All Haven Attractions

The ideal place to watch the busy life and big ships of Harwich Haven and the Port of Felixstowe. Find a bench, a spot on the river beach or an Orwell-side seat on the café terrace and simply sit back and enjoy the spectacle of vast colourful cargo ships which dwarf the pilot vessels, ferry and sailboats going about their business. Be sure to bring your binoculars and join in one of the voted top 50 must-do things in Suffolk! Officially known as the John Bradfield Viewing Area, ‘The View Point’ s also the Felixstowe embarkation point for the Haven’s foot and bike ferry service to Harwich and Shotley.

Showcasing a variety of lowland habitats from ancient woodlands, heathlands to mudflats, this riverside nature reserve on the edge of Ipswich by the Orwell Bridge, lies within the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape.  There are four main areas – Piper’s Vale/Elm Hill, Bridge Wood, Braziers Wood/Meadow, Pond Hall farm/ Meadow/ Carr – all ideal for scenic wildlife walks, or accessible on one circular walk. Listen out for skylarks and nightingales, and be sure to bring the binoculars – you might sight a Golden Plover or even a Peregrine falcon!

Created in 1990 from former farmland, the Trimley Marshes 85 acre Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve comprises of grazing marsh and reedbed habitats. Bring your binoculars and follow the trails to view an array of wetland birds from geese to Godwits, or even spot marsh harriers circling over the reeds. The Visitor Centre and row of hides overlook the reservoir, whilst the walk to reach them delivers great views of the River Orwell and the mighty cranes of the Port of Felixstowe. Accessible on foot from Trimley railway station.

A unique, family-friendly, seafront ‘box park’ shopping and dining experience, created from Felixstowe’s own upcycled shipping containers! Located towards the south end of the seafront, close family fun activities and arcades, check out Beach Street for its independent shops and artisan producers, street-food outlets and a distinctly different café and restaurant culture.

Located alongside seafront gardens and Felixstowe’s famous ‘Dripping Pool’, the Spa Pavilion theatre dates from 1909. It offers a varied year-round programme of popular shows and entertainment, including musicals, seasonal pantomimes and live theatre, touring productions and children’s shows, concerts and much more.

Back by popular demand for the 2025 season, the ferris wheel on Felixstowe seafront (aka ‘The View’) is 34.5 metres high with 24 gondolas. Each gondola holds up to 6 people and has clear sides and an open top, delivering amazing views of the resort and surrounding area. An opportunity not to be missed!

Home to wild and precious plants, flowers, birds and wildlife, Landguard Nature Reserve on the southern tip of Felixstowe is a 33-hectare shingle spit, edging both the North Sea and the Orwell estuary. Its rare vegetated shingle habitat supports many fragile botanical species and ground-nesting birds and hosts some significant military archaeology . This designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a wonderful place to enjoy a mindful walk on the wild side whilst also enjoying magnificent views of the Haven and its big ships.

Felixstowe’s award-winning, volunteer-run museum located in the ‘Ravelin Block’ of a rare Victorian Submarine Mining Establishment at Landguard Point. Explore 14 rooms of varied and fascinating displays from military memorabilia and stories about seaplanes to the history of Felixstowe from fishing village to vibrant seaside resort. Look out for themed trails and activity sessions for younger visitors. Don’t miss the accredited museum’s inspiring temporary exhibitions, often showcasing work by local artists.

An awesome fortress, a maze of rooms, tunnels and passageways, engaging exhibits, plus panoramic Harwich Haven views – Landguard Fort has simply so much to explore! Look out for evidence of King Henry VIII’s original fortifications. Learn about a soldier’s life in Napoleonic, WWI and WWII and more recent times. Take a guided, roof top or behind-scenes tour to discover the centuries of drama locked away within the walls of one of England’s best preserved, Grade 1 listed, coastal defences.

Championing local foods, creative dining experiences and family fun – plus stunning views of the mighty Orwell Bridge! The internationally-recognised farm shop is packed full of locally sourced food and drink and includes a butchers, artisan bakers, wine and beer merchant, greengrocer, grocery, even a chocolatier, hamper service. There’s a restaurant, café, fitness and beauty studios, cookery school, walks and farm animals too. A place to relax and enjoy together, where the little ones will love the play area, the grass picnic and run-around and of course, the bouncy pillows!

Explore footpaths around colourful heathland, along wooded riverside cliffs and enjoy spectacular views of the River Orwell – all just a short walk from Chelmondiston village. From ferns and fungi to bluebells and colourful butterflies, there is always something new to discover along the nature trail to iconic sailing haven Pin Mill.

The only ferry service connecting Suffolk and Essex, the 58 passenger foot and bicycle ferry operates a regular, daily service between Harwich and Landguard Point, Felixstowe via Shotley Gate. Crossing the River Orwell has to be the best way to experience the Haven, not only to recognise the sheer size of its ports and mega-ships, but to appreciate how the waterway is flanked by historic and military landmarks on both sides. The ferry service is seasonal and operates only in sage conditions. Booking recommended.

This charming Orwell-side hamlet on the outskirts of the village of Chelmondiston is a beautiful Suffolk Coast & Heaths National Landscape spot that’s popular with artists, photographers and those just looking for a pew with a view or an inspirational pint! Historic barges and houseboats are moored up along the water’s edge, close to the delightful green which is flanked by timeless boatyards. No wonder Arthur Ransome, children’s author of Swallows & Amazons fame, came to live near Pin Mill to enjoy the sailing!

Shotley Marina is a real favourite with those sailing and exploring East Anglia’s waterways for leisure and fun – and with those looking to while away an hour with a gentle stroll or simply sitting and watching the waterborn world go by. The variety and colourful comings and goings of the sailing craft, the spectacle of the lock and the relaxed places to eat, make it a much-loved place for locals and visitors alike. The Shotley landing stage for the Haven’s foot and bike ferry service to Harwich and Felixstowe is also located here.

Explore the varied sides of historic Harwich from port to resort all under one roof! Located in the the former Bernard Uniform offices, the accredited, volunteer-run museum includes exhibition rooms, displays and temporary exhibitions with a host of artefacts, photographs, civic and sporting memorabilia and memories of the ‘Hi-di-Hi’ era of holiday camps on the coast.

Enjoy a range of watersports for all ages and abilities at Alton Watersports Centre. Get active and embrace new activities through open water swimming, fishing, walking and cycling trails, kit hire or courses with friendly and highly qualified instructors. Sign up for a aquapark sessions, spot of sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing or stand up paddle boarding. Boating, canoe and cycle hire available on site. Nature trails include woodland, butterfly gardens, wildflower meadows, ponds and bird hides.

Explore a wide range of outdoor active experiences at the Suffolk home of ski-slope, golf and adventure sports. Have some serious family fun having a go at skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and ‘ringo-ing’ on the slopes. Head for the climbing wall or dare to walk the talk on the high ropes experience. Prefer your feet on solid ground? There’s also golf at the Ipswich Golf Driving Range, plus a mini golf course and putting green.

A working farm with farmyard favourites combined with the thrills of a wildlife park with exotic animals. See over 100 species from zebra and crocodiles to Artic foxes and wolves and even a rescued brown bear and polar bear! There’s also an adventure playground with bouncy pillows, woodland trails and den building, theatre in the forest events, plus shops and a restaurant.

Loads of ideas for gentle outdoor fun adventures in Shotley and around its peninsula, all devised specifically with young families in mind. Download the leaflet for maps, activity inspiration, directed discovery walks designed for little legs and for little ones to take the lead. Also includes information on parks and play areas at villages throughout the Shotley Peninsula.

A 58 acre community recreation and picnic area built into the wooded river cliffs with walks and viewing platforms on several levels. Have fun exploring – hunt out the ‘Gun Deck’, a former Bofor gun emplacement, climb to the ‘Quarter Deck’ and make it all the way to the ‘Crow’s Nest’. A beautiful place to be amongst nature, accompanied by great views along the foreshore towards Harwich Parkeston Quay and across the River Stour to Essex.

This eye-catching, red brick ornamental gatehouse was constructed in a Gothic folly style after the Reformation, around 1549-1575. It is on view from road through the village, in front of Erwarton Hall. Like the Hall it is Grade II* listed and been subject to some rebuilding over the centuries. The property was owned in the 1500s by Anne Boleyn’s uncle and she visited often as a child and during her brief marriage to King Henry VIII. Legend has it that the King visited the Hall too during their courtship and that her heart is buried in the village church.

The remote church of St Mary the Virgin in Erwarton is said to be the resting place of Anne Boleyn’s heart… buried in a crypt under the organ. The unfortunate second wife of King Henry VIII enjoyed stays at nearby Erwarton Hall before her sad demise. Look out for the early medieval monuments to knights and their ladies inside, and follow the churchyard path outside for some amazing panoramic views of the Stour estuary.

St Mary’s Shotley is a fine, tower-less hilltop church dating from the 1400s. Inside, it is renowned for its fine hammer-beam roof and amazing feeling of light, courtesy of some unusual Venetian-style classical windows. Outside, the hillside Naval Cemetery also leaves a lasting impression – filled with the graves of Royal and Merchant Navy sailors, Dutch and German Navies who died during WWII and young lads from the HMS Ganges training establishment who never made it to sea.

Suffolk’s only railway pier, Shotley Pier stretches for 160 metres (540 feet) and has a history like no other. Originally commissioned in 1865 by the Marquis of Bristol (hence the Bristol Arms opposite!), and completed in 1894, it was built to take the Royal Mail to the ferry for onward transportation to Harwich and the continent. Other cargos included coal and munitions and young trainee sailors serving at HMS Ganges. The charity which has saved the Pier have a long-term goal to reinstate the narrow gauge railway.

Between 1905 and 1976 over 150,000 Naval Cadets passed through the Royal Navy Training Establishment – HMS Ganges – located at Shotley Gate, on the site where the designated Conservation Area and Shotley Marina are today. This fully accredited museum tells the touching story of young lives in disciplined service through photographs, artefacts and exhibits. Trainees were known as the ‘Button Boys’ because learning to scale the 43 metre mast and stand on the ‘button’ at the top, was all part of their schooling. Free Admission.

This eye-catching large oval pond in the heart of Mistley has an impressive stone swan fountain in its centre and is backed by a building with a stylish porticoed Georgian facade. It was all part of Richard Rigby’s grand (and later thwarted) aspirations to transform the quayside town into a riverside saltwater bath spa resort in the late 1700s. Mistley Quay Workshops – a collection of artisan studios, a gallery and café – are located in the historic weatherboarded building adjacent to the Swan Basin. 

Two porticoed classical towers are all that remain of Mistley’s Georgian church built in 1776 – one of only two churches designed by the eminent architect of great house renown, Robert Adam. It was all part of Richard Rigby’s grandiose plans for a fashionable riverside spa town, but that’s another story. View the Towers (an English Heritage site) from the graveyard or collect keys in the village (see website for details) to visit the interior. Free Admission.

A bright and beautiful ‘folly’ perched above the River Stour, A House for Essex is an arts house which makes a statement within the landscape. It is a remarkable holiday rental property, commissioned from controversial local artist, Sir Grayson Perry (aka Julie Cope), but it can be viewed from the exterior as it sits alongside a public footpath just off the Essex Way. Reminiscent of a wayside chapel, it invites the viewer to consider the idea that art and architecture can not only lift our spirits, but help us to experience the world through the eyes of others, both in reality and fiction.

A wildlife-rich waterside coppice woodland of Sweet Chestnut trees whose ancestors were probably planted by the Romans 2,000 years ago. Listen and look out for everything from woodpeckers to waders. Take your binoculars to the Stour-side Copperas Creek hide for close encounters of the birding kind. Enjoy shaded walks full of seasonal treats like Bluebells, Wood Anemones, fungi, flora and beautiful butterflies.

Opened in 1853, the Ha’Penny Pier is one of the UK’s few surviving wooden working piers and takes its name from the fee originally payable to visit. Today visitors can enjoy a stroll along the L-shaped pier and visit the charming historic ticket office (museum and visitor information point) without charge. Once a departure point for paddle steamers, the pier is now the Harwich embarkation point for the Haven’s foot and bicycle ferry. It is also home to a family-friendly café and the start point for free guided tours of the town.

Believed to be unique in Britain, this recently restored, granary-style building houses two enormous oak treadmill wheels to operate a crane. Each wheel is 5.8 m (16 ft) in diameter and 1.4 m (3 ft 10′) wide – enough for a man to walk inside. It was originally built at the Naval Yard (today’s ‘Navyard’) in 1667, but was moved to Harwich Green – former home of Queen’s Battery – in 1932. The crane can be viewed from the outside, with visits by appointment.

Built in 1911, the Harwich Electric Palace cinema is East Anglia’s oldest purpose-built cinema and one of the least-altered, purpose-built cinemas in the world. A Grade II* listed building, it has a fascinating history, a rare surviving exterior crane to hoist films to the projection room – and 183 seats, all of which are regularly available for watching films, live music and comedy events.

Paired with the High Lighthouse (located just 140 metres away) to aid navigation into Harwich harbour, this stylish Georgian brick-built gem is ten-sided, 16.5 metres (45 ft) high and now home to the family-friendly Harwich Maritime Museum. Enjoy rooms full of interesting exhibits including nautical and local memorabilia and climb to the external viewing platform to look out across the Haven and across the North Sea.

Built in 1818 to replace a light over the town gate, this 9-sided brick tower stands an imposing 32.8 metres (90ft) tall and was paired Low Lighthouse just 140 metres away to aid navigation into Harwich harbour. It served as a (coal-fired) lighthouse until 1862.  Both lighthouses are open to the public, courtesy of the Harwich Society. The High Lighthouse is a museum with exhibits of local interest.

A spectacular circular fort for 300 troops built in 1808 to defend Harwich port against Napoleonic invasion, the Redoubt was part of the East Coast Martello chain. Today this low-lying structure is a literally hidden gem, tucked away amidst housing. Privately restored by the Harwich Society, it is not only a fascinating Georgian building in it own right, but home to big guns, military uniform displays and local artefacts.

Built in 1890 as an addition to existing defences to protect Harwich from enemy attack, this privately owned, volunteer-run hilltop fort is a fascinating, extensive site and must-see for anyone with an interest in the Haven and its military history. Its secretive wooded setting lends the collection of historic batteries, buildings, exhibition displays and viewpoints a very special atmosphere.  Free Admission. 

A unique reminder of the pre-communications-tech hey day of British shipping, the only surviving lightship not to have been stripped of its accommodation – and with historic links to ‘Pirate Radio’. Climb on board this unique former Trinity House lightship, now moored permanently alongside the famous Ha’penny Pier at Harwich Quay. A leading light from the past in more ways than one, lovingly restored by and open to the public courtesy of Pharos Trust volunteers.

The recently restored Napoleonic Martello Tower ‘P’ is the backdrop for this modern seafront park which is a real hit with the little ones and a pleasant, grassy place for a stroll or to sit and watch the world go by. Wide, buggy-friendly paths link the children’s play areas which include a zip wire, climbing play equipment, a sand discovery ‘pool’ and a seasonal ‘splash pad’ water play area. Information boards along the path share the story of Felixstowe’s Martello Tower defences built 1805-1812.

Britain’s newest pier, with a long history is full of fun from arcade entertainment and mini-ten pin bowling to cafés, bars and eateries to enjoy all those ice cream and fish ‘n’ chip favourites and more. The original Felixstowe Pier was a timber-construction built in 1905 as a landing stage for ‘Belle’ paddle-steamers which operated up and down the East Coast. Then one of the longest piers in Britain, it had an electric tramway. This was demolished after the wars, reducing the pier to 136 metres. The Pier as you see it today was completed in 2017.

Eight historic gardens lining Felixstowe’s seafront have earnt the town a reputation as ‘The Garden Resort of East Anglia’. A pump room serving natural spring water and salt-water bathing were key to the original spa resort developing  out of a humble fishing village in Victorian times, but so too were pleasure grounds – places to enjoy a gentle seaside stroll and take the air. Recently restored, many of the Grade II listed gardens are terraced with charming viewpoints, colourful planting, mature trees, shrubs and gentle, accessible paths.

Combining heritage buildings with ultra modern architecture, the Ipswich Waterfront is one of the town’s most iconic destinations. With its Neptune Quay and Beacon Marina, it’s a place of smart boats and even the occasional historic barge, such as Sailing Barge Victor. Boat trips on the Orwell Lady also set sail from the quayside which is lined with landmarks like the Custom’s House and towering former warehouses including dance venue DanceEast. There are lively bars, bistros and cafés with great marina views.

Buses, bikes, prams, trams and trolleybuses, fire engines, coaches and commercial vehicles, plus everything from milkfloats to lawnmowers to lorries! This volunteer-run, friendly and colourful museum has something to delight everyone and is just a short distance from Derby Road railway station in Ipswich. Look out for special event days which include additional visiting vintage vehicles and chances to enjoy a ride on bygone buses or other classic vehicles from the collection.

Home to a superb period rooms and museum collection of varied and inspiring exhibits, including paintings by local Grand Masters, John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough. Located in Ipswich town centre, the stunning 16th century redbrick mansion is free to visit. It sits in its own much-loved and family-friendly Christchurch Park which has magnificent trees (and squirrels!), a dedicated arboretum, boating pond and play area.

Discover the beautiful Stour Valley and Dedham Vale, part of the Suffolk Coast & Heaths National Landscape immortalised by the famed 19th century artist, John Constable. Located where the Shotley and Harwich peninsulas meet as the River Stour narrows to head inland, ‘Constable Country’ is easily explored on foot, following waymarked footpaths and trails from Manningtree Station to National Trust site, Flatford Mill. These gentle landscapes punctuated by churches and villages, the water meadows and the meandering river have all changed little since traditional ‘lighters’ (sailing barges) graced the waterway. Look out for Constable connections at East Bergholt, Dedham and Flatford Mill.