England being an Island has a long coastline and coastal towns were holiday destinations in the Victorian Era and up to the 50's and 60's. Then came cheap airlines and retirement money and summer time every one goes to Spain or Italy or north Africa to pursue the sun and the sea.
But for someone like me who grew up in India in a desert state the sea in the UK is very mesmerising!
One of my favourite areas is Suffolk... there is something special about the place.. somehow every time we have visited the sky is light, there is a smell of lavender's and there seems to be more sun than London!
We have been to Aldeburgh and love it. Our favourite hotel there is the http://www.brudenellhotel.co.uk/default.aspx. We have stayed there twice and enjoyed the sea view rooms.. You wake up to the sound of the waves and the restaurant is nice as well. Aldeburgh is an artist town and you find a lot of small galleries and they have a book fair every march. lovely to get a fish and chips from the " Aldeburgh fish and chips shop" and sit on the wall by the sea and enjoy!
Last week we drove further up north and stayed at Lowestoft at hotel Victoria. http://www.thehotelvictoria.co.uk/
We booked one of the Sea facing Deluxe rooms with a dinner package for 2 nights and were really pleased with our decision.
The food in their restaurant " coast" is really nice .. good choice of Sea Food, Steaks and Pasta dishes.
We spent one day in Southwold. Parked at Ferry Road, crossed over to the Sea front and walked along the promenade. Go up from the Tea Shop and you are on Tea Street. At the corner of East Street and Pickney's Lane is " Nutter's of southWold" We had been to this shop before on the way back to London from Norfolk and were really pleased to find it again!! It specializes in food and cheeses from the world and gourmet ingredients! The Beach in southwold is sandy and popular !
Lowestoft is quite and good as a base to drive around... we went the next day to Snape Maltings on the way back home. Again nice place to stop over for lunch and some quirky shopping!!
I would love to buy a sea facing cottage or apartment in Suffolk!!
