Leiston

Two nuclear reactors dominate the skyline here, but don't let that put you off. Leiston might not win beauty contests, but this proper working Suffolk town has grit and character that the chocolate-box villages sometimes lack.

The coast beckons just three miles east. Sizewell Beach stretches for miles, backed by those iconic power station domes that somehow add drama rather than detract from it. Further south lies Aldeburgh with its pebble beach and famous fish and chips, while Thorpeness offers a more whimsical charm around its artificial lake and converted Thorpeness Windmill.

Leiston itself keeps things real. The high street has seen better days, true enough, but there's still life here. Leiston Leisure Centre provides a good pool for rainy days, while nearby you'll find Forty Acre Belt for woodland walks when you need to escape the seaside crowds.

The Aldeburgh Festival crowd descend each June, transforming the area. Year-round though, this stretch of Suffolk coast offers proper solitude. The Scallop sculpture on Aldeburgh beach divides opinion - some call it art, others an eyesore - but The Angel of the East further north is worth seeking out.

Getting here is straightforward enough from Ipswich or Norwich, though you'll want a car for exploring properly. The holiday parks scattered around Leiston make perfect sense for coast and countryside access. You're minutes from shingle beaches, half an hour from the Broads, and well-placed for both Southwold and Orford when day-trip fever strikes.