The Suffolk Travel Guide highlights local attractions and places of interest for visitors and contains tourist information for travellers. The county is located in the East of England in East Anglia, the region is sometimes missed out by tourists when visiting the UK and this presents an opportunity for those that do visit to go to a place devoid of the large crowds and overly commercial tourism on display in other areas. The county's landscape is essentially flat, with rolling meadows and valleys. The region is also a favourite among boating enthusiasts.
Overview and Attractions
Suffolk has a number of parish churches dating from the late Middle Ages, the economy boomed due to the success of sheep raising. Lavenham Cottages does attract tourists, they come to see the preserved architecture. The town boats over 300 listed buildings with the majority being authentic medieval houses showing a wide range of styles. The Suffolk Coast is a mix of better known resorts such as Lowestoft, and many miles of peaceful wave-washed shore. The Suffolk Heritage Coast runs from near Lowestoft to Felixstowe following the coast for the majority of the way.
In the county of Suffolk, you can visit the remains of the abbey can be see at the historic and attractive market town of Bury St. Edmunds. Those who enjoy racing are well catered for at the National Horse Racing Museum in Newmarket, seen as birthplace racing. Thetford Forest has good walking routes, cycling and other activities. The coast is a delight the best exploring is to be found on Suffolk Coast Walk. Aldeburgh is a quiet and scenic seaside town that makes for a relaxing, enjoyable visit.
Bury St. Edmund's is situated in the heart of East Anglia. It is a picturesque town, it has been around since medieval times. Historic parts of the original Bury St. Edmunds Abbey remain, these include St. James’ Tower that dates back to the 12th century and the gatehouse dates back to the 14th century and links the Abbey Gardens to Angel Hill. The Abbey Gardens surround the ruins, are very much a now a beauty spot with wonderful floral displays, they are popular with visitors. The Art Gallery gives visitors the opportunity to see new artists with new work and new ideas. There are works from both home grown UK and overseas artists and designers.
Ickworth House is an amazing Italianate structure, set in scenic parkland. The frontage of Ickworth House stretches to over 600 feet in length, with the huge rotunda attracting the most attention. It was built to an Italian architect's designs hence the strong Italian influence. The house has paintings by Velazquez, Kauffman and Gainsborough among others and there is fine collection of silver, furniture and porcelain on display. The gardens are excellent and are set in parkland designed by the famous Capability Brown. There is a canal, vineyard and summer house. Visitors can enjoy a variety of marked paths through the park and woodlands surrounding Ickworth. It is located close to Bury St Edmunds
Orford Castle was built in the 12th century by Henry II for the purpose of coastal defences. The well-preserved remains have three sturdy towers that go up to 90 feet above the surrounding village. Inside there are thick walls although it is apparent that this was designed to be a fortified family residence, with stairs inside the towers leading to number of rooms and passageways. The basement contains a well at the centre. It is a fascinating castle with a great sense of history.
Framlingham Castle provides a great trip out for the whole family, there are some spectacular views here to enjoy. There is 900 years of history here, children will enjoy the activity books available for children and visitors can take the interactive audio tour to learn more about the castle and its long history. It is a twelfth century castle marked out by a continuous curtain wall linking thirteen large towers. It is an imposing site and would make for a lovely afternoon out in pleasant surroundings.
St Edmundsbury Cathedral has a long history and tradition, a Norman abbey was built to house the remains of the monarch Edmund, King of the East Angles. In the twelfth century, an additional church for pilgrims to the Abbey was built. The nave of the current church is the successor of the original church. Currently little remains of the Benedictine Abbey, this due to the church growing over the centuries.
Visitors can see a reconstruction of a historical village at the West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, it is built on an original settlement site. Visitors thus have the chance to experience Anglo-Saxon houses and imagine what life in one of the villages would have been like all those years ago. The original settlement was occupied around AD 450 - 650, settlers came along the river Lark, West Stow is one of very few Anglo-Saxon villages that have been excavated and studied closely. Visitors can see the original objects that made up day to day living at the village. The finds from the site are displayed and interpreted at the Anglo-Saxon Centre. This Centre with its rare objects is the final piece in the jigsaw to recreating the village and life as it would have been all those years ago.
If you enjoy having a drink at a friendly, welcoming pub then the Bear Inn is worth considering. It is located in the quiet, picturesque country village of Beyton in Suffolk. The pub has a contemporary feel but still keeps its charming character. There are two bars here, a small bar decorated in traditional dining room red boasting an open fire in winter. The larger bar is light and airy with comfortable seating to allow you to relax and catch up on reading the papers. The locals ensure that this is a welcoming pub and an enjoyable place to enjoy your drink. There is also a child play area to keep youngsters amused. Address: Tostock Rd, Beyton, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP30 9AG and Telephone is: +44 (0) 1359 270249.
Visitors looking for a good restaurant may wish to try The Old Counting House is delightful 14th century restaurant and bar that boats traditional features of a Grade II listed building. The menu is international and there is a reasonably priced À la carte menu, fans of the roast are in for a treat at the traditional Sunday Roast lunch. There are themed nights such as Spanish, Greek and French so there is much variety on offer. With this popular restaurant it is wise to reserve a table to avoid disappointment.
Suffolk offers tourists something a bit different, the area still has large rural areas and no major cities relative to much of the UK. It presents a great chance to go to a place to enjoy the peace and quiet, for boating aficionados to indulge in their passion and for visitors to benefit getting away from the large crowds and congestion associated with the larger cities and well known tourist regions. If you like to relax and tour at your own pace away from the crowds, then Suffolk is likely to be a place to interest you.
Disclaimer: The information given in on this website is given in good faith and to the best of our knowledge. If there are any discrepancies in no way do we intend to mislead. Important travel details and arrangements should be confirmed and verified with the relevant authorities.