felixstowe beaches
A guide to the beaches, shoreline areas and coastal character of Felixstowe.
Felixstowe is often described in terms of North Beach and South Beach, but the coastline is far more varied than that. Around the town you’ll find long promenade beaches, quieter shoreline sections, beach hut areas, tidal edges, dog-friendly stretches and small pockets of coast that many visitors never reach.
From Landguard and the working harbour to the sands around the promenade, the cliffs at Brackenbury, the year-round dog-friendly beach at The Dip and the changing shoreline of The Spit, each part of the coast has its own character.
This guide brings those areas together to help visitors choose the right stretch of beach for walking, views, ship-watching, beach huts, dogs, photography or simply finding somewhere a little quieter.
Landguard Beaches
Open shingle beaches and coastal walks at the southern tip of Suffolk, where the harbour meets the sea. Popular for ship watching, photography and exploring the coastline around Landguard Point. The southernmost beaches of Felixstowe, where the harbour entrance, shingle shoreline and open sea meet. Popular for coastal walks, ship watching and views across Harwich Harbour
South Beach
The traditional seafront beach, lined with promenades, beach huts, cafés and attractions. Popular with families and visitors throughout the year. Wide, open stretches of beach backed by promenades, beach huts and family attractions. This is the classic Felixstowe seaside experience, with plenty of space and easy access from the seafront.
North Beach
Beginning beyond the town centre, North Beach offers a quieter atmosphere, wider views and a more natural character. The coastline transitions between promenade and beach, with rocky groynes marking sections of the shore.
Brackenbury & Clifflands Beach
Set below the cliffs, this section of coast offers a different perspective on Felixstowe, with elevated views above and a more natural feel than the central seafront. Brackenbury is separated from neighbouring beaches by rock groynes that create distinct sections of shoreline. The combination of cliffs, sea views and quieter surroundings makes it one of the most distinctive parts of the coast.
The Dip
A year-round dog-friendly beach and one of Felixstowe’s hidden gems. Popular with walkers, swimmers and those looking for a quieter stretch of coast away from the busiest areas. This beach is tidal, but if you time it right, just as good for sunbathing as the larger central beaches
The Emerging Lagoon
One of Felixstowe’s newest coastal attractions wasn’t built at all – it was created by nature. As tides and currents continue to reshape the shoreline, a large sheltered lagoon has formed behind the growing sandbanks near the mouth of the Deben. Popular with families, paddleboarders, swimmers and watersports enthusiasts, it has become one of the most distinctive and rapidly changing parts of the Suffolk coast.
Ferry Beach
The final stretch of Felixstowe’s coastline before the River Deben meets the sea. At low tide, small sandy beaches emerge along the estuary edge, while boats, mudflats and changing tidal channels create a landscape that looks different every day. The area is popular with walkers, photographers and those exploring the quieter side of the coast.
Bawdsey Beach
Across the water, Bawdsey Beach forms the opposite side of the Deben estuary. Wide sands, dunes and open shoreline create a striking contrast to Felixstowe’s promenade beaches, with the changing shape of the estuary constantly reshaping the landscape between the two shores.
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