Oulton Broad: UNLONDON at the Broad by the sea
Oulton Broad in Suffolk, East of England is the southern gateway to the Broads National Park, 1000 acres of wetlands and lowland fen is home to some of the largest populations of wading birds in the region.
Where is Oulton Broad in England
Oulton Broad is a waterside village next to Lowestoft in Suffolk, East of England. It takes less than three hours to get to Oulton Broad from London by train, changing at Ipswich or Norwich station.
There are two railway stations at Oulton Broad: South takes you to Ipswich and North is on the Wherry Line between Lowestoft and Norwich that goes through the Broads.
What makes Oulton Broad special
The world’s first working hovercraft model was tried and tested at Oulton Broad in 1956. Sir Christopher Cockerell first had the idea using a cat food tin inside a coffee tin in a bucket, powered by a vacuum cleaner!
Slow down in Oulton Broad
Oulton Broad is a busy tourist and sporting centre with many beautiful sights to take in, a range of activities to try out and places to visit, shop, eat and drink. It is a place to slow your pace and meander by cycle, foot or boat and admire the scenery and wildlife and explore at your leisure. Very UNLONDON.
Oulton Broad is well-known as a thriving centre for watersports, with powerboat racing, canoeing and its Thursday night speedboat racing.
Oulton Broad's Nicholas Everitt Park is home to the Lowestoft Museum; probably best known for its important collection of 18th-century Lowestoft Porcelain. Other fascinating displays include locally found fossils and artefacts relating to early man (Pakefield Man dating back 700,000 years) and local archaeological displays of objects from Roman and Anglo-Saxon sites. There are also exhibits relating to HMS Lowestoft and HMS Mantis and Lowestoft as a fishing port.
Amazing wildlife at Carlton Marshes
Discover the delightful Oulton Broad where you can hire a day boat or take a river trip with Waveney River Trips, or head to the Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Carlton and Oulton Marshes, an internationally important nature reserve.
The 151 hectares of wetland – backed by Sir David Attenborough - contains a dazzling array of wildlife. Marsh harriers, teals, kestrels, and hobbies dance in the skies, while at ground level the observant can see grass snakes, fen raft spiders, otters, and even Chinese water deer.
This is the place to relax, unwind and feel a slower pace of life. Very UNLONDON.
If you find exotic animals more fascinating then head to Africa Alive just south of Lowestoft. This Zoological Reserve is where you can watch giraffes stride across the landscape, walk amongst lemurs and come face to face with rhinos and lions.
Things to do near Oulton Broad
Why not horse ride on the beach with Pakefield Riding School, enjoy the rides at Pleasurewood Hills or get your adrenaline fix on the high seas with Jet Adventures. For a unique dining experience, try The Crooked Barn.
Oulton Broad across the seasons
Carlton and Oulton Marshes is a 1,000 acres of wilderness in the Broads National Park, with floodplain marsh and lowland fen home to some of the largest populations of wading birds in the East of England. You’ll see different wildlife season by season.
Where to stay in Oulton Broad
Try Suffolk Coastal Escapes or Lodge Farm Cottages.
Getting to Oulton Broad by train from London
You can get to Oulton Broad by travelling to Oulton Broad North or Oulton Broad South by train from London Liverpool Street station.
If you’re travelling to Oulton Broad North, the journey takes around 2 hours 41 minutes, and has 1 change at Norwich station. If you’re travelling to Oulton Broad South, the journey takes around 2 hours 37 minutes, and has 1 change at Ipswich station.
Our trains are accessible and feature free Wi-fi and plug points in-between seats. First Class and catering are available on most of our London to Norwich and Ipswich intercity services.
If you’re planning to stay overnight, you should check out our Weekender ticket, which lets you travel out on a Friday or Saturday, and return on a Sunday or Monday.
Book train ticket to Oulton Broad
FAQs about Oulton Broad staycations
This is the place to unwind and relax away from the spreadsheets and Teams meetings. As it’s the southern gateway to the Broads National Park, get out on the water with Waveney River Trips.
It takes less than three hours to get to Oulton Broad from London by train, changing at Ipswich.
Sir David Attenborough called the Carlton Marshes reserve at Oulton Broad a "unique opportunity" for wildlife in the UK with the revered naturalist adding that it’s “vital that we restore our land on a landscape scale so that it can support more wild plants and animals.”
Photography courtesy of Suffolk Coast