Bawdsey: Radar History and Coastal Landscape

Bawdsey combines an exceptional history with an open coastal landscape and distinctive traces of early garden art. Those wishing to combine culture, nature and activity during their holiday can incorporate very different experiences into their travel plans here. When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house, it is particularly worth considering whether you would like to focus on historical discoveries, the coastal path or peaceful landscape experiences.

Radar History at Bawdsey Radar Museum

Bawdsey was the first Chain Home radar station. This past is brought to life at the Bawdsey Radar Museum: the restored transmitter block houses an exhibition about the development and use of radar. The timeline extends from the 1930s through the Second World War to the present day. The museum visit is therefore suitable as an independent cultural activity and as an opportunity to learn about the history of the place through a specific building.

Pulhamite Cliff and Garden Landscape

The gardens of Bawdsey Manor offer a special attraction. They contain an extensive artificial Pulhamite cliff, built in the 1890s. The cliff structures were intended as a habitat for alpine plants. For visitors interested in historic gardens, unusual landscape design and botanical ideas, this place offers a different perspective on Bawdsey: here, the landscape is shaped not only by nature but also by deliberately created garden architecture.

Church of St Mary and St Mary's

The Church of St Mary is also part of the area's history. It is a 14th-century church and was extensively rebuilt after 1842. St Mary's is open every day all year round, at least from 9 am to 5 pm in winter and from 8 am to 8 pm in summer. In addition, the main service takes place at the Church of St Mary at 11 am on the second and fourth Sunday of each month. You can take these fixed times into account when planning your day if you would like to include the church building and its history in your stay.

Coastal Path, Bawdsey Cliff and Bawdsey Quay

For longer days outdoors, the coastal path from Bawdsey to Aldeburgh is a good option. It follows the open coast from Bawdsey to Shingle Street and then runs around the Alde-Ore estuary. The route therefore connects various coastal sections and landscape impressions, without any specific walking time or level of difficulty being inferred from this. A distinctive landscape feature is Bawdsey Cliff, the largest and most spectacular currently exposed section of the Red Crag.

Bawdsey Quay adds a small sandy beach area to the coastal landscape. A seasonal foot ferry, which also carries bicycles, operates from Felixstowe Ferry to Bawdsey Quay. Anyone wishing to arrange their stay flexibly between walking, coastal observation and a crossing should include the seasonal service in their plans and check the times before setting out.

Which Starting Point Suits Your Trip?

Accommodation in Bawdsey may be particularly worth considering if you do not want to plan historical visits and coastal experiences separately. Families can assign different importance to culture and landscape depending on the age and interests of those travelling with them. Which holiday apartment or holiday house is suitable therefore depends above all on your preferred pace of travel and the excursions you have planned.

Other Places to Compare

If you would like to compare other destinations with Bawdsey, you can also look at Polstead, Bungay, Kessingland, Sudbourne, Middleton, Finningham, Tunstall and Thurston.

For the higher-level travel overview: Suffolk.