Felixstowe

Lying on the coast between the Rivers Orwell and Deben, the town is normally considered to include the adjoining town of Walton and the area known informally as Old Felixstowe. A seaside town that is famous for its container port (the largest in the UK).

By car

Felixstowe is about 90 minutes - 2 hr drive from Central London. It is easily reached by road from the Midlands via the A14.

By train

• Felixstowe Station

  address: Railway Approach, Felixstowe, IP11 9UD
  On the Felixstowe Branch Line from the Great Eastern Mainline. Managed by and services provided by Greater Anglia. Regular train service from Ipswich

By boat

• Harbour Ferry

  phone: +44 1728 666329
  address: View Point Rd, Felixstowe, IP11 3TW
  Ferry for foot passengers & bicycles from Harwich and Shotley

By bicycle

• The town in on National Cycle Route 51 running the SW to Harwich and Colchester and to the NW to Ipswich and on to Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire.
• The town is on Regional Cycle Route 41 which runs N to meet National Cycle Route 1 (Shetland to Dover) and Regional Cycle Route 42 (meets NCR 1 near Halesworth).

Buses routes 75, 76, and 77 start from Ipswich. The 77 route runs to Landuard fort and port viewing area, but the town is best explored on foot or bicycle.

Felixstowe is long past its heyday as a tourist resort, and is best visited now as a place to enjoy some seaside calm.
Felixstowe Ferry is perhaps the most charming part of the town. It's in the far north, beyond the golf club, at the mouth of the River Deben. It's a popular place for sailing and walks. It has good real ale pub (see below). It is best to park at the cliff top car park as there is little parking at Felixstowe ferry.
The promenade stretches 1 mile north and south of the pier two limes in total, and expect for a small length there is a good path (it is part of the Suffolk Coast long distance path) between Landguard Fort and Felixstowe Ferry. North is generally quite pleasant, with landscaped gardens and quiet shingle beaches.
In the centre of the tourist area, by the sea, there are some excellent arcades, including the famous Mannings Amusement Park (including crazy golf). There is a Sunday market beside Mannings, and a car boot sale on Saturday
Further south the beach gives way to a very industrialised dock area. In the middle of this is a little wildlife haven, around Landguard Fort. It's popular with bird watchers.
The sea shore is the site of the last opposed invasion of England in 1667 and the first land battle of the Royal Marines. The fort was built in the 18th century, modified in the 19th century with substantial additional 19th- and 20th-century outside batteries. The fort is open every day from Easter to October.
The nearby submarine mining building houses Felixstowe museum’s collections of local interest and is open Sundays & Wednesdays in summer.

• Landguard Fort

  phone: +44 1394 675900
  address: View Point Road, IP11 3TW

• Bawdsey Radar

  phone: +44 7821 162 879 (mobile)
  address: Bawdsey , IP12 3AT
  Whilst radar was invested in Slough, the technology was developed to at Bawdsey Radar. Free parking.

• SealandA sea fort in the North Sea, 10 km off the coast of Suffolk. It is best known for its (unrecognised) claim to be the world's smallest sovereign nation. However, it is regarded as a micronation by most non-Sealanders, despite its cult internet 'fanbase'.

• Spa Pavillion

  phone: +44 1394 284 962
  address: Undercliff Rd, Felixstowe, IP11 2DX
  Also café & restaurant.

The fantastic amusement parks are a great day out, and for those looking to party away the night, you won't forget the über-cool bandbox nightclub.

• Mannings Amusement Park

  phone: +44 1394 282370
  address: Sea Rd, IP11 2DN

• Forum Amusement Arcade

  phone: +44 1394 275715
  address: Sea Rd, Felixstowe IP11 2QN

Between the promenade and Felixstowe Ferry there's about a mile of beaches known as "The Dip". It's dominated by beach huts but not a bad place to enjoy the beach in the summer.
There are a variety of pleasant country walks around Felixstowe, particularly in the Orwell and Deben estuaries. However, you need a car to get to these areas from the town.

• Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club

  phone: +44 1394 286834
  address: Ferry Rd, Old Felixstowe, IP11 9RY

• Felixstowe Leisure Centre

  phone: +44 1394 694600
  address: Seafront, Felixstowe, IP11 2AE
  Gym, swimming pools, studio

• Trimley Marshes

  phone: +44 1394 411019
  address: Cordy's Lane, Trimley St. Mary, IP11 0UD
  Mainly birdwatching. 2-mile walk from car park to hides & centre, can be muddy. Park at end of Cordy's Lane 1 mile from reserve entrance. Dogs on leads.

The best thing that Felixstowe has to offer on the shopping front are two exceptional second-hand bookstores. The Treasure Chest and Poor Richard's are in the town centre. The former in particular is remarkably well-stocked and both are reasonably priced. The presence of two such shops in close proximity is justification for a visit to Felixstowe for any book affecionado.

• The Treasure Chest

  phone: +44 1394 270717
  address: 61 Cobbold Rd, IP11 7BH
  Particularly recommended for second-hand and antique books.

• Poor Richard's

  phone: +44 1394 283138
  address: 17 Orwell Rd, IP11 7EP

• The Sausage Shop

  phone: +44 1394 277203
  address: 290 High Rd, Trimley St. Martin, IP11 0RH

Supermarkets

• Morrissons

  phone: +44 1394 671333
  address: Grange Farm Ave, Felixstowe, IP11 2XD
  ATMs. Petrol station (different hours). Pharmacy (different hours).

• Lidl

  address: 2-4 Langer Rd, Felixstowe, IP11 2BU

There are a few restaurants of note, a few very good Fish & Chip shops, and a decent Indian and Chinese on the lower Hamilton Road.

• Blue Naan

  phone: +44 1394 671144
  address: 7-9 Hamilton Rd, IP11 7BE
  Offers an all-you-can-eat buffet, as well as takeaway.

• Sam Moi Oriental

  phone: +44 1394 282100
  address: 8 Hamilton Rd, IP11 7AU

• The Regal Fish Bar

  phone: +44 1394 273977
  address: Sea Rd, Felixstowe, IP11 2DH

The few pubs in Felixstowe offering a wide of atmosphere to suit all tastes. The young and trendy should try either the Grosvenor which is behind the main shop street on Ranleigh road, or The Alex on the sea front. The Cork has a balcony with views across the sea.

• Grosvenor

  phone: +44 1394 284137
  address: 25-31 Ranelagh Rd, IP11 7HA

• The Alex

  phone: +44 1394 282958
  address: 123 Undercliff Rd W, IP11 2AF

• The Cork

  phone: +44 1394 283562
  address: 129 Undercliff Road West, IP11 2AQ

Felixstowe being an English seaside resort, there is no shortage of overpriced, poor-quality B&B accommodation.

• The Fludyers

  phone: +44 1394 691929
  address: Undercliff Road East, IP11 7LU
  12-room hotel in renovated Edwardian building

• The Orwell Hotel

  phone: +44 1394 285511
  address: Hamilton Rd.

• Bawdsey Manor Bed and Breakfast

  phone: +44 1394 411633
  address: Bawdsey Manor, Bawdsey, IP12 3AZ
  Large bed and breakfast in a beautiful house set in outstanding location in Suffolk.

• Ipswich, the Orwell and Deben estuaries are all easily visited from Felixstowe. The town makes a good base for all of Suffolk and North Essex.
• Harwich
• Orford