_Why Felixstowe is the place to be
Felixstowe seafront
At the southern-most point of Suffolk, the charming seaside town of Felixstowe has been overlooked in the past… but it’s gaining more and more fans.
Known for being the biggest container port in the UK, and one of the largest in Europe, it’s the destination for those HGVs you see streaming along the A14 to the coast.
Felixstowe seafront with the container port in the background
Where is Felixstowe
Felixstowe is sandwiched between the gaudy ‘kiss me quick’ delights of Clacton and Southend-on-Sea to the south in Essex and the more genteel and restrained seaside towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold to the north.
Nestled between the Rivers Orwell and Deben, Felixstowe is a lovely halfway house between the two.
Felixstowe promenade
What's there to do in Felixstowe
The traditional Victorian seafront has a lovely promenade backed by lavish and well-tended subtropical gardens that edge a long and sandy beach, with Edwardian hotels and B&Bs and the pleasant town perched on the cliff above.
Completed in 1905, Felixstowe's pier was once one of the longest in the country with its own electric tramway running to the end and was the stopping point for the ‘Belle’ paddle steamers which operated between London and Great Yarmouth.
Felixstowe Pier
The majority of Felixstowe Pier was purposely demolished during the Second World War but there’s enough there to enjoy including amusements, rides and café.
Places to head for on the seafront include The Alex, the buzziest place in the town, with downstairs café and upstairs brasserie serving oysters, steaks and lots of seafood and shellfish. Enjoy the view from the sea-facing outside terrace.
Skimming stones, Felixstowe beach
Nearby is Fish Dish serving superb fish and chips but also fish dishes such as charcoal-grilled sea bass and sea bream, fish pie and salt and pepper squid.
On the Undercliff Road opposite the leisure centre, the Little Ice Cream Co does exactly what it says on the tin.
Beach Street, Felixstowe
Housed in a colourful shipping container complex with a wonderful range of small independent and artisan businesses is Beach Street. An exciting place to eat, drink and shop on Felixstowe seafront, take your pick from New York style pizzas, waffles and crepes, Vietnamese street food, vegan food at Hank’s Dirty, a great range of craft ales at Hopsters and smoked food at The View Smoke House. Why not stay at The Fludyers.
Felixstowe seafront eating
Spa Pavilion hosts shows and performances throughout the year.
Don’t miss the riverside village of Felixstowe Ferry where there are some nice pubs and eateries and from where you can take a foot ferry across the river Deben to Bawdsey.
And should container ferries be your thing, head to the port to see if there’s one around under the giant dockside cranes. They are mahoosive! While you’re here visit the Felixstowe Museum in Landguard Fort and Languard Nature Reserve or have a have a cup of tea at the View Point Café while observing the harbour traffic where the rivers Stour and Orwell conjoin and head out to sea. Why not enjoy a harbour ferry ride.
Dog Friendly
The Fludyers Hotel
The Fludyers Hotel is a vibrant hotel and restaurant located on the Suffolk coast just yards from the beach
Dog Friendly
The Harbour Ferry Boat Rides
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Visit Landguard
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Felixstowe?
Felixstowe is in Suffolk in the East of England.
Felixstowe is 2 hours from London and 3 hours from Birmingham by car.
- Does Felixstowe have a train station?
Felixstowe is on a branch line from Ipswich, a stop on the Inter City line between London Liverpool Street and Norwich. The fastest train journey is 1 hour 40 minutes.
- What is so special about Felixstowe?
Felixstowe was the first town in the British Isles to adopt permanent static beach huts rather than wheeled bathing machines. For that it is known as the Home of the British Beach Hut.
- What are the main attractions in Felixstowe?
Felixstowe pier and gardens, Beach Street, Landguard Fort and a quirky town centre.
- What is the best time to visit Felixstowe?
Felixstowe can be visited year-round.
- What to do in Felixstowe, Suffolk?
Visit Landguard Fort, an English Heritage-run ancient monument with museum and café and its own nature reserve. To stay, try The Fludyers.
- Is Felixstowe a seaside town?
Felixstowe is a town by the sea, with sandy beach, prom, amusements and pier.
- Does Felixstowe have a beach?
Felixstowe has a fabulous sandy beach.
- Does Felixstowe have a pier?
Felixstowe has a pier, constructed in 1905, some of which remains today as an amusement arcade.
- Can you get a ferry from Felixstowe?
Harbour Ferry Boat Rides operates from the View Point, near Landguard Fort.
- Is Felixstowe a nice place to visit?
If you like a smidgeon of traditional English seaside, Felixstowe is a fantastic place to visit.
- Is Felixstowe a good holiday destination?
Felixstowe has been a good holiday destination since the late Victorian period when it became a fashionable resort after the railway arrived in 1877.
- What is Felixstowe famous for?
Felixstowe is the site of the last opposed invasion of England in 1667 when Dutch soldiers landed near the Fludyers area and tried to capture Landguard Fort due to its strategic location. It was the first land battle involving the Marines, who triumphed.
- What has happened in Felixstowe?
Wallis Simpson stayed in Felixstowe in 1936 to claim British residence for her divorce from Ernest Simpson so that she could marry Edward VIII. The events sparked the abdication crisis in December of the same year.
- When is Felixstowe carnival?
Felixstowe Carnival takes place in late July.
- Is Felixstowe in Essex?
Felixstowe is in Suffolk. Essex is just across the confluence of the Rivers Orwell and Stour at Harwich.
- How did Felixstowe get its name?
The obvious answer would be that Felixstowe is named after Felix of Dunwich, St Felix, the first bishop of the kingdom of the East Angles and credited as the man who introduced Christianity to the East of England in the 7th century. But the name Felixstowe is not recorded for another 900 years. Others believe the name comes from the Anglo-Saxon or Old English name ‘Filicia’ and ‘stow’, meaning a homestead. Literally Filicia's place. ‘Filchestou’ is recorded in 1254, and ‘Filchestowe’ in 1291. It is possible that the later reworking of Filicia/Filche was made to reference St Felix.
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