Suffolk is the perfect location for a relaxing family holiday! It is a family-friendly destination with plenty to see and do, without breaking the bank. Here, guests can make some great memories to treasure for many years to come, and enjoy the variety of attractions and amenities the area has to offer.
If you’re planning on visiting Suffolk soon, you may be struggling to choose between the wide variety of properties, inns, and hotels in Suffolk.
Read on to discover our excellent collection of favourite family-friendly Suffolk hotels and other accommodation options in Suffolk, UK.
Family Hotels in Suffolk
There are some fantastic family-friendly Hotels in Suffolk, of which many offer family rooms and children’s menus, and all are close to Suffolk’s favourite features.
For beachfront hotels, try The White Lion (pictured above) and The Brudenell. Both occupy spectacular locations at Aldeburgh seafront. The White Lion is a traditional hotel that is quintessential of small coastal towns in the UK. It offers stunning views and is located within walking distance from the beach. It is home to simple, stylish décor and great food. Similarly, The Brudenell is a great place for guests to relax by the beachside, priding itself on its excellent ocean views and recently refurbished rooms. Both hotels are perfect if you’re looking for easy access to the ocean.
Or, if you’re looking for something quieter than Aldeburgh Beach and a spot of crabbing, you can try out The Anchor at Walberswick. It is located in the heart of Walberswick village and offers guests the opportunity for relaxing seaside walks and exceptional views of the ocean. There are a variety of rooms to choose from, including some dog-friendly rooms overlooking the private garden.
There are also some excellent options inland, such as Milsom’s Kesgrave Hall just outside of Ipswich. It is home to spacious grounds, stunning rooms with comfortable beds, free WiFi, free parking, and a spa.
If you’re traveling with older children or you enjoy a round of golf, be sure to stop by Ufford Park Hotel, Golf & Spa. Ufford Park Woodbridge Hotel is located near the delightful town of Woodbridge, making it an excellent option if you’re planning on exploring. Be sure to stop by this boutique hotel if you’re looking for some luxury while you’re in Suffolk, or simply looking for hotels in Suffolk with a gym.
Another great luxury option if you’re not travelling with a tight budget is the Hintlesham Hall Hotel, located around six miles from the Ipswich Museum. It dates back to the 1400s and offers a spa, a tennis court, and free breakfast.
Inns with Accommodation
The Westleton Crown, set on the beautiful Heritage Coast between Aldeburgh and Southwold (two great seaside towns to stop by during your stay), is a traditional Suffolk inn with all the elegance and comfort of modern living. For families, they have two exceptionally spacious suites, each one being set over two floors, with a sofa bed in the lounge for the kids and an en-suite bathroom in the upstairs bedroom.
For another seaside break, try The Anchor at Walberswick, close to the beach and home to its very own Summer Crabbing competition. The Anchor welcomes children and dogs, and it boasts a great garden, a terrace with rooms, and cedar-clad chalets with family rooms.
The Anchor is known locally for its top-quality food and is open all day in the summer for eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It also offers summer BBQs, and there is a children’s menu. It is perfectly situated for exploring the coasts, towns, ocean wildlife, and other delights that Suffolk has to offer.
Bed and Breakfast
If you’re looking for an excellent B&B while travelling in Bury Saint Edmunds, the Chantry Hotel is a great option for families. This family-run, pet-friendly hotel is located in the heart of Bury St Edmunds, allowing guests easy access to nearby restaurants and shops. It offers free WiFi and free car parking, and is located within walking distance of the Busy St Edmunds Abbey ruins.
Field End B&B, Leiston, is also fully prepared for families, with a family room located directly above the lounge/dining room area. This room also includes a baby monitor.
Well-behaved children of six months and older are welcome, and there is a high chair and camping cot available. The family room offers a double as well as a single bed, with enough space for a children’s cot. Children under 12 years are charged half the single price when sharing rooms with an adult.
Self Catering
Self-catering accommodation gives you the flexibility to come and go when you please. Usually cheaper than a hotel, you can have fun exploring all the lovely cafes and restaurants if you are eating out. Additionally, you can visit one of Suffolk’s many Farmers Markets and bring some delights back to base.
All self-catering accommodation options have fully equipped kitchens and most of the luxuries you have at home. If you’re looking for self-catering accommodation options in Suffolk, check out some of our top choices for family-friendly options below.
Set in 120 acres of woodland and countryside, next to fishing lakes, are High Lodge Leisure’s luxury lodges. These fully equipped lodges sleep up to six people, and some come with their own private hot tubs – perfect for relaxing when the kids are in bed!
High Lodge has its own clubhouse serving breakfast from 9 am, and a full menu served until 2:30 pm. On-site, you can enjoy golf, foot golf, fishing, air rifle and clay shooting. Most of these activities are suitable for children over eight years old. It is located just off the A12 and only a few miles away from the beach at Dunwich and the famous coastal town of Southwold. This is a great location for a fun-packed family stay near the coast.
Alternatively, you can enjoy a slice of rural luxury at Woodfarm Barns. Perfect for bigger families, the large thatched 500-year-old farmhouse sleeps seven people, and the six Suffolk barns sleep two people each. All are dog-friendly, with fully enclosed, private gardens.
Fully equipped for family dining, Woodfarm House features a large kitchen with a big range and an even bigger table, plus a spacious sitting room with an inglenook fireplace and a large dining room. There are three bathrooms, a fenced and sunny kitchen garden, BBQ area, and a fun wooded area for kids to enjoy.
Travel cots, high chairs, pushbikes, hundreds of DVDs, CDs, and books are all available free of charge. The Woodfarm Barns are located just outside the lovely village of Stonham Aspall and are well situated for exploring the nearby coasts or heading inland.
Camping and Caravan Sites
Camping makes for a great family holiday, especially if you are fond of the great outdoors or need to save some money. Another great outdoors option is caravanning. Caravan parks in Suffolk are an ideal option if you enjoy a holiday setting with fresh air and a sense of independence.
Both camping and caravanning offer fantastic value for money and a fun experience for children. Due to the county’s coastline and pretty country locations, Suffolk boasts some of the finest campsites and caravan parks in the UK.
Polstead Campsite boasts some excellent facilities, including a children’s playground, and is dog-friendly. Its rural location just outside the village of Polstead makes for an excellent opportunity to explore the local countryside on foot or by cycling.
There are also several villages and towns with child-friendly pubs and restaurants nearby if you want to go out at night for a drink or dinner with the whole family.
If the kids are fond of something more action-packed, then a stay at Broadland Sands is definitely for you!
Great for young and older children alike, this lively park close to the coast features a heated outdoor pool with flume and a paddling pool, regular live entertainment, a sports bar and snooker lounge, a restaurant and takeaway, a Kid’s Club and outdoor play area, crazy golf, and tennis courts. It is perfect for keeping the young ones busy.
Another excellent choice is Kessingland Beach Holiday Park, located directly opposite the sandy beach between Lowestoft and Southwold. There’s an outdoor pool if you’re looking for a splash in the summer months, and a spa bath and indoor pool for the colder months.
You can choose from a range of caravans, chalets, lodges, or camping and touring pitches, and there are dog-friendly options, too. There is also a lot of entertainment options, from bingo for the grown-ups to discos and live shows for younger visitors.
Shottisham Campsite is a lovely rural campsite near Woodbridge that has forty-five spacious pitches and is family and dog friendly. The property is part of a working smallholding with rare breeds of sheep, alpacas, pigs, ducks, chickens, and turkeys, and the owners invite families to and feed the animals or collect the daily eggs.
There are plenty of facilities on-site and a play area and pub within walking distance. The site is also well positioned for exploring the local area, with Woodbridge a few miles inland and the coast a short drive away. Campfires are allowed in the site’s own firepits (which can be hired), and there is also a luxury bell tent and vintage caravan available for hire.
Please see each of our articles on Camping in Suffolk and Caravan Parks in Suffolk for more information.
