In the serene surroundings of Suffolk? Lowestoft is the perfect family seaside day trip — there’s so much to get up to.

First developed as a bathing site in the 18th century and with a rich history as a seaside resort, Lowestoft has been providing families with adventure, action, relaxation and recharging for hundreds of years.

Whatever sort of day out you’re planning, this traditional hotspot nestled on Suffolk’s east coast won’t let you down.

The best things to see and do in Lowestoft

Lowestoft offers an incredible array of activities for families of all sizes, ages and activity levels! See earliest sunrise in Britain, grab some beautifully-battered haddock and chips, greet wildlife at Africa Alive or savour the glistening sea surroundings and colourful beach huts on a circular walk. Here’s just a few of our favourite things to get up to in the area!

See the sunrise at Lowestoft Ness, Britain’s most easterly point

Lowestoft, famously, is the most easterly town in the British Isles and is therefore the first place that sees sunrise. Given the town’s blessed by a range of beautiful beaches, there’s no better place to take in this simple-yet-spectacular sight!

When glimpsing the early morning sun poking out above the sea — coupled with the gentle noise of waves lapping up on the shore and no one else in sight — you can’t help but feel at one with nature.

Undoubtedly the best place to bring in the day is Ness Point, the most easterly point in the UK. You can’t miss it — it’s marked by a large metal plate. Make sure to check the Lowestoft sunrise times online, of course; you’ll more than likely need to set your alarms, but it’s worth it.

Whilst you’re here mainly for the natural marvel, in recent years, Ness Point has become synonymous with renewable energy. It’s overlooked by the largest wind turbine in the UK — known locally as Gulliver.

Day trip to Africa Alive Zoological Reserve & greet exotic animals

How about a stroll through 100 acres of expansive Suffolk countryside, glimpsing African Pancake Tortoises, African Lions, Red River Hogs and White Rhinoceroses as you go? Quite a vivid image, we’re sure you’ll agree — which is why Africa Alive should be high up anyone’s list of things to do in Lowestoft!

Whether you’re looking to entertain the little ones or you’re after something to do as a couple, you just can’t beat a day trip to the zoo. Run by the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), like all good zoological reserves, Africa Alive is fully focused on preserving wildlife across the world.

With a range of activities, displays, experiences and tours, you’ll never be short of something to keep the kids entertained. If you’ve got the little ones with you and don’t mind heading further afield than Lowestoft, take a look at our favourite family days out and things to do with the kids in Suffolk.

Head to the museums and lap up local history

Despite its relatively small size, Lowestoft packs in a surprising amount of history which can be discovered at one of several excellent museums in the area.

If the weather’s playing ball, one of the most obvious picks is the fantastic open-air East Anglia Transport Museum — you can ride on buses, trams and trolleybuses; there’s even a narrow-gauge railway!

Then there’s the Lowestoft Maritime Museum. Like many proud seaside towns, Lowestoft has a particular maritime pedigree that is proudly on show; learn about the town’s proud growth from a modest village to a thriving fishing port.

There’s exhibits on the war, the invention of the hovercraft and a range of fascinating historic paintings. You’ll also find the Mincarlo docked up, a floating museum itself and a great opportunity to see Lowestoft’s maritime history come to life.

Visit Pleasurewood Hills & ride the only ‘Vekoma Boomerang’

After white-knuckle thrills? A range of rides suitable for thrill seekers of all ages awaits at Pleasurewood Hills. It’s just two minutes up the from in the seaside village of Corton (nearby our Azure Seas Holiday Village)!

There’s a fantastic range of eateries at the theme park too, but be sure to not have too much if you’re planning a few rides on Wipeout, the jewel in Pleasurewood Hills’ crown. It’s the largest in East Anglia and the only ‘Vekoma Boomerang’ — a certain style of roller coaster imitating a boomerang manufactured by Vekoma — in the UK!

For parents after a little bit of peace and quiet whilst the kids tire themselves out, Woody’s Cub House is a life saver, as are the range of live shows that frequently run.

Explore the grounds & grab a bite to eat at Somerleyton Hall & Gardens

For more history but with a distinctly horticultural touch, head to Somerleyton Hall — a Jacobean manor house whose gardens are self proclaimed as one of the ‘finest in East Anglia since the 17th century’. We find it hard to disagree!

After you’ve marvelled at the 12 acres of mazy gardens and exotic, painstakingly-manicured flower arrangements, a bite to eat and a traditional Suffolk cyder are surely in order. For that, The Dukes Head — a cosy country pub that’s part of the estate — is ideal.

Image credit: www.somerleyton.co.uk

Try a circular walk along the colourful beachfront & tuck into some seaside snacks

Whilst there’s a range of big ticket days out, sometimes what’s called for is a simple, stress-free stroll along unspoiled coastline. A moment to reconnect with nature. Time out to fill your lungs with the reinvigorating sea breeze drifting in off the North Sea.

One of our favourite circular walks for experiencing precisely this starts at Oulton Broad and finishes up at Ness Point on the seafront.

Now, any trip to a traditional seaside resort like Lowestoft is not complete without perusing local wares. Did you know that Lowestoft has a breathtaking twenty-four fish and chip shops? There’s no better place for sampling some melt-on-your-tongue lightly-battered haddock — whilst there’s so much incredible choice, you can’t go wrong at Perry’s, Golden Fish or Pips Fish and Chips.

Stay a while in Suffolk.

Fallen in love with Suffolk’s coast? Want to visit time and again? We’d love to welcome you at Azure Seas Holiday Village. We’re a friendly owners-only holiday park community, nestled beside the golden sands of Corton — just a five-minute drive (or a one-hour scenic stroll) down the coast to Lowestoft.

If you’re not ready to make the ultimate commitment to Suffolk in terms of holiday home ownership, you could also book a luxury camping or touring holiday at Waxham Sands; Lowestoft’s only 40-minutes by car. Not too far away either is Golden Beach, our owners-only park just two ticks from Sea Palling and, again, a short drive down the road to Lowestoft.