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Port town in Suffolk, England
Photo: DS Pugh, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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Theatre
Also café & restaurant.
Whilst radar was invested in Slough, the technology was developed to at Bawdsey Radar. Free parking.
Roughs Tower
A Maunsell sea fort in the North Sea, two squat pillars supporting a platform, built in 1943 as an anti-aircraft position. At that time it lay in international waters, as the territorial boundary was only 3 nautical miles out, just over 4 imperial miles. It was decommissioned in the 1950s but in 1965 became a pirate radio station, beyond UK broadcasting law. The rival broadcaster Paddy Bates ousted the original pirates but never began broadcasting himself, instead claiming the tower as the independent "Principality of Sealand". He later added the business of passports, currency and the like. In 1978 the tower was briefly captured by rival pirates, German businessmen planning a casino. They were ejected but declared themselves the Sealand government in exile, and set up a trade in Sealand passports, selling some 4000 for $1000 a time to Hong Kong residents trying to escape the Chinese takeover. Meanwhile in 1987 the UK extended its territorial limits from 3 to 12 nautical miles, so Sealand is now firmly British. This has curbed further attempts to exploit its status, for instance as a data haven and "dark web" host. Paddy Bates died in 2012. His family continue to assert property rights and stage occasional stunts, such as a Sealand football team, but nobody lives there now.
Gym, swimming pools, studio
Nature Reserve
Mainly birdwatching. 2-mile walk from car park to hides & centre, can be muddy. Park at end of Cordy's Lane 1 mile from reserve entrance. Dogs on leads.
Offers an all-you-can-eat buffet, as well as takeaway.
Good Italian, especially for seafood.
Excellent vegan food.
Dine in or takeaway.
12-room hotel in a renovated Edwardian building, clean and comfy. Most visitors are just here for the pub lunch.
Immaculate welcoming 8-room guest house on the beach front.
Value-for-money hotel near the station, some facilities tired.
Particularly recommended for second-hand and antique books.
Richard's Books
Speciality sausages and premium butchers
Supermarket
ATMs. Petrol station (different hours). Pharmacy (different hours).
Supermarket
Supermarket
Small supermarket at the north end of the high street. Bus stop out the front and train station just behind.
By boat
Port of Felixstowe is busy with freight but has no international ferries. Cross to Harwich Parkeston Quay for the ferry to Hoek van Holland.
By road
First Eastern Buses 75, 76 and 77 start from Ipswich. Bus 77 runs hourly to Felixstowe town centre (45 min) then Landguard Fort and port viewing area, but the town is best explored on foot or bicycle.
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