Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Southwold (United Kingdom). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Southwold Sailors' Reading Room, Southwold lighthouse, and Southwold Pier. Also, be sure to include St Edmund's Church in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Southwold (England).
Table of Contents
Southwold Sailors' Reading Room
Maritime museum in Southwold, England. The Southwold Sailors' Reading Room is a Grade II listed building on the seafront at Southwold, England. It was built in 1864 as a place for fishermen and mariners to read, as an alternative to drinking in pubs, and also to encourage the pursuit of Christian ideals.
The room has a number of historic displays of model boats and other maritime objects in glass cabinets.[1]
Southwold lighthouse
Lighthouse in Southwold, England. Southwold Lighthouse is a lighthouse operated by Trinity House in the centre of Southwold in Suffolk, England. It stands on the North Sea coast, acting as a warning light for shipping passing along the east coast and as a guide for vessels navigating to Southwold harbour.
The lighthouse, which is a prominent local landmark, was commissioned in 1890, and was automated and electrified in 1938. It survived a fire in its original oil-fired lamp just six days after commissioning and today operates a 180-watt main navigation lamp. This lamp has a range of 24 nautical miles (44 km; 28 mi).[2]
Address: Stradbroke Rd., IP1 8 6 Southwold
Southwold Pier
Tourist attraction in Southwold, United Kingdom. Southwold Pier is a pier in the coastal town of Southwold in the English county of Suffolk. It is on the northern edge of the town and extends 190 metres into the North Sea.
Whilst many English seaside piers are in decline, Southwold Pier is enjoying renewed popularity. It includes a collection of modern coin-operated novelty machines designed and constructed by the inventor Tim Hunkin.[3]
Address: North Parade, IP18 6BN Southwold
St Edmund's Church
St Edmund's Church, Southwold is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Southwold, Suffolk.[4]
Address: 5 Bartholomew Green, IP18 6JA Southwold
Reydon Wood
Nature reserve. Reydon Wood is a 16 hectare nature reserve west of Wangford in Suffolk, England. It is managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.
This conifer wood has many old ash and hornbeam stools. There are many wildflowers and birds, and butterflies such as ringlets, gatekeeper and orange tip.
There is access from Wood Lane.[5]
Address: Wood Lane off B1126, IP18 6SL Southwold
Dunwich Heath
Dunwich Heath is an area of coastal lowland heath just south of the village of Dunwich, in the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB, England. It is adjacent to the RSPB reserve at Minsmere. It lies within the area of the Minsmere-Walberswick Heaths and Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area.
It has been owned by the National Trust since 1968, when it was bought with the help of a donation from the Heinz company as part of Enterprise Neptune.
Dunwich Heath is a rare survival of coastal lowland heath; the Suffolk Sandlings used to form a lot of the Suffolk coast, but have mostly been developed for agriculture or built upon. The heath is mostly covered with heather, both Common Heather and Bell Heather, and European and Western Gorse but there is also some woodland and grassland included in the reserve. The heather and gorse flower from June until September; the heather is purple and pink while the gorse is yellow.
A variety of birds, animals and reptiles live on the heath; red deer, muntjacs, Dartford warblers, stonechats, and nightjars, as well as adders, slowworms, grass snakes and common lizards. It supports many unusual invertebrates as well, such as ant lions, digger wasps, mining bees, as well as the true lover's knot moth, and the emperor moth.[6]
Address: Coastguard Cottages, Minsmere Rd, Dunwich IP17 3DJ, Southwold