On the East Suffolk coast is the seaside town of Lowestoft. It is located approximately 38 miles north-east of Ipswich and 22 miles south-east of Norwich. It is the most easterly settlement in Britain and the place where you can experience some of the most beautiful sunrises, which is why early risers often flock to the area on the summer solstice.
However, a new study by Compare the Market suggests that the beach has more to offer than just beautiful sunrises.
With a few weeks of summer holidays still left, Lowestoft could also be a fantastic option for a family day out. Based on the prices of typical seaside purchases, Compare the Market has named Lowestoft the ‘cheapest seaside destination’.
Compare the Market’s finance team rated popular UK seaside resorts on a number of key factors, including the cost of food and drink, parking fees and sunshine levels. The study also analysed Google search data to find out which beaches in the UK are the most popular.
“Lowestoft in East Suffolk offers the cheapest seaside day out, with meals averaging £5.50 and six hours’ parking averaging £3.15,” said Compare the Market. “As the UK’s most easterly town, it’s also the first to see the sunrise.”
Data showed that the average price of a coffee in Lowestoft is £2.35, while the average price of a pint of beer is £5.45.
According to Visit Suffolk: “Lowestoft’s seafront offers a traditional seaside experience with Blue Flag sandy beaches, Victorian seaside gardens, the Royal Plain Fountains, two piers and more.”
The beach is popular with water sports such as paddle boarding, surfing, jet skiing, windsurfing and kitesurfing.
For those who fancy a swim, there is a lifeguard patrol on both the south side of the beach (south of Claremont Pier) and the north side of the beach (north of Claremont Pier) between May and September.
Lowestoft North Beach, north of the town, is popular with dog walkers. The pebble beach is backed by rolling dunes and is great for seabird watching.
Behind the sand there is a promenade with the typical colorful beach huts and a café serving hot drinks, cold drinks, snacks and of course ice cream.
The nearby Pleasurewood Hills family theme park, the East Anglia Transport Museum and the Africa Alive safari park are also within easy reach.
Lowestoft was followed by Margate in Kent as the second cheapest coastal town.
The kitschy seaside resort has attracted a host of new businesses over the years and has been praised for its cheap pints – experts say the average pint in Margate costs just £3.18.
Other beaches mentioned for their “affordable” day trip options include Bexhill, Eastbourne, Hastings and Folkestone.
