Felixstowe

Plan your day out in Felixstowe

Whether you love traditional amusements or more cosmopolitan pleasures, Felixstowe is a great place for a day out. Take in the view, have a walk along the prom or enjoy a chilled glass of Prosecco served with amazing sea views.

How to get to Felixstowe

Your journey to Felixstowe will depend on where you’ll be traveling from. You can see how to get to Felixstowe and buy your train ticket.

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Ticket prices and train times in external advertising:

One way per person, when booked online in advance. Subject to availability. Travel conditions apply. Offer may be changed or withdrawn without notice. Find out more about how our Advance ticket pricing works.

Photographs courtesy of Visit East of England and Visit Essex.

The Town Centre

Based around Hamilton Road, high up above the seafront, Felixstowe's shopping centre has a surprisingly extensive and varied range of stores for a small town. High street brands are represented, including M&S, W H Smith and Boots. But the emphasis is on independents, with a wonderful mix of establishments offering everything from artisan baking and retro sweets to crafts and gifts. A recent addition is the Adnams store, which features a wide range of beers, wines and spirits brewed and distilled in Suffolk, as well as contemporary kitchenware and stylish branded items.

There's a scattering of shops along the seafront, selling a range of time-honoured holiday resort fare, including souvenirs, beach products and postcards.

Bawdsey Radar

Located next door to Landguard Fort, this surprisingly well-stocked museum brings alive the military and social history of the town. There are no less than 14 rooms, stuffed with all kinds of artefacts and memorabilia, including uniforms, model planes, fossils and Victorian toys.

Visit the Felixstowe Museum website

Landguard Fort has been watching over the sea-borne access to Felixstowe since the 18th century. It's one of the country's best-preserved coastal defences, with a fascinating history that spans several major conflicts, including the Napoleonic Wars and the two world wars. Regular events include activities for kids, such as spooky ghost trails and a pirate weekend.

Visit the Landguard Fort website

Built in the 1890s, this handsome red-brick church has a magnificent spire and stained glass. It was immortalised in Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman's poem, 'Felixstowe, or the Last of Her Order.'

Find out more about St John's Church
The Palace Cinema

If you love watching movies in luxury, the Palace Cinema is the place for you. With super-comfortable American-style seating and an at-seat service for food and drinks, this is a special cinematic experience. Two screens feature all the latest blockbusters, including family favourites.

Visit Palace Cinema website

Surrounded by lovely manicured gardens, the Spa is a multi-purpose performance venue, offering a year-round programme of shows, concerts and more. The annual pantomime staged by a local company is a much-loved tradition and there are many visiting star attractions, from rock 'n' roll legends to top names on the comedy circuit. There's also a restaurant with panoramic picture windows providing great sea views.

Visit the Spa Pavilion website
Felixstowe Ferry

A walk through 'old Felixstowe' to the Ferry takes you back in time. As you pass the windswept nine-hole golf course, you come across a scene straight out of the East Anglian history books with the ancient Ferry Boat Inn plus a gaggle of fishermen's shacks and houseboats. There are some lovely walking trails up-river and it's a great spot for birdwatching.

Find out more about Felixstowe Ferry

Planted in the early 1800s, this well-established nature park has lovely walking trails through mature woodland and shady glades. Next door is Abbey Grove, planted by the Woodland Trust as part of their 'Woods on your Doorstep' project.

Find out more about The Grove

This shingle spit at the south-west tip of Suffolk is a productive habitat for unusual flora and fauna, including shellfish, seabirds and colourful coastal plants. Take a stroll along the boardwalk round the headland where you'll get a great view of the famous port of Harwich across the estuary.

Find out more about Landguard Nature Reserve

On a clear day, this is the place for stunning views of the beautiful Shotley Peninsula and historic Harwich, where the Pilgrim Fathers' ship the Mayflower was built. You might also catch a splendid cruise ship or a massive container vessel coming into dock.

Find out more about Landguard Visior Centre

Just a short walk from the seafront, Langer Park is a delightful green space with a children's play area. Go for a stroll, have a picnic or simply relax and enjoy some quiet time.

Find out more about Langer Park

Recently created as part of a major seafront housing development, this pleasant recreation area is next to one of Felixstowe's legendary Martello towers. Eight of these imposing structures were built along the British coastline between 1804 and 1812 to guard against French invaders.

Find out more about Martello Park

The eight Grade II listed formal Victorian gardens that are set along Felixstowe seafront gave the town its name 'The Garden Resort of East Anglia'. With the aid of Lottery money, they have been lovingly restored and enhanced to provide the perfect environment for a stroll or a sit-down.

Find out more about The Seafront Gardens

With stunning views of the Orwell estuary, these wonderful wetlands are home to a rich variety of seabirds, including redshank, avocet, oystercatcher and little grebe. Coot, tufted duck, teal, pochard and other breeds are frequent visitors to the reservoir which is the hub of the reserve.

Find out more about Trimley Marshes Nature Reserve
Beach and promenade

Lined by colourful beach huts, Felixstowe's sweeping seafront combines a touch of old England with a hint of the French Riviera. The Blue Flag beach is great for sunbathing and swimming. Alternatively, take a stroll along the wide promenade, which stretches from the West End to Old Felixstowe. After dark, it's adorned by twinkling lights to add to the magic.

Felixstowe's traditional Pier amusement arcade has all the favourites, from coin pushers and grabbers to air hockey and pinball machines. Built in 1905 the Pier was once one of the longest in the country with a train running from end to end and there are plans for a regeneration project.

Visit Felixstowe Pier website

Enjoy a cuppa or an ice cream in the café while the kids amuse themselves with a variety of fun activities, including aqua boating, karting, a giant inflatable slide and the Railroad Express mini train ride.

Find out more about Ocean Boulevard

There are three arcades at the south-western end of the seafront: Family Amusements and Adventure Golf, Forum Amusements and Manning's Amusements. All have lots of fun attractions for young ones (and big kids), including rides, video games and slot machines.

Find out more about Sea Road Amusements
Cafes, tea rooms and coffee houses

As you'd expect in a seaside resort, there are plenty of places to enjoy a nice cup of tea or a reviving coffee and a bite to eat. Some also offer great sea views, including the Lounge and the Terrace at the Spa Pavilion and the light, airy View Point Café at Landguard Point, a popular spot for breakfast. Crafty Coffee is a sociable 'arts and crafts' cafe where you can enjoy freshly brewed coffees and speciality cakes as you get creative with ceramic painting, decopatch and other crafts.

For eating out, Felixstowe has everything from family-friendly pubs and informal eateries to chic bistros and gourmet restaurants. There's also a wide range of ethnic options, including Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai. Welcoming hostelries include the White Horse in Old Felixstowe or the 15th century Ferry Boat Inn near the Deben estuary. For fine dining, there's the beautifully restored Fludyers Hotel on the seafront or Westerfields Restaurant at the Orwell Hotel up in the main part of town. The Alex on the seafront offers brasserie classics in a lively atmosphere and Café Bencotto in the town centre serves up a great-value Mediterranean menu. Down at the Ferry, Winkles cafe serves excellent line-caught fish and chips, as well as fresh lobster, crab and prawns in season.

You'll find all the usual take-away treats you'd expect in a traditional British seaside resort, including fish and chips, burgers, doughnuts, candy floss and toffee apples. There are also plenty of fast food options with a more international flavour, from pizza to Tandoori.

Load stations
Last updated:
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Staffing level Unstaffed
CCTV Yes
Information systems
  • DepartureScreens
Station operator Greater Anglia
Ticket office opening times
No
Pre-purchase collection Yes
Ticket machine Yes
Smartcards issued here No
Top up Smartcards here Yes
Validate Smartcards here No
Penalty fares LE
Top up Smartcards here Yes
Customer service information

Monday-Saturday 08:00-20:00Sunday 10:00-20:00Bank Holidays 09:00-18:00

The hours shown are for the Customer Relations team on 0345 600 7245 (option 8).

Closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Left luggage

Available: No

Lost property
  • Monday to Sunday and All bank holidays: 24 hours
Seated area
Yes
Waiting room
No
Station buffet
No
Toilets
No
Baby changing facilities
No
Wifi
No
Helpline

We want everyone to travel with confidence. That is why, if you are planning on travelling on national rail services, you can request an assistance booking in advance - now up to 2 hours before your journey is due to start, any time of the day. For more information about Passenger Assist and how to request an assistance booking via Passenger Assist, please click here .

Note:

0800 028 28 78

URL: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

08:00 - 20:00

  • Monday to Sunday: 08:00 - 20:00
Staff help

This station is not staffed. Assistance can be provided by the conductor on board, but booking is recommended to avoid any delay to your journey.

What assistance is available for customers using this station?

  • Board and alight
  • Ramp Assistance
  • Luggage (on and off train only)
  • Ticket sale on board

How can Turn Up And Go (TUAG) assistance be requested by customers using this station?

  • By calling 0345 600 7245 (option 4)
  • By selecting the help button on the ticket machine at this station
  • By using the Help Point at this station

Assistance meeting point is on the platform.

Yes
Induction loop available Yes
Ticket machine
Yes
Ramp for train access available
Yes
Accessible taxis information

Details of nearest taxis are shown on station information poster

National Key toilets available
No
Step free access

This station has step free access to the single platform for trains towards Ipswich.

This station is a category A station according to ORR station classification system. https://www.orr.gov.uk/media/10955

Assistance meeting point is on the platform.

Ticket gates
No
Impaired mobility set down available
No
No car park information available.
No bus information available.
Cycle storage available Yes
Cycle storage spaces 36
Cycle storage sheltered Yes
Cycle storage CCTV No
Cycle storage location

There are eight cycle stands with fourteen wheel racks on Platform 1 (for trains towards Ipswich), as well as a further ten cycle stands without wheel racks. Two cycle lockers are located just in front of the white wooden fence, towards the far end of the platform that remains covered by the canopy.

Cycle storage types
  • Lockers
  • Stands
  • Racks
Rail replacement information

Rail replacement bus services pick up and drop off just next to the entrance to the station (as indicated by the Rail Replacement Bus Stop sign).

Where to stay

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