Southwold bears all the hallmarks of your classic British seaside holiday town: an elegantly fading pier, colourful beach huts, a long sweep of promenade overseen by a lighthouse, mini golf, tea rooms, sweet shops, and for the Mums and Dads, a world-famous brewery. The North Sea views are spectacular, and Southwold is on the mouth of the Blyth River, near the Heath Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so this town is a starting point for breezy and picturesque coastal walks. As with so many seaside destinations, our pick of the best places to stay in Southwold favours properties with a sea view, and here that includes restaurants-with-rooms, as well as hotels. We've also discovered a small collection of adults-only lodges, just out of town.

If you’re here for some old fashioned family fun, there's a collection of vintage-style shops to rummage through, a twice-weekly local market, and the town has a number of lovely green spaces and parks within its centre — great for families. Your kids may also enjoy going inside the lighthouse, and along the pier, which was rebuilt in 2001, and is lined with coin-operated novelty machines. They may also enjoy the model boat pond, and of course there’s a long and lovely stretch of beach. Southwold also has an impressive repertory theatre, and a number of very highly regarded fish and chip shops. The best places to stay in Southwold are very busy in the summer season, so don’t leave booking your accommodation till the last minute. The good news is that there’s plenty of beach to go around, and numerous places to visit just a short drive, or walk, away.

The Best Places to Stay in Southwold

For a Rural Escape

• The Toad Hall Lodges are a collection of just five, adults-only log-cabins set in a peaceful spot, on the edge of a nature reserve. Each stand alone lodge has its own little deck, and a fire pit, and inside there’s a cosy bedroom and chic, slightly industrial bathroom. There’s no restaurant, but the lodges share an outdoor kitchen, as well as a gym. Outside Southwold, but just a couple of miles from the coast, and the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For Foodies

• Sutherland House is a family-run restaurant-with-rooms, in an historic building in the centre of Southwold. Originally dating from 1455, this building is now part Jacobean, part Victorian, and has interior features dating from both periods, and from when it was used as a military headquarters during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. The Duke of York room has an exceptional pargetted ceiling dating from 1660, and the Earl of Sandwich room has a slipper bath in front of an open fire. The restaurant has two AA rosettes, and is known for its seafood dishes.
• The Sail Loft is our second restaurant-with-rooms recommendation in Southwold, a fantastically located pick on the road by Denes Beach, which is just outside the centre of town. The restaurant could be described as elevated beach shack-pub chic, with lots of wood and incredible views. Upstairs are four rooms, simply decorated in pale, neutral colours, with large windows and spacious bathrooms.

For Families

• The Swan Hotel is our pick for families staying in Southwold. It's a historic hotel on the main square, with good views of the town and sea, and classic hotel interiors offering unfussy comfort. Although if you want historic beams and open fire places, some of the 42 rooms and suites have them. The restaurant has two AA Rosettes for its French fusion cuisine — with an emphasis on seafood — and the staff here, and in the hotel, are excellent. Right by the shops, and just two minutes from the promenade.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Suffolk doesn’t have its own airport. The closest airports to Southwold are Norwich International Airport, which is 50 minutes drive away, or about two and three quarter hours by public transport, and London Stansted Airport, which is about an hour and 40 minutes away by car, or four and a half hours by rail and bus. If you’re coming by rail from London it’s about three hours away, via Ipswich, and if you’re arriving into Heathrow it’s about four hours away from Southwold by train, or two and a half hours by car or transfer.
• To hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Most visitors to Southwold are planning some kind of beach holiday, even if it’s a winter one. In reality the most popular time of year to visit is spring and summer, roughly May through September.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your search to include the best places to stay in Suffolk or just the best places to stay in nearby Lavenham, Colchester or Bury St Edmunds
• Search for the kind of accommodation you’re looking for, for example the best pubs with rooms in Suffolk?
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.