Coastal village lined with sandy shores is the best value summer staycation

Last-minute staycation destinations are easy to come by in the UK, and one of the most affordable places to consider is Suffolk.

According to travel experts at Parkdean Resorts, the ceremonial county, which can be found in the East of England, is home to a range of sandy beaches and picturesque landscapes.

They claimed that a large village known as Kessingland is “the best value-for-money seaside destination” of 2023, costing less than £300 on average for a four-night family getaway.

The beach stretches across the northerly region of Suffolk and is made up of a mixture of sand and shingle that face low cliffs.

While the destination offers a taste of a traditional British coastline, Kessingland’s standout feature is its award-winning beach, which is popular with wild swimmers, wind surfers and kite surfers.

The coastline won the Seaside Award in 2018 and again this year. On the Suffolk Coast website, the destination is described as “perfect for birdwatching and fishing” thanks to the “sandy shores and windswept dunes”.

Kessingland beach is one of many that make up a designated area of outstanding natural beauty in the region, along with nearby Southwold, Walberswick and Lowestoft.

As well as being known for its idyllic landscape, the village is rich in history too. According to a local travel guide, Kessingland is a site of “great interest” for archaeologists thanks to the crumbling cliffs which are rich in fossils from the Jurassic period.

The coastline is also famed for its links to world war II, having served as a site for anti-tank defences and gun batteries which were used to protect Kessingland and the south of Lowestoft.

A local guide claimed: “Kessingland Beach is less commercial than neighbouring Lowestoft or Southwold, making it the ideal place to enjoy the quiet and explore nature.

“Awarded the Seaside Award in 2023, recognising the highest standards of beach management, the beach here is actually growing, protected from erosion by a combination of shingle and marram grass that was planted by author H. Rider Haggard, who spent his summers there.”

The village is also home to the Africa Alive wildlife park and Somerleyton Hall and Gardens, so there’s no shortage of activities to try out while staying in the area.

According to the experts at Parkdean Resorts, the Suffolk spot costs just £289 for a four-night, midweek break in the summer school hlidays.

While it came out as the cheapest destination for families this summer, it was closely followed by Skegness, Lincolnshire (£299) and Clacton on Sea, Essex (£319).

Other affordable staycations found by the travel experts included Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (£329) and Morecambe, Lancashire (£329).