Felixstowe Business Directory

Landguard Fort is the site of the last opposed seaborne invasion of England — a Dutch raid in 1667. Open for guided tours, with an audio presentation covering its history from Tudor coastal defence to Cold War listening post. Alongside it, Landguard Nature Reserve covers a shingle spit important for migrating birds. The Felixstowe Museum on Viewpoint Road has fourteen rooms of social and military history, run by volunteers, open weekend afternoons May to October. Six Martello Towers stand along the coast north of town — built during the Napoleonic Wars, visible from the coastal path. The Spa Pavilion on the seafront hosts touring productions, comedy nights, and community events. At Landguard Point, the John Bradfield Viewing Area offers arguably the best free show in Suffolk: enormous container ships passing within a few hundred metres.

By train: the Felixstowe branch line runs from Ipswich, journey around 25 minutes. Greater Anglia operates the service; Felixstowe station is a 10-minute walk from the seafront. By bus: First Eastern Counties runs Route 75 (Ipswich to Cavendish Park, two per hour), Route 77 (Ipswich to Landguard Fort, one per hour), and Route 73 (Felixstowe town centre to Woodbridge via Adastral Park, hourly Monday to Saturday). All services depart from Ipswich's Old Cattle Market bus station. By car: Felixstowe is around 12 miles south-east of Ipswich via the A14 and A154, roughly 20–25 minutes outside port traffic hours. Car parks at Bent Hill, Hamilton Road, and Sea Road — arrives before 10am on summer weekends. By bike: National Cycle Network Route 1 passes through Felixstowe.

Woodbridge (12 miles north-west) — market town on the River Deben, working tide mill, and Sutton Hoo just across the river. Aldeburgh (20 miles north) — fishing town with a shingle beach, 16th-century Moot Hall, and the Aldeburgh Festival each June. Orford (18 miles north) — Norman castle keep, RSPB reserve at Havergate Island, and Orford Ness, the longest shingle spit in the country. Ipswich (12 miles west) — county town, regenerated waterfront, Christchurch Mansion. Bawdsey (directly across the River Deben, accessible by foot ferry April to October) — Bawdsey Manor was the birthplace of radar, where Robert Watson-Watt's team developed the technology that became Chain Home.

The seafront has the full range — fish and chips, ice cream, cafés with sea views. Down at Felixstowe Ferry, The Shed sells fresh fish and the Ferry Café does fish and chips with a view across the Deben. The Viewpoint Café at Landguard Point does good coffee and all-day breakfasts with a ringside seat for the container ships. The town centre has independent cafés, pubs, and restaurants — quality varies, but there are good options if you look.

Felixstowe has several hotels along and near the seafront, plus B&Bs and self-catering options. The grand Victorian and Edwardian seafront hotels are the most atmospheric. Booking early is advisable during peak summer months and around major events — the town fills up. Check booking platforms for current availability and prices.

Felixstowe Town Council, Visit Suffolk, and the Felixstowe Museum website are the most reliable sources for local information. For transport, National Rail covers the branch line and First Bus covers local routes.