seaside day out, 2 hours from south east essex?????

[chilistrucker]

Help please.
providing the weather is ok, I'd like to take the mrs out for the day tomorrow.
ideally somewhere within a 2-2&1/2 hour drive of basildon, essex.
thinking a seaside type town would be nice, she likes abit of shopping, kind of antique and funky household furnishing type places. She also likes gardens and gardening. I'm happy to mooch around anywhere, and would be up for finding somewhere really nice along the way for dinner.
so, does anyone know of a suitable seaside town, harbour town or similar that may fit these requirements?
Any thoughts, ideas appreciated.

[chilistrucker]

Thanks. Funny as in my own head I'd thought of whitstable/herne bay as I'd worked there years ago.
also, suffolk was a thought from regular work related drives to lowestoft, as I seemed to pass many possible interesting places along the way.
will google some of these now, ta

[chilistrucker]

Ha, ha, canvey. Nothing like a night out in the monaco :0
Southwold was a thought, as 1 of the guys I work with lives there, and says its a lovely place. Apparently the fish and chips are particularly good? Luckily the mrs is just as happy with fish n chips, as I am with a nice restaurant.

[chilistrucker]

Thanks all for the ideas
Havn't told the mrs yet where we are going but think our route will be Snape maltings, Aldeburgh, Walberswick and finish in Southwold
Not worried about beach space, more about mooching along the pathways and towns. We have all the timein the world, so if the a12 is busy, happy to use the old roads, through south woodham, Bicknacre, Maldon, Tiptree, Colchester, Ardleigh, Brantham, and Woodbridge
Hopefully a nice day ahead, fish and chips for lunch and finish up with dinner in or around southwold maybe
Just wish I still had the old m5 for the drive.
next year maybe

[chilistrucker]

2222 said:

Sssaaaaaaffffff end.

With that on the doorstep, you don't need to travel far at all

true, but we fancied a change from cockles n whelks guv

Mmm, adnams. I'll drive up, the mrs can drive home

[chilistrucker]

Thanks Steve
We are going there for fish and chips for lunch and then find somewhere in Southwold, or maybe even Ipswich in the evening for dinner

[chilistrucker]

Well we had a cracking day.
took the scenic ŕoute up through all the smaller towns and villages, and only used the a14/a12 from Ipswich upto Woodbridge, where we hung a right and headed for Snape.


had a good nose round Snape maltings, really liked it, plenty to see and do and bought some nice jams, chutneys and sauces, (should I join the w.i?)

[chilistrucker]

oh yeah, had 1 of these before leaving Snape
Then went onto Aldeburgh, loved it. Mind you if today was anything to go by, would avoid it in the height of summer.
Found the chippy, and igs huge queue :0
So took Blibs advice and went too the 1 at the far end of the high street, by the pub
still a big old queue, but most definitely worth the wait.

[chilistrucker]

So we enjoyed our lunch on the sea wall, admired the view and watched life walk by, including I think, Paul Ince and his mrs.


I'm sure the houses on the front are not that expensive?


popped upto Southwold, just had a drive along the front really and a look at the pier as it was pretty busy, and then headed home. Didn't even stop for dinner as we were still stuffed, but supper is sorted tonight

Thanks for all the advice, had a cracking day.

[chilistrucker]

Blib said:

chilistrucker said:

So took Blibs advice and went too the 1 at the far end of the high street, by the pub
still a big old queue, but most definitely worth the wait.

phew, was worried about fins and shadows