Road & rail noise map for Southwold
Town in Suffolk, Eastern
We analysed 314 postcodes in and around Southwold, Suffolk against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 22% of them (68) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 0% have mapped rail noise. 78% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at IP18 6DN (road noise 60.0–64.9 dB by day).
Noise map of Southwold
How many postcodes are affected?
Road noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | 16% (51) | 9% (28) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 5% (17) | 3% (9) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 78% | 88% |
Rail noise
| Band | Day (LAeq,16h) | Night (Lnight) |
|---|---|---|
| 55.0–59.9 dB day · 50.0–54.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 60.0–64.9 dB day · 55.0–59.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 65.0–69.9 dB day · 60.0–64.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 70.0–74.9 dB day · 65.0–69.9 dB night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| 75.0 dB or more day · 70.0 dB or more night | 0% (0) | 0% (0) |
| Below mapped bands / not mapped | 100% | 100% |
Share of the 314 postcodes within ~5 km of the Southwold centre. Source: DEFRA Strategic Noise Mapping Round 4 (2022), Open Government Licence.
Noisiest postcodes in and around Southwold
Check a specific postcode
Example searches: IP18 6DJ · IP18 6AD · IP18 6AB · IP18 6AX · IP18 6AS · IP18 6DN
What this data does — and doesn't — cover
- Modelled, not measured.These are DEFRA's computer-modelled estimates (Round 4, 2022), not microphone readings at your door.
- Major sources only. The model covers major roads, major railways and large urban areas. Smaller local roads, neighbours, pubs, building sites and aircraft are not included.
- No mapped noise ≠ quiet. If a location shows no band, it means it falls outside the mapped contours — not that it is silent.
- 2022 snapshot.New roads, developments or traffic changes since 2022 won't show. The next DEFRA round is due around 2027.
More detail on the methodology page.
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Nearby areas
Frequently asked questions
- How noisy is Southwold?
- We analysed 314 postcodes in and around Southwold, Suffolk against DEFRA's Strategic Noise Mapping (Round 4, 2022). 22% of them (68) have mapped road noise of 55 dB or more by day, and 0% have mapped rail noise. 78% of postcodes have no mapped road or rail noise at all — though that reflects major-source modelling, not guaranteed quiet. The highest modelled level we found is at IP18 6DN (road noise 60.0–64.9 dB by day).
- Where is the most road noise in Southwold?
- The postcodes with the highest modelled daytime levels in and around Southwold are IP18 6DN, NR34 8AT, IP18 6UH, based on DEFRA's 2022 model of major roads and railways.