Landguard Fort

The seafront at Felixstowe wouldn't be the same without this Victorian brick fortress looming over the shingle. Landguard Fort sits right at the easternmost point of Suffolk, where the River Orwell meets the North Sea - a proper strategic spot that didn't go unnoticed by the military. Built in the 1870s and still largely intact, it's a solid bit of 19th-century engineering: angular bastions, thick walls, and enough internal passages to lose an hour wandering about.

You'll get the most out of it if you're interested in military history or simply fancy a different angle on the coast. The views across the water towards Harwich and Essex are decent, especially on clear days, and there's something oddly compelling about standing in the gun emplacements imagining what they were meant to defend against. Not a place for young children to burn energy - they'll be bored within twenty minutes - but families with teenagers or history-minded adults will find it worthwhile.

It's free to explore the exterior and immediate grounds, though access to the interior depends on opening times and sometimes special events. Allow an hour if you're thorough, less if you're just grabbing photos. The shingle beach itself stretches both ways, so you can combine this with a walk. Being so close to Suffolk Sands Holiday Park and Felixstowe Beach Holiday Park makes it an easy add-on to a caravan break in the area. Go on a quieter weekday morning if you can - it feels less rushed, and you might actually hear the gulls.