best places to visit near lowestoft

50 Best and Fun Things To Do In Lowestoft, Suffolk

The 50 Most Popular Things To Do In Lowestoft, Suffolk

50. haven hopton owners lounge.

5.0 ★★★★★  (2 reviews)

Location: Hopton Great Yarmouth

49. South Beach Lowestoft

4.7 ★★★★★  (3 reviews)

Credit:   Tim Parkinson , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: South Beach Lowestoft

Web Address:   https://lowestofttowncouncil.gov.uk/local-information/visit-lowestoft/

48. Haven Hopton Holiday Village

5.0 ★★★★★  (4 reviews)

47. Gunton Meadow

4.8 ★★★★★  (4 reviews)

Credit:   Dudley Miles , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: Lowestoft

46. Egg-Spress

3.8 ★★★★☆  (5 reviews)

Credit: Chris Cox, Google Maps

Location: Pleasurewood Hills Ltd Leisure Way Lowestoft

45. Royal Naval Patrol Service Museum

4.0 ★★★★☆  (7 reviews)

Credit: Chris F, Google Maps

Location: Europa Room Sparrows Nest Wapload Rd. Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-586250

Web Address:   http://rnps.lowestoft.org.uk/

44. Benacre Broad

5.0 ★★★★★  (7 reviews)

43. Lowestoft Ness

3.1 ★★★☆☆  (8 reviews)

Credit:   Roger Jones , License , Wikimedia commons

42. Cannonball Express

3.3 ★★★☆☆  (9 reviews)

Credit: ThemePark Mark, Google Maps

Location: Leisure Way Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-586000

Web Address:   http://pleasurewoodhills.com/

41. Skillz Bike Park

5.0 ★★★★★  (11 reviews)

Credit: Syrupy Rizler, Google Maps

Location: Corton Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-730537

Web Address:   https://skillzbikepark.co.uk/

40. Lake Lothing

4.2 ★★★★☆  (13 reviews)

Credit:   Smiths Suitall Ltd , License , Wikimedia commons

39. lowestoft war memorial museum

4.5 ★★★★★  (15 reviews)

Credit:   Robert Jarvis , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: Sparrows Nest Whapload Road Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-588190

Web Address:   http://lowestoftwarmemorialmuseum.co.uk/

38. South Pier Lowestoft

4.1 ★★★★☆  (19 reviews)

Credit:   Stacey Harris , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: Royal Plain South Pier Royal Terrace Lowestoft

37. North Cove Nature Reserve

4.4 ★★★★☆  (23 reviews)

Location: Beccles

36. Fritton Lake

4.2 ★★★★☆  (25 reviews)

Credit: John Fielding, Google Maps

35. Pets Corner Farm Park

3.4 ★★★☆☆  (27 reviews)

Credit: Pets Corner Farm Park, Google Maps

Location: Bridge Road Oulton Broad Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-563533

Web Address:   http://petscorner-oultonbroad.co.uk/

34. Lowestoft Lighthouse

3.8 ★★★★☆  (32 reviews)

Location: 3 Yarmouth Road Lowestoft

Tel:   7709-836891

Web Address:   https://trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouses-and-lightvessels/lowestoft-lighthouse

33. Hopton Beach

4.7 ★★★★★  (44 reviews)

Credit: Graham Mills, Google Maps

32. Lound Lakes

4.5 ★★★★★  (56 reviews)

Credit: Gemma Holmes, Google Maps

Web Address:   https://suffolkwildlifetrust.org/loundlakes

31. Kirkley Fen Park

4.2 ★★★★☆  (76 reviews)

Credit: Muhammad Haque, Google Maps

Location: 3 Martin’s Ave Lowestoft

Web Address:   https://facebook.com/groups/4023897517655389/

30. Henstead Exotic Gardens

4.4 ★★★★☆  (110 reviews)

Location: Church Road Henstead Beccles

Tel:   7715-876606

Web Address:   http://hensteadexoticgarden.co.uk/

29. Sparrow’s Nest Gardens

4.5 ★★★★★  (120 reviews)

Tel:   1502-502205

Web Address:   http://discoverlowestoft.co.uk/business/sparrows-nest-gardens/

28. Pakefield Beach Hut

4.5 ★★★★★  (124 reviews)

Credit:   Tim Parkinson , License , Flickr

Web Address:   http://pakefieldbeachhut.com/

27. Swallow park leisure

4.7 ★★★★★  (130 reviews)

Credit: Swallow park leisure, Google Maps

Location: 11 Beccles Road Belton Great Yarmouth

Tel:   7941-623710

Web Address:   http://swallowpark.com/

26. Gunton Warren

4.6 ★★★★★  (140 reviews)

Location: 161 Corton Road Lowestoft

Web Address:   http://suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/gunton-warren

25. Bubbles Family Amusements

4.7 ★★★★★  (153 reviews)

Location: 1 Warren Road Hopton Great Yarmouth

Web Address:   https://facebook.com/bubblesamusements/

24. Covehithe Beach

4.8 ★★★★★  (162 reviews)

Credit:   Barry Badcock , License , Flickr

23. Lowestoft Beach Huts

4.4 ★★★★☆  (176 reviews)

Credit:   Helen Steed , License , Wikimedia commons

22. Normanston Park

4.5 ★★★★★  (192 reviews)

Credit:   Evelyn Simak , License , Wikimedia commons

21. Corton beach

4.2 ★★★★☆  (194 reviews)

Credit:   Ben Brooksbank , License , Wikimedia commons

20. St Andrew’s Church

4.6 ★★★★★  (199 reviews)

Credit:   John Salmon , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: Mill Ln Covehithe

Web Address:   https://visitchurches.org.uk/visit/church-listing/St-Andrew-Covehithe.html

19. South Beach

4.6 ★★★★★  (244 reviews)

18. Kensington Gardens

4.5 ★★★★★  (290 reviews)

Credit:   mira66 , License , Flickr

Location: Kensington Road Lowestoft

17. Benacre National Nature Reserve

4.7 ★★★★★  (333 reviews)

Location: United Kingdom

16. UK Parachuting

4.7 ★★★★★  (429 reviews)

Location: Beccles Airfield Benacre Road Ellough Beccles

Tel:   1502-476131

Web Address:   http://ukparachuting.co.uk/

15. Richardson’s Family Entertainment Centre

4.2 ★★★★☆  (540 reviews)

Credit: Richardson’s Family Entertainment Centre, Google Maps

Location: 11 Capital Trading Estate Rant Score Whapload Road Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-519200

Web Address:   http://richardsonsfamilybowl.co.uk/

14. Waterlane Leisure Centre

4.3 ★★★★☆  (601 reviews)

Credit: roopesh arjan, Google Maps

Location: Water Ln Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-532540

Web Address:   https://everyoneactive.com/centre/waterlane-leisure-centre/

13. Ness Point

3.9 ★★★★☆  (733 reviews)

Credit:   Glen Denny , License , Wikimedia commons

Tel:   1502-531821

Web Address:   https://lowestofttowncouncil.gov.uk/local-information/visit-lowestoft/ness-point/

12. Carlton Marshes Suffolk Wildlife Trust

4.7 ★★★★★  (781 reviews)

Location: Burnt Hill Ln Carlton Colville Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-359480

Web Address:   http://suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/carlton-marshes

11. South Pier Family Entertainment Centre

4.0 ★★★★☆  (1,535 reviews)

Credit:   Flickruserbert211 , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: 2 Royal Thoroughfare Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-512793

10. Africa Alive Zoological Reserve

4.5 ★★★★★  (2,065 reviews)

Credit: Africa Alive Zoological Reserve, Google Maps

Location: Whites Ln Kessingland Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-740291

Web Address:   https://zsea.org/reserve

9. The Broads

4.7 ★★★★★  (8,252 reviews)

Credit:   Jeremy Segrott , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: Thorpe Road Norwich

Tel:   1603-610734

Web Address:   http://visitthebroads.co.uk/

Our Top picks

4.5 ★★★★★  (24 reviews)

Credit:   John Fielding , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: The Woodlands Lowestoft

7. Lowestoft Museum

4.7 ★★★★★  (64 reviews)

Credit:   Steve Daniels , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: Nicholas Everitt Park Broad House Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-511457

Web Address:   http://lowestoftmuseum.org/

6. Lowestoft Maritime Museum

4.6 ★★★★★  (142 reviews)

Credit:   Jack1956 , License , Wikimedia commons

Location: Whapload Road Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-561963

Web Address:   http://lowestoftmaritimemuseum.co.uk/

5. Pakefield Beach

4.6 ★★★★★  (203 reviews)

4. Claremont Pier

4.2 ★★★★☆  (457 reviews)

Location: Claremont Road Lowestoft

Web Address:   http://claremontpier.co.uk/

3. Nicholas Everitt Park

4.6 ★★★★★  (578 reviews)

2. East Anglia Transport Museum

4.7 ★★★★★  (918 reviews)

Location: Chapel Road Carlton Colville Lowestoft

Tel:   1502-518459

Web Address:   http://eatransportmuseum.co.uk/

1. Pleasurewood Hills Family Theme Park

4.0 ★★★★☆  (3,279 reviews)

Credit:   .Martin. , License , Flickr

Final Words:

Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Lowestoft, Suffolk! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!

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Home » Travel Guides » United Kingdom » England » 15 Best Things to Do in Lowestoft (Suffolk, England)

15 Best Things to Do in Lowestoft (Suffolk, England)

At the Suffolk-Norfolk border, Lowestoft is a seaside resort and port town with an interesting story to tell.

In the 20th century the port was one of the pillars of the UK’s fishing industry, while the town developed with the expansion of offshore oil and gas drilling in the North Sea in the 1970s.

On Lowestoft’s South Pier, the Mincarlo museum ship testifies to both the town’s fishing activity and its oil and gas exploitation.

On sunny summer days Lowestoft’s wide sandy beaches, promenade, Victorian terraces and seafront gardens are all the more appealing, while inland, the town is right on the Broads National Park.

Oulton Broad, within the park, is a sweeping lake edged by a town park and leisure amenities.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Lowestoft :

1. The Broads

Lowestoft is at the southern end of the Broads, a big network of rivers and lakes protected as a National Park and Ramsar Wetland.

Like most of the Broads, Oulton Broad in Lowestoft is a flooded depression most likely caused by peat cutting in Medieval times.

The lake is fringed by a lovely municipal park, cafes and a farm park/petting zoo for children.

Watersports fans come from far and wide for sailing and powerboating in the lake.

You can watch powerboat races on Thursday evenings from April to September on the grassy banks.

The Lowestoft Ferry also runs between Oulton Broad and Lowestoft’s South Pier, departing every hour and a pleasant way to travel between the two tourist spots.

2. Lowestoft Beach

South of Lowestoft’s harbour there’s a long, flat sandy beach, traced by a promenade, gardens, bowling greens and some handsome Victorian houses.

Packed with sun-seeking families in July and August, the beach is split into two by the Claremont Pier.

The pier dates to 1903 and extends for more than 200 metres into the North Sea.

This structure is awaiting redevelopment but at its entrance on the promenade are a couple of restaurants in historic pavilions.

South of the pier the promenade starts to climb the cliff away from the shore, and below there’s a long line of cute beach chalets.

3. The Scores

In Lowestoft’s harbour ward, the Scores are steep lanes descending to the sea between the High Street and Whapload Road.

In the past, Beach Village sat at the bottom of the cliff, and these passages were worn from the soft rock by people making their way up and down the slope over hundreds of years.

There are 14 in all, while 12 are visible today, and as you explore them you can wonder about some of the characters that have trodden these paths, like fishermen and smugglers.

You can download a map of the Scores, and a signposted Scores trail has been set up.

In September the Waveney Athletics Club stages the gruelling Scores Race along these stairways and slopes.

4. Lowestoft Maritime Museum

In a rather small space, this award-winning museum is busting with interesting objects covering different aspects of seafaring in Lowestoft.

There are medals awarded to Royal Navy and RNLI personnel, tools from Lowestoft’s shipyards, fishing paraphernalia, pieces of marine art and a host of ship models.

Especially exciting is the recreated workshop of the hovercraft inventor Christopher Cockerell, including his left-handed lathe, donated to the museum after he passed away in 1999. You can also go into depth on local figures like Robert William Hook, a Victorian-era RNLI coxswain, who saved more than 600 lives in his career, and Thomas Crisp, a Lowestoft local awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for gallantry in the First World War.

5. Africa Alive

This highly-rated wildlife park close in Kessingland is dedicated to animals from the African continent.

Africa Alive has more than 1,000 animals in 60 acres of parkland, keeping many of its inhabitants like ankole cattle, lechwes (antelopes), Somali wild asses and Barbary sheep in vast paddocks.

The Plains of Africa enclosure has children’s favourites like giraffes, rhinos and zebras, while there are also special habitats for lions, cheetahs and African primates.

Two must-dos are the Lookout Lodge, which has a perfect bird’s eye view of the lion enclosure, and Lemur Encounters, where you’ll walk through an enclosure with lemurs overhead.

There’s also a timetable of feeding talks and a daily bird of prey demonstration.

6. East Anglia Transport Museum

A repository for public transport from the first decades of the 20th century, the East Anglia Transport Museum is the only transport museum in the country where you can take rides on trams, buses and trolleybuses in one place.

These vehicles trundle through period street scenes and out into woodland, while there are dozens more static transport artefacts to be found in the exhibition halls.

These have been rescued from councils around the country and even abroad.

There are trams from Blackpool, Glasgow and here in Lowestoft, and Trolleybuses from London, Derby, Belfast and Copenhagen.

Also on display are lorries, vintage cars, taxis and vans with historic livery.

The museum has a tearoom and is open on afternoons in spring and summer, with two “special event” days each month.

7. Pleasurewood Hills

Lowestoft has its own theme park in 50 acres of parkland on the northern edge of town.

Kids under 13 will get the most out of Pleasurewood Hills’ rollercoasters, water rides, bumper cars, carousels and miniature railways.

There are more than 35 rides, shows and attractions in all, more than enough fun for a whole day.

For some adrenaline try “Wipeout”, which is a boomerang rollercoaster, reaching speeds of up to 50 mph, going through three inversions, and then repeating the course backwards.

Little ones can hit the Heart Kids’ Zone, with lighter rides like a mini pirate ship, an indoor play area and flying elephants.

8. Nicholas Everitt Park

On Oulton Broad, Nicholas Everitt Park is a restful open space on what used to be a private estate.

In the late Victorian period the land was owned by one Nicholas Everitt and after he died in 1908, his friend, the philanthropist Howard Hollingsworth bought the estate and donated it to the town.

Everitt’s home, Broad House, contains the Lowestoft Museum, while there’s loads to keep kids entertained in summer, like a boating lake, trampolines and crazy golf.

There’s a big open lawn for picnics next to the Broad, while the bandstand has weekly concerts on Sundays in summer.

• 9. Mincarlo

Berthed at the South Pier is an intriguing relic of Lowestoft’s shipbuilding and fishing industries.

Mincarlo is the last surviving sindwinder trawler of Lowestoft’s fishing fleet, and was laid down at the town’s Brook Marine yards in 1960. For the 60s and most of the 1970s Mincarlo caught plaice, haddock, cod, sole and skate in the North Sea, before serving as a rescue ship for the platforms in the southern North Sea gas fields.

The Mincarlo is now a museum ship, and you can come aboard for a tour to see the engine room, bridge and quarters, scaling ladders as you go.

The tour is given by knowledgeable volunteers, who have engrossing firsthand insights about life aboard trawlers.

10. Lowestoft Museum

Set in the Grade II-listed Broad House in Nicholas Everitt Park, the Lowestoft Museum documents Lowestoft’s heritage.

That house, with decorative merlons and Gothic Revival arches, dates back to 1685. The museum has an important collection of Lowestoft porcelain, produced in the 18th century, as well exhibits relating to local personalities like the famous composer Benjamin Britten.

You dip into Lowestoft’s past as a fishing port, and see curiosities from the ships HMS Mantis and HMS Lowestoft.

Also exciting is the archaeology collection, which along with Roman and Anglo-Saxon objects includes 700,000-year-old flint tools discovered in the Lowestoft in Pakefield, the earliest evidence of human habitation in the UK.

11. St Margaret’s Church

Wherever you are in Lowestoft you should be able to see the illuminated spire of this Grade I-listed church.

For hundreds of years the church tower was used as a waymark for vessels navigating the Suffolk coast.

St Margaret’s is built from flint and dates mainly from the 15th century although it was restored in the Victorian period.

Keep your eyes peeled for the octagonal baptismal font, dating from the 1400s, while the unusual brass lectern goes back to the 16th century and is pre-Reformation.

Also interesting is the wooden panel listing every parish priest at the church since 1308. On the north wall of the nave there’s a moving memorial to all of the Lowestoft fishermen who lost their lives at sea between 1896 and 1923.

12. Kirkley

Lowestoft’s southern suburbs used to be independent villages before they were taken over by the town’s sprawl.

Kirkley is on the coast and mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086. This area is noted for the imposing terrace of Victorian townhouses along Marine Parade, commissioned by the construction entrepreneur Sir Samuel Morton Peto, who managed the firms that built monuments like Nelson’s Column and the new Houses of Parliament.

Further south you’ll come to a traditional Victorian seafront park at Kensington Gardens, overlooking the beach and with a bowling green, tennis courts and tearooms.

13. Somerleyton Hall

Staying on the Peto theme, the businessman bought this Jacobean country house in 1843 and completely transformed the building and its gardens.

He hired the architect John Thomas, who worked on Buckingham Palace, and gave this house an Italianate Baroque Revival design.

In the walled garden are stunning iron and glass greenhouses designed by Joseph Paxton, the man responsible for the Crystal Palace.

Also outside you can try to solve one of the country’s best yew mazes, planted in 1846. The house is still a private home, but you can take a tour to see the parlour, ballroom, library, grand staircase hall and winter garden.

The interior still follows a 17th-century plan and with oak panelling, family portraits, tapestries, stunning carved bookshelves and an opulent silver dining service.

14. Gunton Warren and Corton Woods

Lowestoft is bounded to the north by more than 30 hectares of protected nature.

On the coast, Gunton Warren mixes dunes, cliffs, shingle and lowland.

In summer the scrubby woodland in this reserve offers shelter to migrating bird species like the yellow-browned warbler and icterine, which are rarely spotted in the UK. Inland are the Corton Woods where mature beeches and oaks provide a habitat for woodland birds, and where you may see a variety of wild orchids.

Right next door is the Dip Farm Pitch & Putt if you’re up for some casual golf.

15. Ness Point

Just along from the outer harbour, this rather unassuming protrusion into the North Sea is the most easterly point of England, the British Isles and the UK. Right next door is Orbis Energy, a renewable energy development centre.

The gigantic wind turbine standing here is the tallest in the UK. Named Gulliver, it produced energy from 2005 to 2011. Ness Point is paved with a “Euroscope”, pointing out the direction and distance of cities around Europe and the UK, as well as the sunrise during astronomical events like the solstices and equinox.

15 Best Things to Do in Lowestoft (Suffolk, England):

• Lowestoft Beach
• Lowestoft Maritime Museum
• Africa Alive
• East Anglia Transport Museum
• Pleasurewood Hills
• Nicholas Everitt Park
• Lowestoft Museum
• St Margaret's Church
• Somerleyton Hall
• Gunton Warren and Corton Woods

• Route planner

The Top 20 Attractions around Lowestoft

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Here are the best things to do in the coastal town of Lowestoft

The old seaside town sitting on the northernmost part of Suffolk is Lowestoft. What once was popular Port in Britain, is now a popular tourist destination. You’re in for a treat when you visit the charming old town of Lowestoft. There are plenty of things for you to see and experience; local heritage sites, wildlife park, award-winning beaches, theme parks, theatres and a wide range of restaurants. As if this wasn’t tempting enough, Lowestoft also happens to be the first place where you can experience the sunrise in Britain. 

Now, I know it would not be possible to visit each and every place, especially if you’re here for a short stay. But fret not, we’ve curated some of the best things to do in Lowestoft, for you. 

Best things to do in Lowestoft: 

1. the oulton broads in lowestoft: .

A stone’s throw away from the seaside town of Lowestoft is the lovely village of Oulton Broad. This wonderful place is a gateway to cute cafes, riverside pubs and restaurants, independent shops, Edwardian park, and natural reserves. There’s so much that you can do in here; relax and admire the riverside views while indulging in food, go on a shopping spree, visit the petting zoo, watch powerboats and yachts racing at the waterside park, explore the famous Carlton and Oulton Marshes, stroll around the Nicholas Everitt Park and visit the Lowestoft museum . 

Like I said before, there are plenty of things to see and do in Oulton Broads which appeals to each and every one of you. So if you ask me, this definitely is one of the best things to do in Lowestoft. 

2. Lowestoft Beach

I’m sure most of us love spending time at the beach. I mean, just imagine soaking in the sun, sipping on your drink and chilling at the beach. Sounds great, right? Now, why would you want to miss this experience when you’re in Lowestoft. Go ahead, grab your necessities and hit this award-winning beach with your friends or family. 

The Lowestoft beach is a long, golden sandy beach, split into two by a century-old Claremont Pier and is definitely one of the best things to do in Lowestoft. You get an amazing view of the beach and also of the gardens, Victorian houses and cute colourful beach huts lined up. Go for a swim, play water sports, visit the traditional summer fair, relish local food, or just do nothing and you’ll still have a good time. 

3. The Lowestoft Scores

One of the most important parts of the town’s heritage is are the scores. The scores are a series of narrow lanes which once provided a vital link between the town’s high street on top of a cliff with the beach fishing village below. Although the beach village is long gone, the scores still remain for its historic significance. 

When you’re in Lowestoft, I’d recommend you to do this as it offers a lot of fun and history. Initially, there were 14 scores, but currently, there are only twelve. So for those of you who love walking and discovering interesting things, this is definitely one of the best things to do in Lowestoft. Each track is about 1.5 miles so you can choose as many scores as you’d like. For people who don’t hate physical exercise as I do, there’s an even more fun experience for you guys. Take part in the gruelling scores race conducted by the Waveney Athletics Club, in the month of September,  where you’ll have to run up and down all the scores. 

4. Pakefield & Kirkley

A charming coastal suburb of Lowestoft found on top of a cliff overlooking the North Sea is Pakefield. This historic coastal gem is definitely worth visiting. As soon as you enter this pretty village, you’ll witness its maritime past all around, from little fishermen’s cottages to 19th-century lighthouse. While you’re in Pakefield, you must definitely visit its historic pubs, the church on top of a cliff, and cute cafes serving English tea and cakes. 

The vibrant district of Kirkley is located on the southern coast of Lowestoft. If you’re looking for a place for a family’s day out, then Kirkley is the perfect place to visit. The district is famous for its impressive Victorian houses overlooking the sea along the marine parade and for being the birthplace of a famous composer, Benjamin Britten. The district is always bustling with local retailers, cafes and restaurants, making it an exciting place to visit. 

If you’re in for a long haul, then you should visit these two places as they are some of the best things to do in Lowestoft

Also read: 15 Best Things to Do in Ipswich, Suffolk

5. Africa Alive

I’m sure most of would get bored if we only visit beaches or historical places throughout the trip. So, why not add something exciting to your plan besides these? One of my personal favourites and the best things to experience is the highly-rated wildlife park, Africa Alive. The wildlife park located in Kessingland is committed to the protection of animals from the African continent. But not just that, you’ll also find a wide range of British Wildlife in here. This walking safari is set in 100 acres of Suffolk countryside and is home to more than eighty species of animals. 

Whether you’re an animal lover or not, you should definitely visit Africa Alive. You’ll spot five species of the African savannah animals, giraffes, zebras, rhinoceros, and many more species. When you’re in Africa Alive, do no miss out on the lookout lodge, where you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the lion enclosure, and the Lemur encounters, where you’ll walk in a cage with lemurs on top. 

6. Pleasurewood Hills

Children’s favourite, Pleasurewood Hills is the theme park in Lowestoft offering a variety of thrilling and exciting activities. The theme park is home to more than 35 rides, attractions and shows, which would be enough for an entire day. Some of the fun rides for the kids over 13 are the rollercoasters, water rides, bumper cars, carousels and miniature railways. You’ll also find the heart kids zone for the little ones. So if you’re travelling with your kids or you just want to add some thrill to your itinerary, then this is one of the best things to do in Lowestoft.

How to reach?

It’s easily accessible by bus and train. You can take a direct train from Norwich and Ipswich or ongoing connections from Cambridge and London Liverpool Street. 

If you’re travelling to the UK, then make sure you add Lowestoft to the itinerary. You can start creating your own customised itinerary on our website, pickyourtrail.com . Or if you’d like to have expert-created itineraries, then head to our UK Tour Packages page . You can also WhatsApp or talk to our destination experts for more assistance. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and book your much-awaited vacation. 

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Lowestoft guide

Be the first to see the sunrise in the UK

Sitting proudly in the northernmost part of The Suffolk Coast is Lowestoft. Famous for being the most easterly town and the first place to see the sunrise in the UK, it's also the birthplace of composer Benjamin Britten. 

With its alluring sandy beach and the beautiful Broads, Lowestoft is a place that connects with and celebrates the sea.

The town is a favourite with families, and there's plenty to see and do; with two piers, a wildlife park, an award-winning theme park, museums and a busy theatre which is home to the Royal Philhamonic Orchestra.

Did you know?

Lowestoft is home to Ness Point, the UK’s most easterly point and is one of the leading areas in the UK for renewable energy. Historically, Lowestoft was a thriving port at the centre of the fishing industry with 400 million herring landed every season at the height of the industry. 

Fishing gave way to oil and gas exploration and as this has faded in importance, renewable wind energy has taken its place. And whilst the port is important so are other businesses such as CEFAS, which is a world leader in marine science and technology, and Birds Eye who produced the first fish finger in Lowestoft! 

Lowestoft is also the birthplace of English composer, conductor and pianist Benjamin Britten, and you can still see, and even stay in the house on Kirkley Cliff Road where he was born and spent his childhood.  

things to do in lowestoft where to stay in lowestoft where to eat in lowestoft

Why not visit:

• Deben Peninsula
• Framlingham
• Kessingland
• Oulton Broad
• Walberswick
• Waveney Valley
• Wickham Market

Lowestoft Highlights

1. East Point Pavilion

Enjoy fantastic food, grab a drink and take in the sea views at Lowestoft’s latest good times spot. Brilliantly redesigned within a stunning Victoriana-style glass pavilion overlooking the sea, East Point Pavilion offers everything from drinks and dinner to live music, yoga, film screenings and markets.

The venue is fully accessible and is home to 1 disabled toilet and 1 Changing Places space, as well as separate Men’s and Women’s toilets. These are public toilets, and so you don’t need to buy anything in order to use them.

2. First Light Festival 

For those outdoor and active types why not book a horse ride along the beach with  Pakefield Riding School !   One of the oldest and best-known horse riding centres and stables in East Anglia.

Situated close to the countryside and Pakefield beach, in Lowestoft, the Riding School offers a wide range of activities to novices, experienced and advanced equestrian enthusiasts, including lessons for all abilities and any age from two years upwards, hacks and beach rides.

4. Oulton Broad

The gateway to the Broads National Park, Oulton Broad offers year-round water sports, cute cafes, riverside restaurants and bars and an Edwardian Park; Nicholas Everitt Park.

Explore the river yourself by taking out a self drive boat from   Oulton Dayboats .

5. Historic Scores

A unique feature of the town, The Scores are a series of narrow lanes created over the years by people forming paths in the cliff as they travelled between the historic High Street and the Beach Village. Spend an hour or two walking The Scores trail to understand Lowestoft's history and it's long relationship with the sea. Every year in September, hoards of runners assemble in the historic high street for the annual Scores Race. The 4.75 mile race runs up and down the historic scores, with a total of 401 steps and passageways!

Whilst here, you can also enjoy a walk through the Sparrows Nest Gardens and check out the Lowestoft Maritime Museum to learn about the town's long history with the sea.

6. Nature and Wildlife 

With some of the UK's rarest birds being spotted on  Pakefield   beach, and  Oulton Broad  the start of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, Lowestoft and the surrounding area is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts and those who enjoy exploring the great outdoors.

In the neighbouring village of Carlton Colville, you will also find Carlton and Oulton Marshes; a  Suffolk Wildlife Trust  reserve. Here you can spot Marsh Harrier, Bearded Tits and Snipes.

Lowestoft Beach Guide

Awarded a Seaside Award in 2024, Lowestoft beach is a favourite amongst families and is said to have been the inspiration for Benjamin Britten's first masterpiece. With wide golden sands, beach huts, a pier and toilet and shower facilities its perfect for swimming and paddling, building sandcastles and enjoying a walk along the prom.

With two wide, sandy stretches either side of the Claremont Pier, this beach is ideal for families, sea swimmers, paddle boarders and windsurfers.

To find out more and plan your visit to Lowestoft Beach, check out our Lowestoft Beach Guide.

Lowestoft beach is now more accessible, with a boardwalk that provides year-round access on to the beach for people with disabilities, particularly wheelchair users, Changing Places facilities at East Point Pavilion, accessible beach huts and and beach wheelchairs available to hire. The wheelchairs are free to hire and have large pneumatic wheels which just can be used to help you access the sandy beach and shoreline at Lowestoft South Beach. Booking in advance required, to enquire about availability and arrange to hire, contact the Beach Office on [email protected] or calling 01502 586167.

Please note that you must be able to transfer yourself from your usual wheelchair onto a beach wheelchair as we do not have a hoist available. The chairs are supplied with a chest strap but do not have a head support. The maximum weight is 25 stone (350 lbs / 158kg). Children should be at least 3' (92cm) tall to fit in the chair.

Useful Information

A Changing Places toilet is located at the East Point Pavilion . To see the facilities, watch this informative video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQQjlhFnOLE

Free WiFi is available within the town's WiFi zone which covers the seafront to the town centre, including Kirkley High Street and the Triangle at the North of the High Street, making it easy for visitors to get online during your visit.

Have a look at this neat little pocket guide to the Lowestoft to help plan your trip.

Lowestoft Pocket Guide

Visitor Information Points (VIPs) are located at:

Lowestoft Library, Clapham Road South, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 1DR

Lowestoft Railway Station, Denmark Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2EG

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 Lowestoft - By 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. 

Local and national bus services leave from the town's station.

Address: Gordon Road, Lowestoft, NR32 1LR.

With direct train services running to Norwich and Ipswich, and on-going connections to Cambridge and London Liverpool Street. For timetables, visit the Greater Anglia website.

Address: Lowestoft Rail Station, Denmark Road, Lowestoft NR32 2EG

Car Parks in Lowestoft

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.

Town Centre:

Clapham Road Car Park, Rishton Road, NR32 1RR - Pay and Display 

Britten Centre Car Park, Surrey Street, Lowestoft NR32 1LJ - Pay and Display

Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft, NR32 1EQ - Pay and Display

Lowestoft Beach :

Kirkley Cliff Road Car Park, NR33 0BZ  - Pay and Display

Claremont Pier Car Park, NR33 0BS  - Pay and Display

Royal Green, The Esplanade, Lowestoft NR33 0AY - Pay and Display

Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HS - Pay and Display

Oulton Broad:  

Bridge Road, Oulton Broad NR32 3LN  

Parking for Larger Vehicles and Campervans

Belvedere Road, Lowestoft, NR33 0PH (in designated coach bays)

Nicholas Everitt Park, Oulton Broad, NR33 9JT (in designated coach bays)

For further details visit  Larger vehicles and campervans » East Suffolk Council

Walking in Lowestoft

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.

Travel Information & News

For the latest travel information listen to or visit  BBC Radio Suffolk 

For local news, visit the  East Anglian Daily Times  of   Eastern Daily Press  websites.

WHERE TO STAY IN AND AROUND Lowestoft

WHERE TO EAT IN AND AROUND Lowestoft

Things to do in Lowestoft

SHOPPING IN AND AROUND Lowestoft

PLAN YOUR FUTURE TRIP TO THE SUFFOLK COAST IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME

The attractions and hotels, along with bars, cafes and restaurants in Suffolk are following the strict Public Health England and World Health Organisation guidelines to maintain public safety at all times, and are closed. The advice is not to travel at all - even to campsites, caravan parks or second homes whether for isolation purposes or holidays. People should remain in their primary residence to avoid putting extra pressure on local services. For now, please enjoy our website and look for inspiration for your future trip to the Suffolk coast so you are ready to visit as soon as we re-open! For more information on social distancing visit www.gov.uk/social-distancing