Felixstowe

Container ships glide past like floating cities while families build sandcastles below - that's Felixstowe in a nutshell. This working port town manages to balance serious shipping business with proper seaside fun, creating an oddly compelling mix that most coastal resorts can't match.

The beach stretches for miles, backed by colourful beach huts and a decent promenade. Kids love watching the massive vessels navigating the harbour mouth from the John Bradfield Viewing Area, while Landguard Fort offers a fascinating glimpse into centuries of coastal defence. The Victorian fortress sits at the very tip of the peninsula, with Landguard Nature Reserve spreading behind it - brilliant for spotting migrant birds during spring and autumn.

Cross the water to Harwich and you'll find even more maritime history. Ha'penny Pier houses an excellent visitors centre, while the Kindertransport Memorial provides a moving reminder of the town's role in rescuing Jewish children before WWII. The Harwich Railway and Shipping Museum tells the broader story of this historic port, and you can climb the High Lighthouse for cracking views across the estuary.

Getting here is straightforward - regular trains from Ipswich take about 25 minutes, or it's an easy drive down the A14. The surrounding Suffolk countryside rolls gently inland, dotted with proper pubs and market towns like Woodbridge.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough to walk into town for fish and chips, but far enough out to enjoy the quieter stretches of coast and countryside that make this corner of Suffolk special.