade lined with beach huts, accessible via a road train during school holidays and on weekends throughout the year.
The South Beach has adequate sand for building sandcastles, while cooler days invite refreshing walks along the shore, allowing visitors to observe the enormous container ships arriving at the port and indulge in some beachcombing.
Along Sea Road, visitors will find numerous fish and chip shops, amusement arcades, and ice cream parlors open during the summer.
7. Martello Park
Another delightful park located behind the promenade at the southern end of Sea Road is Martello Park.
This park is named after the Napoleonic coastal defense structure situated on its lawn, which has been recently restored.
This notable structure comprises over 750,000 bricks, and after the Napoleonic Wars, it served as a coastguard station and subsequently transitioned to a radio station during World War I.
The park features a large expanse of grass suitable for picnicking during beach visits, a splash pad for children operational from April to October, and two kiosks offering refreshments.
8. Landguard Visitor Centre
Adjacent to Landguard Fort and the Felixstowe Museum, the visitor center features exhibitions that explore the history and natural aspects of the peninsula.
Children can engage with interactive displays and multimedia screens, while there is also a café offering indulgent treats, salads, full meals, or warm beverages in winter.
Just in front of the visitor center, visitors can catch a ferry across the estuary to tour Harwich, which features a charming old town laid out in a grid pattern.
9. John Bradfield Viewing Area
The shingle beach located outside the Landguard Visitor Centre provides the best vantage point for observing the busiest container port in the UK. From this outdoor terrace, it is possible to watch the enormous container ships navigating one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
Approximately 3,000 ships dock at Felixstowe Port annually, coming from 400 ports worldwide and operated by more than 30 shipping lines.
Visitors can also observe the Harwich/Shotley ferry crossing the channel, appearing minuscule in comparison to the vast container vessels.
In addition to the ships, one can gaze west and northwest to take in the Stour and Orwell Estuaries, or look across to the Shotley Peninsula and the towns of Dovercourt and Harwich.
10. Trimley Marshes
In the 1990s, during the expansion of the Port of Felixstowe, the Trimley Marshes were established as a wetland habitat for migratory and resident birds, compensating for the loss of the Fagbury Mudflats.
It is remarkable to consider that prior to this transformation, the Trimley Marshes were agricultural land, and that the pools, reedbeds, and wet meadows emerged through human intervention.
Species including avocets, ringed plovers, and tufted ducks can be found nesting around the lagoon and islands within the reserve.
During spring and autumn, migratory birds such as greenshanks, curlew sandpipers, and common sandpipers visit in large numbers to forage on the muddy banks.
Given its coastal setting, visitors may be fortunate enough to spot rarer species like stilt sandpipers, black-winged stilts, and pectoral sandpipers.
11. Forum Amusement Centre
Establishments such as the Forum Amusement Centre have epitomized the essence of English seaside resorts since the Victorian era.
The Forum focuses on a variety of games, including claw machines, coin pushers, fruit machines, and an array of arcade video games.
This venue also offers a selection of classic games where participants of all ages can earn tokens for prizes like plush toys.
The forum has a food court featuring traditional favorites such as fish and chips, alongside a souvenir shop selling Felixstowe rock candy.
12. Manning’s Amusement Park
Housed around a magnificent Art Deco pavilion constructed in 1932, Manning’s Amusement Park promises entertainment for both teenagers and younger children.
The park features an amusement arcade, a mini-golf course, a funfair, traditional fair games, a ten-pin bowling alley, and a bustling market every Sunday.
The original owner, W. E. Butlin, later gained fame for his chain of holiday parks, and the Manning family has managed it since 1946. In its early years, the park featured a man-made rowing lake that was home to monkeys.
13. Spa Pavilion
A central feature of Felixstowe’s waterfront, the Spa Pavilion is a performing arts venue that was originally built in 1909 to replace the town’s bandstand.
The Pavilion underwent significant renovations in 1939, though it sustained damage during World War II, resulting in its partially modernized exterior from 1950. The grand Art Deco auditorium from the 1939 reconstruction can accommodate over 900 individuals.
Previously owned by the Suffolk Coastal District Council until the 2010s, the venue was sold off for merely £1 as a cost-saving measure.
Since 2015, the Spa Pavilion has revived its role as a community venue, hosting touring comedians, dance companies, musicals, tribute performances, and various forms of entertainment.
14. Felixstowe Road Train
Families visiting Felixstowe with younger children can utilize this unconventional mode of transport for traversing the long seafront promenade.
The Felixstowe Road Train operates daily from 11:00 to 16:00 during school holidays, as well as on weekends throughout the year.
Visitors can board the train at Manor End by the entrance to Martello Park in the south, traveling along to the Spa Pavilion.
The train stops at several key locations: Manning’s Amusements, Ocean Boulevard, the Pier, and Bent Hill before reaching the Spa Pavilion.
Ticket prices are £2.50 for adults and £1 for children.
15. Golf
The esteemed Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club is the only links course in Suffolk and ranks among the 246 genuine links courses globally.
Founded in 1880, it continually receives accolades, including the title of Championship Venue of the Year awarded by England Golf in 2018. Green fees for the prestigious Martello Course are set at £60, offering an unforgettable golfing experience surrounded by breathtaking coastal scenery, which also includes views of another of Felixstowe’s Martello towers.
For those seeking a more relaxed round, the Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club features a nine-hole pay-and-play course alongside the River Deben. Additionally, families can take part in Adventure Golf back on Sea Road, where they can test their putting skills amidst water gardens and whimsical Mesoamerican sculptures.
