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Southwold Cottages
Southwold is a seaside town situated on the heritage coast of Suffolk. Unlike other coastal resorts, Southwold manages to avoid tackiness and maintains its Edwardian character; it is a town with an eventful and fascinating past. You'll find more information about Southwold cottages below.
Southwold has a lively, picturesque sea front with a sand and shingle beach. North Parade, lined with Victorian terraces, looks down on the long rows of colorful beach huts and contributes to the charm of this elegant town. Overlooking the harbour is Gun Hill and its Tudor guns, which were captured at the Battle of Culloden.
Southwold Pier, which dates back to the 1930s, was originally a landing point for steamships and other craft. It fell into disrepair for many years before being privately purchased in 1987. After extensive renovation it is now one of the town's centerpieces. Southwold Ligthhouse is another intriguing landmark. Built in the late 19th century it replaced three other lighthouses in the region that were threatened by the destructive incursion of the sea.
There's a fine selection of pubs in the town such as The Admiral Nelson, which has the remains of a smuggler's passageway. The Amber Museum is also worth seeing and showcases jewellery and amber work from all over the world. If you are considering cottage holidays in Southwold then the link below should be of some help.
Southwold self catering attractions and amenities
This section includes further details of the visitor attractions and places of interest mentioned in the summary above. We've provided admission prices, opening hours and links where possible.
Outdoor Activities
Boat trips can be arranged at the harbour, courtesy of the
Coastal Voyager service. High speed excursions and more tranquil, long-distance cruises are available as well as private-hire journeys. Bookings can be made by calling 07887 525082 or by visiting the office. Prices are between £7 and £27.
Moo Play Farm on Locks Road is also popular and is geared towards the young. It features a playground, tractor rides and a nature farm. Opening times are between 10am - 9pm, Monday to Saturday. Southwold also has a 9-hole golf course which is situated on the common just outside town. It includes a clubhouse with bar and a professional's shop.
Food and drink
There's a variety of pubs and watering-holes, both in and around the town. The
Kings Head on the High Street is one of the most notable and serves a selection of Adnams Ales including Broadside and Explorer. Its serves a children's menu and a range of pizzas. The well-located
Lord Nelson is also worth visiting and is situated on East Street. It too sells Adnams beers and ales and includes an extensive pub menu that ranges from snacks to traditional English cuisine, such as steak pie.
For fine dining, see the Restaurant at the
Blyth on Station Road, which serves food made from seasonal, local produce. They also have their own garden from which many of the ingredients are acquired. Alternatively, visitors should try The Westleton Crown - this AA rosette winner is an old 12th century coaching inn that fuses English cuisine with Gastropub-type fare. Dishes include fillet of seabass and shepherd's pie.
History and Culture
Southwold Pier hosts a number of events such as jazz gigs and live shows. It also includes an amusement arcade, a boardwalk restaurant and gift shop. Gun Hill is one of the town's most important historical landmarks and features a collection of 18th century cannons, once used to protect against sea raids. These are located on the outskirts of town and are accessible to the general public. The Amber, Alfred Corry and Southwold Museums are worth a visit - the latter exhibits medals, fossils and ships figureheads. Admission is free and it's open from 10.30am to 4.00pm during high season.
Supermarkets and shops
There's a Somerfield supermarket on Market Square for visitors looking to stock up on supplies. For essentials and emergencies see Queen Street Pharmacy.