After 17 years of annual visits, Aldeburgh in Suffolk remains the go-to seaside escape for one London-based writer, who praises its unchanged charm, exceptional food, and serene pebble beach. The town, with an estimated population of just 2,348, regularly tops lists of the UK's best seaside towns, and according to Courtney Pochin, a senior lifestyle reporter, it truly deserves its reputation.
A Timeless Coastal Retreat
Pochin first visited Aldeburgh on the eve of her 15th birthday and has returned at least once a year ever since. Now 32, she notes that the town has barely changed in nearly two decades, which she considers a positive. The high street, though small, offers a charming mix of independent businesses that have thrived over the years.
Among her favourites are the Aldeburgh Cinema, The Golden Galleon fish and chip shop, an independent bookshop with tote bags to rival Daunt's, several charity shops, art galleries, a deli, and an ice cream parlour. The food scene is a standout, with The Suffolk's seafood restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide, Thai Street Kitchen takeaway slots filling up quickly on Friday nights, and Sea Spice serving curries comparable to London's best.
The Beach and Beyond
The star attraction is the pebble beach, where visitors are advised to keep shoes on. Colourful houses in pastel shades line the seafront, wooden fishing boats rest on the shingle, and the North Sea sparkles in the sunshine. Early risers before 9am can see locals in dressing gowns and water shoes heading for a dip, some swimming in the bracing water, others floating to wake up.
Pochin enjoys setting an early alarm to take tea down to the beach, which is gloriously empty except for a few swimmers. Walking trails abound, including a two-mile stretch to the village of Thorpeness, passing the Scallop, a steel sculpture memorial to composer Sir Benjamin Britten, who lived at The Red House in Aldeburgh. In the opposite direction lies Slaughden, a hamlet with marshland, England's largest Martello Tower, and Slaughden Sailing Club, offering footpaths through salt marshes with the River Alde on one side and cow-filled fields on the other.
Nature Reserves and Relaxation
The area is home to several nature reserves, including Snape Marshes and RSPB Minsmere, for those wishing to explore further. However, Pochin admits she never does strenuous hikes; Aldeburgh is for relaxing. She breathes in the sea air, enjoys great food, has drinks at the pub or wine from the Adnams store, and reads. A long weekend is ideal, but the town has a way of reeling visitors in, and she is already counting the days until her next return.
