‘Lovely’ sandy beach named among ‘best beaches in the UK’

A picture-perfect coastal village in Suffolk is home to what has been described as “one of the best beaches in the UK”. Walberswick Beach was named among Condé Nast’s “best beaches in the UK” in 2023 and is a favourite for wild swimmers and dog walkers alike.

According to local publication The Suffolk Coast, the beach is “wilder” than neighbouring Southwold, but still attracts plenty of fans to its shores.

“Walberswick Beach is a favourite with families, dog walkers and sea swimmers,” said The Suffolk Coast. The beach itself is a mixture of sand and stones, looking out to views of Southwold to the north and Sizewell to the south.

The beach is susceptible to wind, which makes it a favourite for surfers and kite surfers, though it is also safe to swim on calm days.

However, it is worth noting that there is no lifeguard patrol on the beach.

Previous visitors to the beach note that the water is good for swimming but that it does drop off into the deep quickly. Having paid a visit to the beach in August of 2022, a Tripadvisor reviewer wrote: “Good swimming though does get deep quick.”

More recently, in August 2023, a visitor who spent a day at the beach with family said: “Lovely sandy beach plenty of space, beautifully clean and great spot.”

One of the draws for families is that the beach remains dog-friendly year-round and there are also plenty of amenities within walking distance.

Two car parks are close by and the village of Walberswick is just across the bridge and within walking distance. Here you can find tea rooms, restaurants, pubs, a village Co-op shop, gift shops and even an art gallery.

In its round-up, Condé Nast Traveller notes that Walberswick Beach is “just a short walk from its postcard-perfect village, which has several solid pubs” and “is the unofficial crabbing capital of the UK.”

If you are planning on staying in the area for a holiday, 17th-century coaching house The Swan is home to two restaurants and 24 bedrooms, plus a further 11 rooms arranged around the lawn. The pub hotel has been awarded a 4.5 out of a possible five stars on Tripadvisor based on previous guest reviews.