Sizewell Beach

The beach at Sizewell is dominated by the nuclear power station - you can't miss it, really. Two vast domes rising from the shingle, and depending on your view of nuclear energy, that's either fascinating industrial heritage or an eyesore. For most visitors it's the latter, but the beach itself is perfectly decent: a long stretch of grey shingle backed by sparse coastal vegetation, with decent views across the North Sea towards nothing in particular.

The walk along the shore is the main draw. It's flat, straightforward, and works well for families who don't fancy anything too strenuous. You'll spot the odd bit of driftwood, some weathered beach huts in the distance, and on clearer days the horizon stretches properly. The power station becomes almost abstract once you've walked far enough along - more landscape feature than industrial facility.

It's free to access, naturally, and there's limited parking near the beach entrance. Allow an hour for a decent wander; longer if you're into photography or just need to clear your head. Summer weekends can get busy with families, but it's never rammed. Winter is quieter and the light can be rather lovely when it breaks through the cloud.

Staying at Beach View Holiday Park puts you practically on the doorstep, which makes sense - the location is the real sell here. It's more working beach than resort destination, which is fine if you're after honest seaside rambling rather than kiss-me-quick chaos. Leiston is your nearest town for supplies and actual facilities.