Suffolk
Parkdean park on the north Suffolk shore with indoor and outdoor pools and direct beach access
Kessingland Beach is a large Parkdean Resorts holiday park on the north Suffolk coast, just south of Lowestoft and with its own access straight onto the beach. It is a full-service resort park rather than a quiet field, and it is aimed squarely at families who want entertainment, pools and a short walk to the sea without having to get back in the car.
Facilities include heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an indoor soft play area, an adventure playground, a multi-sports court and crazy golf. There is an on-site shop, bars and food outlets, and an entertainment programme running through the main season. Camping and touring pitches sit alongside the static caravans and lodges, with electric hook-up available, and pet-friendly accommodation can be booked. Pitch prices start from around £10 a night in the quietest weeks and rise steeply through the school holidays.
The location has more going for it than the park alone. The beach here is long and shingle-backed, Africa Alive zoological reserve is on the doorstep, and Lowestoft, with the free First Light Festival on the beach each June, is a few minutes north. Southwold is around twenty minutes south along the A12, and the Broads are close inland for boat trips. Be clear about what this is: a busy commercial park with noise and crowds in August, and very good value out of season. Anyone after quiet should look further down the coast, but for families with children who want a pool and a beach in the same place, it does the job well.