The South Lookout

The South Lookout is a Grade II listed stone structure standing on Crag Path near the Aldeburgh seafront, featuring windows on multiple sides that overlook the coast. The compact building is designed to frame views of the sea and surrounding coastal landscape.

Built around 1830, this structure served as a monitoring point for ships navigating the North Sea waters off the Suffolk coast. It was erected to keep watch over vessels passing through busy shipping lanes in the region.

The building functions as an exhibition space where British artists present rotating shows throughout the year. Visitors can see works by established and emerging artists displayed in the compact interior.

The lookout sits on Crag Path along the seafront and is easily accessible by walking the coastal route. The interior is intimate in size, so visiting during designated exhibition hours helps manage the flow of visitors comfortably.

South African author Laurens van der Post used this space as his personal writing retreat for three decades starting in the 1950s. His extended occupancy added a literary dimension to the building that many visitors overlook when viewing the current exhibitions.