Crabbing & Cute Tearooms: A Visit To Walberswick Suffolk UK

Known for being one of the best places to go crabbing in the East of England, Walberswick is a tiny village on the Suffolk coast, sandwiched between the River Blyth and Dunwich River. Here’s a guide of things to do in Walberswick and what you can expect when visiting!

Things To Do In Walberswick

Crabbing in Walberswick

Once upon a time, Walberswick was home to the annual British Open Crabbing Championship! Unfortunately, this event no longer takes place, but the crabs are still out in force! I have been crabbing in several locations in the UK (including in Vietnam too…but that was a bit of a fail) and I have never caught so many crabs in one place before!

The best place to go crabbing is from Wally’s Bridge which crosses the Dunwich River. It’s easy to find as it runs alongside the main public car park. If visiting with younger children, be aware that the bridge has no sides, so it may be best if they sit down, rather than stand! The crabs seem to hang around under the middle section bridge, close to the large wooden post!

Alternatively, there is plenty of space along the river bank, that doesn’t have such a big drop.

To go crabbing you’ll need:

• some form of a crabbing line. I personally think that the lines with the netted buckets on the end work best.
• bacon!
• a bucket

You may need to bring your own packet of bacon, but crabbing equipment can be bought from one of the shops in the village.

If you plan on temporarily catching the crabs, you’ll also need a bucket filled with some sea/river water, otherwise, just release them straight back into the river.

Walberswick Beach

Crossing the bridges and over the dunes is Walberswick Beach. It is a mix of shingle and sand and is a year-round dog-friendly beach. It is a little bit of a walk from the car park though! The beach may be a quieter alternative to Southwold Beach, which is on the other side of the river.

Shopping & Tearooms

There is a village green with a small playground. The Walberswick village sign is pretty cool, it has a plaque for each of the Queen’s jubilees and 90th birthday.

The Rusty Nuts Store is a fun vintage and retro shop, selling a whole range of second-hand items, from old signs, to bikes, luggage, and models.

Next door is The Parish Lantern. Here you can buy crabbing equipment and they have some really lovely products and gifts in the shop. There’s also a tearoom with courtyard seating selling lots of local products, drinks, cakes, pastries, and sweets. I had a small tub of ginger and rhubarb fruit ice cream produced by a company based in Ipswich, just down the road!

The Tea Shed is another tearoom with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Pubs

If you are looking for another food option, The Bell Inn and the Anchor at Walberswick are two pubs that offer cooked meals as well as accommodation options. Both have indoor and outdoor seating and pride themselves on using local produce in their menus. The Anchor also has a takeaway fish and chips option (although takeaway may not be available during busy times).

Public Toilets

Public toilets are in a building next to Walberswick Village Hall. You can either walk along the river, or through the village, it’s across the road from The Tea Shed tearoom.

During my visit, the sink didn’t work in the ladies toilets, but there is a water tap on the outside of the building. You may want to always carry hand sanitiser, especially if you have been touching raw bacon and crabs!

Parking

When passing through the village, there is a large public car park near Walberswick harbour. You pay via the RingGo app, so it might be a good idea to download it and set up an account before you arrive. I do quite like paying for parking on an app, because if you end up wanting to stay longer, you can top up the payment without having to return to your car!

There is a flood warning for the area of the car park closest to the river (featured above). During high tide, there’s a possibility of the water reaching the car park.

Walberswick Ferry

The Walberswick Ferry is a row boat that crosses the River Blyth between Walberswick and Southwold. From the end of March until the end of October, the ferry service runs daily from 10am until 5pm. Cash payments only.

If visiting in the off-season, make sure you check the opening times. At the back end of the year, it only runs at the weekend.

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I visited Walberswick on my way to Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. Another fun place to go is Horsey Beach, it’s home to one of the largest Grey Seal colonies in the UK! How To See The Seals at Horsey Beach In Norfolk UK

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Last Updated on May 23, 2025