Aldeburgh

United_Kingdom

Aldeburgh (pronounced /ˈɔ:lbrə/ (ALL-bre)) is a coastal town in east Suffolk, England. It has a long pebble beach, fresh seafood, several curious landmarks and an interesting history of survival against being swept away by the North Sea.

Aldeburgh The town is best known for being the home of composer Benjamin Britten, who was founder of the annual Aldeburgh Festival in 1948. A lot of properties in the town are second homes. Many visit for the Blue Flag shingle beach.

The following sights are ordered from north to south

  • Long Shop Museum, Main Street, Leiston, IP16 4ES (4 miles north of Aldeburgh, +44 1728 832189.
  • The beach, IP15 5BD (OS Grid ref TM 4660 5679. Stretching north past Thorpeness and south into Orford Ness, it is almost exclusively shingle (pebbles), except for small tracts of rough sand between breakwaters.
  • The Red House, Golf Lane, Aldeburgh IP15 5PZ (About 3/4 mile/1.2 km inland. Home of composer Benjamin Britten and tenor Peter Pears from 1957. Musical events, art exhibitions. Guided tours available. Opening hours vary - see website. The Scallop
  • The Scallop, Thorpe Rd, IP16 4NR. A 2003 stainless-steel sculpture by Maggi Hambling commemorating Benjamin Britten, who lived in Aldeburgh from 1947 until his death in 1976. The 4-m-tall piece is made of two interlocking broken scallop shells. The main upright shell as cutouts reading "I hear those voices that will not be drowned", taken from Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes. It is meant to be enjoyed both visually and tactilely, and people are encouraged to sit on it and watch the sea. Moot Hall
  • Moot Hall, IP15 5DS, +44 1728 454666. Jun-Aug: daily noon-5PM; Apr May Sep & Oct: daily 2:30-5PM. The 17th-century timber-framed Moot Hall was used for council meetings and now houses the local museum describing Aldeburgh's history. Adult £2; accompanied children free.
  • RNLI station. The lifeboat station houses a RNLI houseboat which can be viewed from the outside by the public. Fort Green Mill and beach
  • Fort Green Mill. The curious Fort Green Mill is a four-storey windmill converted to residential use. Martello Tower
  • Martello Tower, Slaughden Rd IP15 5NA. The unique Martello Tower (knows as tower CC) is 4 towers joined together and the largest and northernmost of 103 defensive towers built between 1808 and 1812 to resist a Napoleonic invasion. Suffolk at one time had 18 towers. Many have been destroyed (e.g. pulled down for their masonry) whilst others converted into homes or put to other uses. This tower is now used as holiday apartments. The Martello Tower is the only surviving building of the fishing village of Slaughden, which had been washed away by the North Sea by 1936.

Long Shop Museum, Main Street, Leiston, IP16 4ES (4 miles north of Aldeburgh, +44 1728 832189.

The beach, IP15 5BD (OS Grid ref TM 4660 5679. Stretching north past Thorpeness and south into Orford Ness, it is almost exclusively shingle (pebbles), except for small tracts of rough sand between breakwaters.

The Red House, Golf Lane, Aldeburgh IP15 5PZ (About 3/4 mile/1.2 km inland. Home of composer Benjamin Britten and tenor Peter Pears from 1957. Musical events, art exhibitions. Guided tours available. Opening hours vary - see website.

The Scallop, Thorpe Rd, IP16 4NR. A 2003 stainless-steel sculpture by Maggi Hambling commemorating Benjamin Britten, who lived in Aldeburgh from 1947 until his death in 1976. The 4-m-tall piece is made of two interlocking broken scallop shells. The main upright shell as cutouts reading "I hear those voices that will not be drowned", taken from Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes. It is meant to be enjoyed both visually and tactilely, and people are encouraged to sit on it and watch the sea.

Moot Hall, IP15 5DS, +44 1728 454666. Jun-Aug: daily noon-5PM; Apr May Sep & Oct: daily 2:30-5PM. The 17th-century timber-framed Moot Hall was used for council meetings and now houses the local museum describing Aldeburgh's history. Adult £2; accompanied children free.

RNLI station. The lifeboat station houses a RNLI houseboat which can be viewed from the outside by the public.

Fort Green Mill. The curious Fort Green Mill is a four-storey windmill converted to residential use.

Martello Tower, Slaughden Rd IP15 5NA. The unique Martello Tower (knows as tower CC) is 4 towers joined together and the largest and northernmost of 103 defensive towers built between 1808 and 1812 to resist a Napoleonic invasion. Suffolk at one time had 18 towers. Many have been destroyed (e.g. pulled down for their masonry) whilst others converted into homes or put to other uses. This tower is now used as holiday apartments. The Martello Tower is the only surviving building of the fishing village of Slaughden, which had been washed away by the North Sea by 1936.

  • Walk through and around the marshes along River Alde near the marina and Martello tower.
  • See the site and read the plaques describing the history of the nearby fishing village of Slaughden, which was washed away by the North Sea by 1936. Near the Martello Tower at Slaughden Quay are the barely visible remains of the fishing smack Ionia. It had become stuck in the treacherous mud of the River Alde, and was then used as a houseboat. In 1974 it was burnt, as it had become too unsafe.
  • Model Boating Pool, Crabbe St, Aldeburgh IP15 5BW. free.
  • Aldeburgh Festival. In June, at Snape Maltings.
  • Aldeburgh Cinema, 51 High Street, Aldeburgh IP15 5AU, +44 1728 454884. Full programme of films, live screenings and special events.
  • Jubilee Hall, Crabbe Street, Aldeburgh IP15 5BN, +44 7980 748547. Music, theatre, dance, comedy, lectures, conferences, educational events.
  • Dunwich Dynamo. A annual cycle ride from London to Dunwich (10 miles N of the town). The 120-mile overnight ride starts in Hackney London normally on the Saturday night closest to the full moon in July, and attracts a large entry (in 2009 1,000 cyclists growing to 2,000 by 2015).

Model Boating Pool, Crabbe St, Aldeburgh IP15 5BW. free.

Aldeburgh Festival. In June, at Snape Maltings.

Aldeburgh Cinema, 51 High Street, Aldeburgh IP15 5AU, +44 1728 454884. Full programme of films, live screenings and special events.

Jubilee Hall, Crabbe Street, Aldeburgh IP15 5BN, +44 7980 748547. Music, theatre, dance, comedy, lectures, conferences, educational events.

Dunwich Dynamo. A annual cycle ride from London to Dunwich (10 miles N of the town). The 120-mile overnight ride starts in [[London/Hackney|Hackney]] London normally on the Saturday night closest to the full moon in July, and attracts a large entry (in 2009 1,000 cyclists growing to 2,000 by 2015).

Buy fresh locally-caught seafood from the fishing huts along the beach near the Moot Hall.

  • Tesco Express, Saxmundham Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5JA, +44 345 610 6365. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-7PM. ATMs
  • Co-op, 8 Saxmundham Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5JD, +44 1728 451458. M-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 10AM-4PM. ATMs.

Tesco Express, Saxmundham Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5JA, +44 345 610 6365. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 9AM-7PM. ATMs

Co-op, 8 Saxmundham Rd, Aldeburgh IP15 5JD, +44 1728 451458. M-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 10AM-4PM. ATMs.

  • The Fish and Chip Shop, 226 High Street, +44 1728 452250. Tu W 11:45AM-2PM, Th 11:45AM-2PM & 5-8PM, F 11:45AM-2PM & 5-9PM, Sa 11:45AM-2PM & 5-8PM, Su noon-2PM. described in The Times as "possibly the finest on the east coast".
  • Prezzo, 146 High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AQ, +44 1728 454452. Daily noon-11:30PM.
  • The Lighthouse, 77 High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AU, +44 1728 453377. M-F noon-2PM & 6:30-10PM, Sa noon-2:30PM & 6:30-10PM (from 6PM in Aug), Su noon-2:30PM & 6:30-10PM.

The Fish and Chip Shop, 226 High Street, +44 1728 452250. Tu W 11:45AM-2PM, Th 11:45AM-2PM & 5-8PM, F 11:45AM-2PM & 5-9PM, Sa 11:45AM-2PM & 5-8PM, Su noon-2PM. described in The Times as "possibly the finest on the east coast".

Prezzo, 146 High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AQ, +44 1728 454452. Daily noon-11:30PM.

The Lighthouse, 77 High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AU, +44 1728 453377. M-F noon-2PM & 6:30-10PM, Sa noon-2:30PM & 6:30-10PM (from 6PM in Aug), Su noon-2:30PM & 6:30-10PM.

  • East Coast, 152 Aldeburgh High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AQ, +44 1728 454524. M-Tu 9AM-4PM, W-Su 9AM-11PM (last orders 9:30PM).
  • Cragg Ststers Tearoom, 110 High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AB, +44 7813 552181 (mobile).
  • Ye Olde Cross Keys, Crabbe St, Aldeburgh IP15 5BN, +44 1728 452637. M-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-midnight.

East Coast, 152 Aldeburgh High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AQ, +44 1728 454524. M-Tu 9AM-4PM, W-Su 9AM-11PM (last orders 9:30PM).

Cragg Ststers Tearoom, 110 High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AB, +44 7813 552181 (mobile).

Ye Olde Cross Keys, Crabbe St, Aldeburgh IP15 5BN, +44 1728 452637. M-Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-midnight.

  • Post Office, 119 High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AA. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 9AM-8PM.

Post Office, 119 High St, Aldeburgh IP15 5AA. M-Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 9AM-8PM.