Activities in Lowestoft

A National Park packed with 125-miles of waterways that navigate past quaint villages and wind through the quintessential British countryside, The Broads are perfect for walkers, cyclists, water sports fans and nature lovers. Oulton, commonly known as the gateway to the Broads, is located just two miles from Lowestoft. Head in for a lazy day on a boat, sign up to a variety of cruises, hire a canoe for the day or even charter your own narrow-boat or yacht and discover the waterways for yourself.

Less than a mile from our Lowestoft hotel, Pleasurewood Hills is a family-friendly theme park packed with rides, animals shows, a kids zone and even laser tag. The perfect place to entertain little ones come rain or shine, there are over 30 rides and attractions ranging from those designed for small children and families right up to some heart-stopping roller coasters including the Jolly Roger which fires you 60ft into the air, putting 5.5G on you, roughly the same G-force as F1 drivers experience!

Several miles south of Lowestoft in Kessingland is Africa Alive where you can get close to more than 80 animal species including rhinos, lions and ostriches. With over 1,000 animals spread over 60 acres, there’s always something new to spot, as well as a range of animal experiences you can sign up for where you can meet the meerkats and even feed the giraffes.

Take a step back in time at the East Anglia Transport Museum at nearby Carlton Colville and discover their treasure trove of trams, buses and trains that chart the evolution of transport over the last century. As well as exhibitions, a dedicated museum and a café and shop, you can hop on several vintage buses and trams and go for a ride. There’s also a miniature railway which will take you around the museum and its grounds in serious style.

A stunning Victorian country house, and one of the finest of its kind in the country, Somerleyton Hall includes 12-acres of landscaped gardens, impressive greenhouses designed by the Crystal Palace architect, sky-scraping trees and a famous yew hedge maze that dates back to 1864. Grown-ups will enjoy the tours around select rooms, but the real draw here is the 400-foot long maze which will keep little ones (and big ones!) busy for half an hour.A word to the wise, Bodenham Arboretum is not free, and the price of tickets changes with the seasons of the year but at roughly a few pounds for adults it's worth it for a peaceful afternoon outdoors.

The most easterly beaches in the UK and with two Blue Flag beaches, take in the golden sands from a cute beach hut or dive into the North Sea for a spot of watersports...

Based around Claremont Pier, Lowestoft Beach has recently undergone a multi-million pound regeneration project, improving the promenade and adding increased coastal protection to the children’s area. In the middle of Lowestoft, there are plenty of nearby cafés, shops and bars and summer-time lifeguards. The pier itself is home to the Aquarium bar and live music venue, as well as The Fun Palace arcade and Rollers where up to 50 people can roller skate under disco lights.

Several miles south of Lowestoft, Kessingland Beach is a long, often deserted stretch of beach perfect for quiet exploring, swimming, surfing and dog-walking (although dogs are banned from May to September and required to be on a lead at all other times). There’s parking on the edge of the village and several cafés on the beach front, but watch out for the steep steps on the way down.

If you want to make your beach outing into a day out, head to Southwold Beach, a charming village several miles south of Lowestoft. The beach revolves around the historic pier, its beach-hut lined promenade and golden beaches. The pier is the perfect spot for lunch, with several cafés and restaurants, and an arcade and fun-house for kids to explore.

On the southern edge of Southwold is Walberswick Beach, a sand and shingle beach full of sweeping dunes and tufty grass patches. Kids can go crabbing by the harbour in the summer and the village has a tea room, gift shop, an art gallery and arts and craft shops to explore.