Southwold

Beach huts painted in candy-bright colours line the shore like a giant's toy box, while the lighthouse stands white and proud against enormous Suffolk skies. This is Southwold at its most theatrical - a Victorian seaside town that's managed to dodge the worst excesses of modern tourism while keeping its proper English charm intact.

The town wears its genteel heritage well. St Edmunds church dominates the skyline with its impressive flint tower, while narrow streets wind between Georgian houses and traditional shops. Southwold Museum tells the story of this resilient coastal community, from fishing village to fashionable resort. The Electric Picture Palace, one of Britain's oldest cinemas, still shows films in art deco splendour.

Adnams brewery practically runs the place - their pubs serve excellent local ales, and you can smell the hops on brewing days. Hektor's Brewery offers a newer take on the craft beer scene. The pier stretches into the North Sea, rebuilt after storm damage but keeping its Victorian elegance.

Walking the River Blyth brings you to peaceful marshland views from Wang Marshes Viewing Platform and Wolsey Creek Viewing Platform. Southwold Golf Club offers links golf with sea breezes, while the lighthouse provides panoramic views across Suffolk's Heritage Coast.

Getting here means a bit of planning - there's no railway, so it's either the A12 from Ipswich or bus connections through Halesworth. Worth the effort though. Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Kessingland Beach or camping spots around Henstead makes perfect sense for exploring both Southwold's refined pleasures and the wider Suffolk coast without London prices.