Lowestoft

Lowestoft should not really be in this section since it is actually situated in Suffolk. Having said that, any visitor to Great Yarmouth is likely to pay a visit to Lowestoft.

This is the most easterly town in the UK and also acts as the southern gateway to the Broads. It is a popular holiday destination as well as being the second largest town in Suffolk. The town takes its name from the Viking name of Hlothver and toft which means Homestead. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book as a small village with 20 families.

This was originally a fishing village but the decline of the fishing industry and the increase in tourism brought with it the expansion of the town and its range of leisure facilities. Although tourism is very important to the town in terms of its prosperity, the growing population has caused problems. There have been several regeneration campaigns to try and address this issue.

Lowestoft has two piers, of which only one is still open, a harbour and its own railway station. The port of Lowestoft is to become the operations centre for the world’s largest offshore windfarm. The actual turbines will be some 15 miles away from the Suffolk coast.

There are good award winning beaches at Lowestoft where an Air Festival is held on the seafront each year for two days. A source of amusement for children in front of the entrance to the South Pier is the water fountains where children can be seen ducking and diving between the erratic and unpredictable water jets.