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See What Suffolk Has To Offer PLACES TO VISIT FOOD & DRINK COUNTRYSIDE & COAST ACCOMMODATION ARTS & CRAFTS SPECIAL EVENTS
Suffolk
TOURIST GUIDE
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Welcome
Welcome to the Suffolk Tourist Guide. Use this guide to take your first steps towards a relaxing break in this lovely part of the UK. And to help make your visit extra special, visit our online guide for current special offers at
32 ARTS & CRAFTS Creativity around the county. 34 FOOD & DRINK
There’s no shortage of great events throughout the year - here’s a selction of some of he best.
www.suffolktouristguide.com 4 COUNTRY & COAST
50 EVENTS
Suffolk is famous for its local produce. Take your first taste here.
56 WEDDING VENUES
38 SEE & DO
Fabulous locations and settings for your big day. Visit historic town and market towns in the beautiful Suffolk countryside or enjoy the charm of its coastal towns such as Southwold or the excitement of the resort of Lowestoft.
Discover a whole host of interesting attractions to visit from farms and fairgrounds to historic houses and theatres.
62 PLACES TO STAY Find somewhere special to spend your visit to Suffolk. 66 INFORMATION Map & Information Centres
Suffolk Tourist Guide is produced and published by www.suffolktouristguide.com in association with Thompson Media Partners Ltd, Unit 4, Avenue Business Park, Elsworth, Cambridge CB23 4HY. If you would like to advertise in the next edition or require more information, please contact Darren Marshall on 07826 628680 email darren@eastmag.com or Sarah Quinlan on 0845 3627855 email info@suffolktouristguide.com
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Country&Coast
Just one hour from London, Suffolk has a bounty of attractive towns and villages with great shops, beautiful buildings and plenty to explore. The Suffolk Coast is one of the UK’s finest landscapes with 40 miles of Heritage Coast set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Under big East Anglia skies discover charming seaside towns, lively resorts and beautiful coastal scenes
Aldeburgh Aldeburgh is a beautiful town on the river Alde. It is blessed with breathtaking scenery, both seawards and following the river Alde inland. Aldeburgh’s name comes from Alde Burgh meaning “old fort”. The town’s history is inextricably linked to the changes time has wrought to the coastal map. It was once an important Tudor port, its shipbuilders responsible for Francis Drake’s ‘Golden Hind’. Some historic buildings have survived the centuries, such as 400-year old Moot Hall (now home to Aldeburgh’s museum), a Norman Church and a martello tower. Aldeburgh had to wait until the 19th century when the fashion for the beach and craze for sea air brought back visitors in quantity, establishing it as a popular resort. The town is famous for being the home of composer Benjamin Britten, and there are many reminders of his life about the town. Britten, Eric Crozier and Peter Pears established the classical Aldeburgh music festival
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There are also two popular golf courses, all-weather tennis courts, and, of course, excellent bathing. Aldeburgh’s strong local community shares activities and knowledge with the visitor, providing poetry and arts and craft residential courses. The pretty high street has craft, food and antiques shops, reflecting local passions, as well as a myriad of pubs and an independent cinema. The Aldeburgh Museum is housed in one of the most important timber-framed public buildings in England. Dating from the first half of the 16th Century it originally contained six small shops on the ground floor and a spacious meeting chamber on the first floor
at nearby Snape Maltings in 1948, where it has taken place ever since. The town’s summer season of events also includes Jill Freud’s Aldeburgh Summer Theatre in July and August, and the Carnival and Regatta in August. For weekend seadogs it has a very active yacht club and teaches sailing to juniors and adults.
Beccles Beccles lies in North West Suffolk on the banks of the Waveney river on the Norfolk-Suffolk border. Its name, which means ‘meadow by the stream’, still makes sense today, with the town backing onto the southern edge of The Broads. The pretty riverfront and quay make Beccles a popular stop for pleasure craft, and the river offers a splendid view of the Georgian gardens sloping down to the water’s edge. The Bell Tower next to St
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Aldeburgh beach
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St Michael’s Church in Beccles, Suffolk is unusual in that its bell tower is detached. The 97-feet high building was built in 1500 about 100 years after the main church was finished. A separate tower was made necessary by the steep drop to the west of the church where the tower would normally have been built. Catherine Suckling and Reverend Edward Nelson were married here in 1749. Nine years later, they had a son - Horatio. It is also unusual in that there are three clock faces but on the fourth, which faces Norfolk, there’s no clock. It is said it’s because the Suffolk townsfolk didn’t want to give Norfolk the time of day!
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Bungay Old Beccles milestone Bungay
Michael’s Church dominates the skyline and climbing its hundred or so steps offers the reward of some commanding views. Beccles’ streetplan dates back to medieval times. Devastating fires in the 16th and 17th centuries led to the arrival of the town’s many fine Georgian houses. The narrow streets are home to an eclectic mix of boutiques and antiques shops. Among them too are quality food shops, including Bailey’s Delicatessen on Hungate. There’s plenty to tempt the palates of visitors; Twyford’s café in Exchange Square serves a fine tea, for dining there’s Bells in The
Old Market, Indiagate in Newgate and The Swan House wine bar and restaurant near the bell tower comes recommended by the Broads Quality Charter. Beccles has its fair share of festivities too with an annual carnival and regatta in July, with live music, a parade, fun fair and fireworks; a fiercely-contested charity rubber duck race in September and the “Straw Race”, a pub crawl for people encumbered with a straw bail.
Bungay Bungay market town sits in the Waveney Valley, partly encircled
by the River Waveney, with views of picturesque water meadows. The streets are full of historic character and offer several independent shops, restaurants, tea and coffee shops, cafes and bars. Thursday is market day, and Earsham Street is where you’ll find many of Bungay’s shops. Take a look at the ruins of Bigod’s Castle, built in 1170, details of which can be found at the castle visitor centre on Cross Street. Bungay Festival, focused around the castle, is held in July. The town museum is in the District Council Office in Broad Street, and St. Mary’s Church, with its tall tower, is the site of the famous local Legend of Black Shuck. ®
The Swan House in Beccles are developing a website within a website promoting Beccles. At www.swan-house.com you can see some fabulous photos of the town and surrounding areas (like this one of the River Waveney, and the church, opposite), plus details about local events and activities. www.suffolktouristguide.com 7
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Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre The Abbey Gate, Bury St Edmunds Market Place, Bury St Edmunds
For a bite to eat there’s the well-loved Buttercross Tearooms and Tea Gardens, lunch from local produce at The Castle Inn on Earsham Street and at the award-winning Earsham Street Café & Delicatessen you’ll find excellent British and Mediterranean food. To enjoy the scenic route of the Waveney walk along the riverside pathway or hire a rowing boat and look out over the heathland and golf course of Outney Common.
Bury St Edmunds Few places in England can match the beauty, character and history of Bury St Edmunds. Rich in legend and folklore, the town has been admired down the years by visitors and authors from Daniel Defoe to Charles Dickens. The town grew up around the powerful Abbey of St Edmund in early medieval times. For five centuries it was visited by pilgrims from all over the
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world, coming to worship at the shrine of St Edmund - the martyred King of East Anglia. St Edmund was the patron saint of England until the dragon-slaying George took up the title in more militant times. Evidence of St Edmundsbury’s past and present is all around. Town and village streets, magnificent parish churches, and unspoiled landscapes throw light on an England that elsewhere has long been lost. Take the Abbey Trail through the town and visit the old Abbey Ruins; the remains of the great Benedictine Abbey, destroyed in the dissolution of 1539. It’s a wonderful town to visit, with almost 1,000 preserved buildings and a network of streets that still follow the grid pattern devised by the abbots in the 11th century. The town has excellent leisure and shopping facilities and is at its busiest on Wednesdays and Saturdays when people flock to the Buttermarket and Cornhill to visit one of the best provision markets in East Anglia. The town is a shoppers’ delight, where every sort of store from the large
High Street names to family-run businesses and fascinating small gift shops sit comfortably sideby-side. The Abbey Gardens are wellknown for their stunning floral displays. St Edmundsbury Cathedral was mostly built in the 16th century and has been a cathedral since 1914. There has never been a better time to visit this medieval building, once part of the great abbey of St Edmund, as it has recently been completed with the addition of a new Gothic style lantern Tower. Other buildings to admire include the Victorian Corn Exchange, with its imposing colonnade; the Athenaeum, hub of social life since Regency times; Cupola House, where Daniel Defoe once stayed; the Angel Hotel, where Charles Dickens and his creation Mr Pickwick stayed; and The Nutshell, owned by Greene King, and probably the smallest pub in the country. The town is home to Greene King and any visit must include a visit to the brewery, where you can take a tour and a tasting. ®
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Bury St Edmunds Cathedral and Abbey Gardens
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Cavendish Cavendish is the perfect ‘picture postcard’ English village with a 14th-15th century church, a number of thatched cottages, and the Sue Ryder Foundation Museum, which tells the life story of Sue Ryder and the history of the Foundation. In 1381 during the Peasants Revolt, Sir John Cavendish hung on to the handle of the church door to plead for sanctuary from his pursuers after his son had put to death Wat Tyler, the peasants’ leader. What is even more amazing is that the same handle still hangs on the door some 620 years later.
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Cavendish Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul, Clare Clare
The small but enormously significant Theatre Royal, built by National Gallery architect William Wilkins in 1819, is the sole surviving Regency Theatre left in the country and even after nearly 200 years remains a vital part of the town’s cultural identity. Don’t miss the annual Christmas Fayre in November. This wonderful three-day event won ‘Best Tourism Event’ in the Enjoy England Regional awards.
Clare A delightful little wool town on the River Stour; in fact, its name is said to derive from the “clear” nature of the river Stour as it flows through the town. Visit the remains of a13th Century
Augustinian Priory and the quaint Ancient House Museum. The open space of Clare Castle Country Park is a wonderful place to relax, while there is a lovely nature trail along the pretty River Stour and summer events including open air garden theatre and treasure trails for children.
Dunwich It’s hard to believe that the sleepy village of Dunwich was once a bustling port city with a population of 4,000. It might have been still if the sea hadn’t eaten away at it, leading to its almost complete abandonment by the 19th century. There are fabulous reminders of its heyday, including the ruins of a Franciscan priory, while the natural splendour of Dunwich Heath is still intact.
Dunwich beach
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Beautiful Constable Country
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Flatford Mill Martello Tower Felixstowe Ferry
Constable Country Constable Country is located on the Suffolk and Essex border. This enchanting part of England was the birthplace of renowned artist John Constable and the subject matter of many of his most famous paintings, most notably The Hay Wain, a scene depicting a horse-drawn cart in the water, haymakers at work in the distance and a charming little cottage rented by a farmer called Willy Lott. Known the world over for its atmospheric skies and captivating natural beauty, this is an inspirational place to spend a holiday. One of the best ways to experience the countryside that John Constable knew and loved is to walk around the picturesque
Stour Valley. By following in the footsteps of Constable you’ll have a better appreciation of the trees, rivers, sounds and light captured on canvass by one of the greatest British painters of all time. The little riverside hamlet of Flatford is the setting for some of Constable’s most famous paintings,such as ‘The Hay Wain’, ‘The Mill Stream’, ‘Boat-building near Flatford’ and ‘The White Horse’. The Bridge Cottage is now home to a small exhibition on Constable, a tearoom and shop. Flatford Mill and Willy Lott’s house are owned by the National Trust. Visit the pretty village of East Bergholt, Constable’s birthplace, and from where a young Constable used to walk across the riverside meadows to Dedham every day on his way to school.
Close by is the historic market town of Hadleigh, the delightful Shotley Peninsula, and some wonderful villages along the Stour Valley, which you can follow all the way to Haverhill.
Felixstowe Felixstowe, bordered on the north by the River Deben and on the south by the River Orwell, is a well loved resort known for its Blue Flag quality sand and shingle beach, long promenade, perfectly kept seafront gardens and seaside attractions. Felixstowe became a fashionable seaside resort in the 1880s, and has retained many of its attractive Victorian and Edwardian houses and hotels. The seafront is over four miles long, with a wide promenade that stretches almost the entire length of the beach from ® Port of Felixstowe is the largest container port in the UK and one of the largest in Europe
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Spa Pavilion Theatre, Felixstowe The Guildhall, Hadleigh Hadleigh High Street Halesworth Haverhill Arts Centre Framlingham
Languard Point to Felixstowe Ferry. Five Martello towers, built to prevent Napoleonic invasion, stand on Felixstowe’s coast. The front has all attractions of the traditional seaside holiday resort, with old-fashioned beach huts, fish and chip shops, a funfair, amusement arcade, miniature golf, bowling green, cafés and restaurants, as well the leisure centre’s pool, saunas and sunbeds. The art deco style Spa Pavilion theatre, also on the seafront, stages dance shows, music and musicals, comedy, ballet, children’s shows and hosts the annual Felixstowe Drama Festival (May 16-21). Or you could enjoy a retro night at the movies at the 1930s
Palace Cinema. Felixstowe’s summer season of events includes a French Market, Historic Vehicle Rally, tennis tournament, Carnival and Fair and Art on the Prom. (See events pages for further event details). Felixstowe is home to the UK’s largest container port, and Europe’s busiest. The viewing area at Landguard on the southern edge of the town offers great views of container and passenger ships from Felixstowe and Harwich harbours. Next to the view point is the Felixstowe Museum, full of artifacts from Roman to recent times, and Landguard Fort, a multi-period military building dating back to the 16th century. The fort’s warren of tunnels and rooms is open
for exploration every day throughout summer. Here too, at the mouth of the River Orwell, are the Landguard Bird Observatory and the Landguard Peninsular nature reserve, a significant site for shore and migrant birds, and rare shingle flowers. North of the town centre is the fishing village of Old Felixstowe and, at the mouth of the River Deben, the hamlet of Felixstowe Ferry with its gallery, golf course, cottages, boat yard and riverside inns. Here you can explore coastal paths, see the Martello Towers, pick up fresh fish at The Shed fish stall, enjoy excellent fish and chips at the Ferry Café and catch the small ferry boat across the estuary to Bawdsey. Felixstowe
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Framlingham Framlingham, known locally as 'Fram', sits in the unspoilt countryside of east Suffolk's coastal district. The pretty market town has a conservation area and many of the town's buildings date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Framlingham's trail is a good way to explore the town's history and interesting buildings. The 12th century Framlingham Castle, owned by English Heritage, was the seat of the Earls and Dukes of Norfolk. Mary Tudor lived in the castle in 1553 and it was here that she heard she had become Queen of England. Visitors can walk around the battlements, which offer a good view over the countryside and the mere. Concerts and re-enactments take place in the grounds between May and September. The Mere alongside the castle is managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. Framlingham is known for its antique shops, and is a great place to search for a unique find.
Hadleigh Hadleigh, in the south of Suffolk close to the border with Essex, offers a wonderful mix of the old and new, and is known as much for its collection of interesting shops, pubs and restaurants as for its fine architecture. Hadleigh is one of Britain’s finest ancient market towns, with a rich architectural history that has its origins in Saxon times. Hadleigh’s High Street is almost a mile long and runs parallel with the river, of the 137 properties that line the street 90 percent are listed buildings.
Halesworth A small market town primarily centred around a pedestrianised shopping street known as The Thoroughfare. The town has a number of interesting buildings, not least St. Mary’s Church and the old almshouses. Each year in June the Thoroughfare hosts a popular food, drink and craft fair. Halesworth’s New Cut Arts, a centre for arts in the community, offers a whole range of arts and entertainment and is host to the Halesworth Arts Festival in October and HighTide Festival at the end of April, which presents world premieres of theatre productions by new writers. The Town Park hosts Gig in the Park every August, a showcase of local, national, and international musical talent. Market Day is every Wednesday.
Haverhill Haverhill is a market town that dates back to Saxon times. Whilst most of its historical buildings were lost to the great fire on 14 June 1667, it does however retain one notable Tudor house (reportedly given to Anne of Cleves as part of her divorce from Henry VIII, and thus titled Anne of Cleves House) and many interesting Victorian buildings. Haverhill is predominantly a modern and young town, with a small centre with a number of shops, including a new retail quarter, and a new leisure quarter with a number of restauranrts and a Cineworld. The town has a refurbished leisure centre with a state-of-the-art gym and swimming pool, and an Arts Centre that hosts a range of entertainments. Haverhill also offers wonderful green spaces; the large Recreation Ground in the heart of the town is popular with all ages while the award winning East Town Park and the Railway Walk offer access to open countryside.
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Ipswich Waterfront is enjoying an astonishing renaissance, with new marinas, restaurants, bars, and homes emerging from a Victorian Wet Dock which opened in the 19th Century. Since September 2008 it has also been home to the main hub of University Campus Suffolk, and is also where you will find the new Jerwood DanceHouse, the cultural hub of the regenerated dockside and a hothouse for the development and presentation of new and emerging dance talent
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Ipswich shopping Town Hall Clock Tower Ipswich Town Football Club, Portman Road Stadium Street leading to the Quay
Ipswich Wolsey's Gate, near the Ipswich Waterfront, is all that's left of Thomas Wolsey's dream to build a great college in his home town: a dream immortalised in Shakespeare’s play Henry VIII. When the Lord Chancellor fell from grace, this bustling, buoyant Tudor town fell with him. But not for long, because unlike Cardinal Wolsey, who died penniless and bereft, the modest maritime town of Ipswich quickly recovered its civic poise and dignity. Anyone who is unfamiliar with the fascinating county town is in for a pleasant surprise. Once a solid centre of maritime commerce and activity, the Ipswich ‘Docks’ have been transformed into the Ipswich ‘Waterfront’. Much of the rich
fabric of the past remains intact with sensitive renovations of several heritage dockland buildings including the delectable boutique style Salthouse Harbour Hotel and the imposing Old Custom’s House. Meanwhile, a new wave of vibrant cafes, cosmopolitan restaurants, interesting shops and modern apartment blocks has washed in with the tide. Add this to the ever-changing skyline; the vista of visiting large sailing boats, Royal Navy ships, yachts and powerboats, and it’s easy to see why Ipswich has become one of the most sought after destinations in the East. Ten minutes walk away is the town centre, which offers rich pickings in terms of its museums, galleries, theatres, parklands and high street shops. There’s also a great open-air
market on the Cornhill on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, located right outside the newly refurbished Town Hall Galleries, which is well worth a visit. Christchurch Mansion, a fine Tudor house set in its own beautiful park in the heart of the town, boasts the most important collection outside of London of works by Constable and Gainsborough. International pop acts, mainstream and fringe theatre and an unrivalled arts festival all this and more you'll find at venues such as The Regent Theatre, the Corn Exchange, and the New Wolsey Theatre. Of course, retail therapy is a must when out on the town. St Nicholas Street is ‘boutique paradise’, and there’s a thriving High Street and the Tower Ramparts shopping centre. The Orwell Bridge was opened in 1982 and carries the A14 over the River Orwell just south of Ipswich. The main span is 190 metres and appears in the 1987 film The Fourth Protocol starring Michael Caine
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Lavenham Church Lavenham street Guildall, Lavenham
Lavenham Lavenham is a joy to explore any time of the year and looks as beautiful in the evening as it does during the day. The village has a proud history of being one of the foremost cloth making centres in England from the 14th to the 16th century and the many magnificent buildings that remain are a testimony to the town being the fourteenth wealthiest in England. Lavenham’s importance as a trading town was recognized as far back at the thirteenth century, and was granted its market Charter in 1257. It then became of some international importance in the reign of Edward III, during which time Lavenham exported its famous blue broadcloth to Russia, trading with the notorious Catherine the Great. Lavenham’s industry went into a steep decline in the 16th century
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though, as Dutch refugees to Colchester brought with them cheaper, more fashionable cloth. At the turn of the 20th century much of the village was in a state of near dereliction. Today it ranks amongst the most beautiful of villages; set in lush green countryside it makes the ideal weekend getaway. The appearance of the town has changed little over the years, the buildings are fascinating, some are huge and imposing, others are tiny and some are crooked! Lavenham has been described as “the finest medieval town in England” and no fewer than 300 of its buildings are listed as being of architectural or historical interest. One of these is the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, which is among the finest in East Anglia, a magnificent church with a spire
of 141 feet. Other buildings of interest that are open to the public include The Guildhall of Corpus Christi, owned by the National Trust. This is a 16th-century timber framed building overlooking the market place and houses a museum offering insights into local life. Little Hall is a lovely example of 15th-century hall house with a crown-post roof. It contains the Gayer-Anderson collection of furniture, pictures, sculptures and ceramics. Art lovers will be at home here too with collection of wonderful galleries to visit. Much recommended is a walk along the disused railway line, followed by a wander through the gift and antique shops, then a cream tea, lunch or dinner in one of the many fabulous tea rooms, pubs and restaurants.
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Main Street, Long Melford Kentwell Hall Melford Hall
Long Melford Long Melford is one of Suffolk’s most attractive villages, and in a nationwide poll by Savills, the estate agent, it came 7th in Britain as one of the most desirable villages to live. It has a long, long High Street - two and a half miles to be exact; the longest in England - populated by charming independent shops, vibrant art galleries, antique centres, cafes, restaurants, and, of course, typical Suffolk Inns. This, combined with beautiful architecture and amazing countryside, and it is no wonder that Long Melford is such a desirable place! There’s plenty of interesting sights, including, at the top of the village, Holy Trinity Church, a wool church dating from the 15th century. It contains several noteworthy memorials and brasses, and just outside is the brick hospital, founded in 1573 as an almhouse for twelve poor men and two poor women. There are also two Tudor mansions in close proximity. Kentwell Hall is a romantic, completely moated, mellow redbrick mansion in a tranquil parkland setting. There are lots of events going on at the Hall, not least their famous Tudor re-creations, and you can have a guided tour of the house. Melford Hall is a large Elizabethan house, built of red brick around a quadrangle and ornamented with mitre-topped turrets. It is run by the National Trust. One of the attractions of Long Melford today is it’s thriving and growing hub of Art Galleries. In the past Long Melford has been known as an antique centre but now the village has a reputation for being the place in Suffolk to go to see and buy works of art. This has brought a new vibrancy to the village and there is a now a wider array of good quality shops from ladies boutiques to Fine Foods, as well as some remaining high quality antique shops. Long Melford is a true Suffolk gem. It has lots to offer the visitor, from historic buildings to contemporary fashions, and the food available throughout the Village - from the butcher to the restaurants and pubs - will keep you sustained throughout your stay.
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Lowestoft beach Lowestoft Pavilion Lowestoft beach
Lowestoft Located on the most easterly point of the British coast, Lowestoft provides an ideal holiday location for all ages. With a mix of vibrant sandy beaches, pleasant seaside walks and quality family attractions all set in a traditional seaside town. This once flourishing fishing port is now renowned for the quality of its golden sandy beaches considered to be some of the very best in Europe. The Victorian gardens provide the perfect surrounds to one of the east coasts highlights. The town centre and seafront areas have seen some recent changes to make them more accessible to visitors. The improvements included the
introduction of the Princess Royal Fountains. The fountains consist of 74 individual waters jets that provide the perfect attraction for children through the day and a visual spectacle in the evenings. Lowestoft also offers a unique shopping experience. The main town centre provides all the high street names, Kirkley offers a choice of independent stores whilst the High Street provides an opportunity to shop in one of the most interesting and historical parts of the town. Those wishing to indulge into Lowestoft Rich Maritime History will be able to explore Heritage Quay and the Maritime Museum. There is also the opportunity to
buy some local fish from one of the merchants or from the local smoke house. Heading away from the beach, the town is surrounded by a wide choice of attractions, ranging from museums, wildlife parks, piers and other facilities that will keep all visitors entertained. The Marina Theatre in the town provides a number of high quality acts throughout the year. Those wishing to be a little more active may decide to follow the coastal walk and horse riding along the coast or for the more adventurous why not try your hand at kite boarding. Not to be missed is the legendary Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival on 11-12 August. Lowestoft’s busy marina
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Mildenhall Stadium Needham Lake Bawdsey Millennium Statue, Newmarket Racing at Newmarket Newmarket Clock Tower
Mildenhall Mildenhall is an attractive medieval market town surrounded by the River Lark. The town centres on the Market Place with its 16th century hexagonal distinctive Market Cross - used for hanging criminals years ago - and the Town Pump. The parish pump still stands in the market place, as a reminder that piped water was not available until the 1940's. A market is held here every Friday and was established by Royal Charter in 1412. During the Second World War, Mildenhall was an important bomber base and since 1950 it has been home to the United States Air Force and is now one of the most important American installations in this country. St Mary’s Church is one of the finest in Suffolk and the town has a good number of restaurants, shops and other amenities. Mildenhall Stadium hosts greyhound, stockcar and speedway racing.
Needham Market A small, graceful, historic town set in the Gipping Valley with many fine buildings, Needham Market was once a thriving wool town. It was ‘chained’ off from the outside world between 1663-65 to isolate it during the plague. However, the town still lost two-thirds of its populace and did not recover for some two hundred years until the arrival of the railway. The town has two road names linked to the plague: Chainhouse Road, named after the chains that ran across the East end of the town, and The Causeway, a modern variation of ‘the corpseway’, so called because of the route that plague victims were transported out of town. The town boasts many unusual, independent and specialist shops, and fine Georgian and Tudor architecture. Nearby is Alder Carr Farm with a farm shop, pottery, tearoom, gift shop and monthly farmers´ market. Be sure to visit Needham Lake and nature reserve.
Orford Steeped in history, Orford is an attractive small town overlooked by its 12th century castle keep built by Henry VII for coastal defence. Brick and timber buildings line the streets to the little quayside, where there are boat trips to Orford Ness - Europe's largest vegetated shingle spit. The Reserve contains a variety of habitats including shingle, saltmarsh, mudflat, brackish lagoons and grazing marsh. It provides an important location for breeding and passage birds as well as for the coastal shingle flora and wildlife, including a large number of nationally rare species. The Ness was a secret military test site from 1913 until the mid 1980s. Visitors follow a 5.5 mile route, which can be walked in total or in part (the full walk involves walking on shingle). Try the locally cultivated oysters.
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Newmarket Whether you’re a devoted horseracing fan or just a lover of beautiful English towns, Newmarket is sure to appeal. It has long been associated with horses and racing, since successive royal family members came to appreciate the flat land as an ideal location for galloping their horses. Racing’s early administrative body, The Jockey Club, came to create its home here, and now there are said to be some 2,500 horses training in the town at any one time. If this is your particular fascination, you’ll be pleased to find the National Stud here, the National Horseracing Museum, Tattersalls Sale Ring, and also the impressive Newmarket Racecourses themselves. There are other places of interest for the curious visitor too. Newmarket boasts impressive features such as the grand Clock Tower on the High Street, the King Edward VII Memorial Gardens, the War Memorial Gardens and the elegant Cleveland House in Old Station Road, built in the 1820s by Lord Darlington for his jockey.
Pin Mill On the banks of the River Orwell the hamlet of Pin Mill is a haven of tranquillity, loved by artists, walkers and birdwatchers. The 17th century Butt & Oyster inn is so close to the river that it can serve pints of ale through the window to yachtsmen at high
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Pin Mill
tide. Pin Mill was the setting for Arthur Ransome’s book We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea.
Saxmundham Saxmundham is a popular market town on the River Fromus at the centre of Suffolk's Heritage Coastal region. Saxmundham, or 'Sax' as it is known locally, has many local shops and businesses, sports and leisure facilities. The town has two caravan and camping sites, as well as several excellent hotels, guest houses and B&Bs. There's also a market every Wednesday. There are several significant annual events in the town such as St. Georges' Day Weekend celebrations, 'Saxmundham in Bloom', and Saxmundham Arts Festival.
Stowmarket A town at the geographical heart of rural Suffolk and on the River Gipping, Stowmarket was originally an agricultural Market Town. Industry developed upon the canalization, in 1793, of the River Gipping bringing new prosperity to the town. Now the old towpath forms an enjoyable footpath through the GippingValley from Stowmarket railway station to the docks at Ipswich. Even though it is growing in size and population, Stowmarket hasn’t lost its charm, with a variety of listed buildings, typical of Suffolk’s towns and villages, notably St Peter & St Mary’s Church. Not to be missed is the Museum of East Anglian Life, one of the UK’s leading open air museums.
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Sudbury Market The Granary on the Stour, Sudbury Gainsborough’s House
Sudbury Set in the heart of the Stour Valley, the market town of Sudbury was for centuries a centre of the weaving and silk industries. The painter Thomas Gainsborough was born here, and a fine collection of his paintings can be seen in his house, which also has a contemporary art gallery and a print workshop offering summer courses. The Quay theatre puts on a lively programme of events and nearby, visitors can enjoy a lazy boat trip on the River Stour followed by a cream tea at the restored 18th century granary. There is still a traditional market on Thursdays and Saturdays, a farmers' market on the last Friday of each month plus a lovely range of shops to explore.
Thorpeness If there was ever a village that deserved to be called ‘fantastic’, it is Thorpeness, built at the start of last century by a wealthy Scottish barrister with a penchant for mock Tudor and Jacobean architecture. He also ingeniously disguised the village’s water tower as an overgrown house, the striking ‘House in the Clouds’, lest it offend the eye. J.M. Barrie fans of all ages can find his work realised at the Meare boating lake where islands and coves are given names taken from Peter Pan. After an afternoon’s boating enjoy a meal and explore the stalls at the Thorpeness Brasserie and Emporium. Thorpeness boating lake, with the House in the Clouds in the distance
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Southwold Southwold lies in the centre of an area of great natural beauty – a paradise for the walker, the naturalist, and the birdwatcher. Situated on a hill that gently rises from the Blyth Valley, the town is virtually an island, being surrounded by the River Blyth to the south and Buss Creek to the north. This has enabled Southwold to retain its old world charm. The dramatic coastline and the town’s beautiful architecture make it a popular attraction throughout the year. In the summer, Southwold’s sandy beaches are a huge draw and out of season some its most charming elements can be enjoyed – cosy pub lunches, isolated walks or a quiet browse in its many antiques shops. Southwold’s beach is immaculately kept and is a regular Blue Flag winner. The shore is famous for its rows of brightly coloured and highly sought after beach huts. These days they sell for the price of a
small flat! Quiet and full of character, Southwold is a refreshingly unspoilt coastal resort. In the town centre there’s an exciting selection of interesting and independent shops, selling antiques, crafts and gifts. There is also a variety of art galleries, boutiques and jewellers. As you’d expect, first class seafood can be found in the town’s many fine restaurants and pubs, most of which serve ales brewed by the local – and world famous – Adnams Sole Bay Brewery. They simply must be sampled on a visit. The Adnams stamp is everywhere and reflected in the cluster of great pubs: Sole Bay Inn, Lord Nelson, Harbour Inn and King’s Head. The Crown Hotel is one of several Adnams-owned hostelries. Winner of countless awards and accolades, no visit to the town is complete
without the chance to discover the delights of the 16th century coaching inn and its creative bar and restaurant menus. The Swan Hotel, which dominates the Market Place, is not only an excellent place to stay but has a highly regarded restaurant. Adnams has been brewing from its base in the town for over 100 years and now has an estate of 80 pubs, two bespoke hotels and a chain of successful high quality wine and kitchenware stores. The brewery can be found on East Green, and you can see some of its workings through an external glass wall. Elsewhere in town look out for the stylish Adnams Cellar & Kitchen shop on Victoria Street.
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Special to the town is the Southwold Summer Theatre, with a season of children’s performances, lunchtime events and evening theatre. Southwold looks out over Sole Bay, scene of an inconclusive battle in 1672 between the combined British and French fleet and the Dutch fleet. The town was once known for its herring fishery, and today the attractive harbour is still home to a little fleet of boats. To discover something of Southwold's maritime heritage visit the Sailors’ Reading Room, on East Cliff overlooking the sea, where the exhibits include ship models, figure-
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heads and early photographs of past seafaring local heroes. There’s more maritime history to be found in The Alfred Corry Museum, at the end of Ferry Road, the resting place of Southwold’s old sailing lifeboat, which saved 47 lives during its use between 1893 and 1918. In Victoria Street the Southwold Museum, once a weaver’s cottage, houses an intriguing collection of artifacts from the town's past. Southwold’s gleaming white lighthouse, built in 1890, stands 101 feet
above the town. Its warning beacon can be seen for 17 miles out to sea. Visitors who climb the winding lighthouse stairs are rewarded with fantastic views. Those wanting to take to the sea themselves can take the Coastal Voyager sea trip from the harbour, a 30 minute tour of Sole Bay.
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Walberswick Walberswick is a village across the River Blyth from Southwold. Until the early 20th century, it was a trading port, but today it is one of Suffolk’s top tourist attractions with half of the properties in the village being holiday homes. The village and surrounding beach and marshland have long attracted residents drawn from the arts, film and media. In the 1890s and 1900s it became associated with Philip Wilson Steer and his circle of English Impressionists, and it was home to the noted artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh from 1914. Considering its size, an inordinate number of British celebrities own holiday homes in the village including Emma Freud and her husband Richard Curtis. Martin Bell and Geoffrey Palmer
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both maintain properties here, while Paul Heiney and Libby Purves live nearby. The village is the setting for Esther Freud’s novel, The Sea House, thinly disguised as ‘Steerborough’ - presumably a coded reference, or in-joke, towards one-time resident, Philip Wilson Steer. The village is famous for its annual crabbing competition - The British Open Crabbing Championship, held every August. The person who catches the single heaviest crab within a period of 90 minutes is declared the winner. The proceeds go towards strengthening Walberswick's sea defences. The village has tea rooms, restaurants, two public houses, an art gallery, original crafts and gift shops.
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Walberswick St John’s Church, Woodbridge Woodbridge Market Place Tide Mill Woodbridge Market Woodbridge
Woodbridge The picturesque market town of Woodbridge effortlessly mixes the old with the new and attracts thousands of visitors every year. Whether it’s for a walk along the smooth River Deben overlooking Sutton Hoo, the ancient burial site of the Anglo Saxon Kings tucked across the river estuary, or simply to enjoy one of the many cafes and eateries around the town, you'll find plenty of reasons to return again and again. The town’s most well known landmark is the white-boarded Tide Mill, which is neatly nestled between the boat builders, sail makers and chandlers still plying their wares. It may be one of the earliest mills in the UK - a mill was first recorded on this site in 1170 - but today’s building dates from the 18th century. In town you will probably want
to catch your breath in The Thoroughfare, a cornucopia of delicatessens, boutiques, and bookshops. One of the real charms of the town are the tiny winding lanes bedecked on either side with fine medieval timbered cottages, Georgian townhouses, and a plethora of cosy pubs. Market Hill provides one of the best vantage points in town and it's here that you'll find Woodbridge Museum which includes an excellent collection of memorabilia telling the intriguing story of the National Trust’s Sutton Hoo site amongst other things. Then there’s the Shire Hall to explore. Built in 1575 by Thomas Seckford, the beautiful building bisects Market Hill and is home to the Suffolk Punch Heavy Horse Museum.
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Arts&Crafts
Suffolk’s scenery has inspired generations of artists and continues to do so today. Art lovers will find many contemporary landscapes and seascapes in galleries throughout the county
SGalleries Just a few places to find great art and crafts Aldeburgh Gallery 143 High Street, Aldeburgh 01728 453203 Angel Gallery 17 Market Place, Lavenham 01787 248417 Art Garden Gallery High Street, Yoxford 01728 668163 Beyond the Image Gallery Red House Yard, Thornham Magna 01379 678230 Buckenham Galleries 81 High Street, Southwold 01502 725418
Bury St Edmunds Gallery The Market Cross, Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds 01284 762081 Cork Brick Gallery 6 Earsham Street, Bungay 01986 894873 Craftco High Street, Southwold 01502 723211 The Crooked House Gallery 7 High St, Lavenham 01787 247865 Eyestorm Gallery 27-29 St Nicholas Street, Ipswich, 01473 222197 Ferini Art Gallery All Saints Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft 01502 562222
1st Floor Gallery 1 Lower Downs Slade, Haverhill 01440 762444 Halesworth Gallery Steeple’s End, Halesworth 01986 872409 Hunter Gallery Coconut House, Long Melford 01787 466117 Imagine Gallery Hall Street, Long Melford, 01787 378786 Jessica Muir Gallery Hall Street, Long Melford 01787 310400 John Russell Gallery 4 - 6 Wherry Lane, Ipswich 01473 212051 Kersey Pottery The Street, Kersey 01473 822092
Kesgrave Arts 83 Main Rd, Kesgrave 01473 333553 Lime Tree Gallery Hall Street, Long Melford 01787 319046 Reunion Gallery 36 Gainsborough Road, Felixstowe 01394 272266 Sea Pictures Gallery Well Lane, Clare 01787 279024 Serena Hall Gallery 16 Queen St, Southwold 01502 723887 Snape Maltings Snape, nr Aldeburgh 01728 688303 Soule Pottery Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal 01449 711000
Southwold Gallery High Street, Southwold 01502 723888 Spiral Gallery High St, Debenham 01728 861699 Thompson’s Gallery 175 High St, Aldeburgh 01728 453743 The Town Hall Galleries Cornhill, Ipswich 01473 432863 The Upstairs Gallery Exchange Square, Beccles 01502 717191 Wildwood Gallery Churchgate St, Bury St Edmunds 01284 752938 Wingfield Barns Church Rd, Wingfield 01379 384505
Carters Teapot Pottery A visit to this unique pottery will show you these world renowned tea pots being made and printed by hand. And after watching the expert crafts people at work, you can browse anround the pottery shop. Tony Carter and his wife Anita started the business in 1978, growing it into a company with an international reputation. It now supplies tea pots to top London stores and a wide variety of shops all over the world, making it one of the most original and collectible teapot companies in England. Complete your visit with tea or coffee srved in the elegant surroundings of their tea room. Low Road, Debenham 01728 860475 www.cartersteapots.com
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Food&Drink
In Suffolk there’s no shortage of places to find delicious home grown, locally produced food & drink... Adnams The brewer of distinctly nautical ales including Broadside and Explorer, along with a range of seasonal brews. The empire also includes an estate of 78 pubs and two hotels in its home port of Southwold. 01502 727200 www.adnams.co.uk Alder Carr Farm Shop Alder Carr farm raise their own Highland cattle for beef, and produce a delicious range of fruit ice creams. Their large farm shop and delicatessen sells a wide range of produce that includes home-baked pies, meats, Suffolk-cure bacon, herb plants, free-range eggs, goat's cheese, European cheeses, Jersey cream and local wines and beers. The pick your own farm offers a great range of fruit and veg, there’s also a yard restaurant and crafts centre. Creeting St Mary 01449 720820 Aspall Cyder Eight generations of the Chevalier family in Debenham have produced Aspall Suffolk Cyder. All apples pressed for the cyder are from the local area. 01728 860510 aspall.co.uk Assington Farm Shop Willow Tree Farm at Assington sells own-produced honey, freshly pressed fruit juices and 34 www.suffolktouristguide.com
bacon alongside a wide range of own grown fruit and veg. The shop also sells local pork sausages, bread, free-range eggs and cakes. Specialities include homegrown fruits, Jersey cream and honeycomb ice-cream. And there’s also plenty of choice at their pick your own farm, which is open throughout the summer. Willow Tree Farm, Assington, Sudbury 01787 211610 Bartrams A micro-brewery run by Marc Bartram since 1999 that has won a host of sought-after awards, including one for the label of Comrade Bill Bartrams Egalitarian Anti Imperialist Soviet Stout. Bury St Edmunds 01449 737655bartramsbrewery.co.uk Brandon Built in an old dairy in 2005 which forms part of a hotel and restaurant complex offering tearooms and hire boats. Among the range of beers is Gunflint, which commemorates the role of the local flint in winning the Battle of Waterloo. Brandon brandonbrewery.co.uk Butley Orford Oysterage A unique experience where you can enjoy fish as fresh as it comes - owner Bill Pinney will have been at sea catching it himself. Perfect, unadulterat-
ed fresh fish and seafood, oysters from Pinney’s own beds, a large range of fish from their own smokehouse, all available in the shop or the wonderfully simple restaurant. Market Hill, Orford 01394 450277 The Chilli Company Started in 2001, The Chilli Company has grown over the years and in 2006 opened the Chilli Farm. Based in a 400 year old converted barn which houses the shop and licensed coffee shop, with the nursery open to the public during the summer, they grow and sell over 50 varieties of chilli plants as well as a using them to make a range of homemade chilli including Chilli Scones, Chilli Sausage rolls and Chilli Brownies and they have recently developed their own Chilli Ice Cream. Mendlesham 01449 766 677 Earl Soham A brewery based in an old chicken shed behind the Victoria pub since 1985 before being reopened in 2001 after a refit. Its beers - which include Victoria Bitter, Albert Ale, Gannet Mild, Empress India and Porter - are now available in over 25 pubs in the region. 01728 684097 earlsohambrewery.co.uk Emmets of Peasenhall Mark Thomas is widely recog-
nised as producing the finest hams in southeast England, using locally-reared, freerange Suffolk pork and curing and smoking on the premises at his delightful well-stocked shop that has a Royal Warrant. Vintage Velvet hams are cured with port, others with cider. Peasenhall, Saxmundham, 01728 660250 Engel A small brewery called "Opa Hay's" in memory of the owner's great grandfather who brewed beer in northern Germany. Its Pale Ale, Best and Amber beers can be found in five local pubs and the Real Ale Shop in Wrentham. Beccles engelfineales.com 01502 679144 Farmcafe & Foodmarket An oasis on the A12 offering locally produced food in both the café and shop. A12, Marlesford, Woodbridge 01728 747717 farmcafe.co.uk Friday Street Farm Shop Locally produced organic veg and chocolate are sold beside a wide range of home-grown seasonal vegetables. A good selection of organic meat includes beef, chicken, pork and lamb. Farnham, nr Saxmundham 01728 602783
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The Chilli Company Jimmy’s Farm Aspall Cyder Musk’s
Goslings Farm Shop This well stocked general farm store offers plenty of home grown and local fruit and vegetables, local meats and poultry, cakes, bread and preserves and a range of gluten free and vegetarian foods. They sell own-grown Maris Bard, Stemster and Saxon potatoes throughout the year and offer a wide range of pick-your-own soft fruit and veg. To add to your visit there’s a coffee shop serving homemade dishes and cakes, and a packed plant centre. Longford House, Trimley St Mary, Felixstowe 01394 273361 Grange Farm Shop Seasonal apples are a speciality here, sold beside home-grown pears, plums, blackcurrants and more. The shop also offers a range of locally sourced products including seasonal veg, groceries, meat, cakes, juices and ice cream. Grundisburgh Road, Hasketon, Woodbridge 01473 735610 Green Jack A three-man team producing beer inside the Triangle Tavern who produced a brew called Ripper which was voted the best winter beer in the UK. All its beers are known for their hoppy character thanks to a blend of local and new world hops. Lowestoft 01502 582711 green-jack.co.uk
Greene King A pub owner and brewer based in Bury St Edmunds for over 200 years, Greene King is responsible for iconic beers including Abbot, Old Speckled Hen, Ruddles County and its eponymous IPA. Bury St Edmunds 01284 763222 greeneking.co.uk Hadleigh Maid Chocolates Beautifully packaged chocolates carefully hand-made by a team of chocolate fanatics in the picturesque town of Hadleigh. George Street, Hadleigh 0845 330 6384 hadleighmaid.com High House Fruit Farm Fruit growers for more than 40 years with a shop that’s open daily selling fresh fruit, juices and preserves. Or pick your own! Sudbourne, Woodbridge high-house.co.uk Hollow Trees Farm Shop This Les Routier accredited farm shop has been established for 20 years. You’ll find local meats - including kid meat from their own-reared goats, and home-reared beef, pork and lamb - locally baked breads and carrot cakes, home grown vegetables, hay for pets, locally smoked fish and fine cheeses, local ales and ciders, fresh pressed juices and smoothies, and home grown cut flowers and plants. There’s
also a farm trail that takes you through the fields and livestock sheds, and a café. Semer, nr Hadleigh. 01449 741247 James White A range of bottled fruit juices produced just eight miles north of Ipswich and available to buy regionwide. jameswhite.co.uk Jimmy’s Farm As seen on TV, Jimmy Doherty’s place is a working farm which makes for a geat family day out with trails, and play areas. In the farm shop you can buy all of their home reared free range pig produce, beef and lamb in our butchers as well as an abundance of herbs and veggies from the garden. Pannington Hall Lane, Wherstead 08444 938088 Mauldons A micro-brewery set up in 1981 by Peter Mauldon, reestablishing a family business dating back to the 18th century. Though it has since been purchased by an outsider it continues to produce the old favourites, including awardwinning Black Adder. Sudbury www.mauldons.co.uk 01787 311055 Musk’s It’s not just horses Newmarket is famous for. The recipe for these sausages is a closely guarded secret and unchanged
since the days of Queen Victoria. Today, the company still supplies sausages to the Queen. 01638 662626 Newbourne Farm Shop Family run farm shop selling home grown fruit & vegetables and locally sourced, Suffolk food. suffolkcheese.co.uk 01473 836996 Palmers Bakeries The oldest traditional family bakers and confectioners in Suffolk. Established in 1869, the Palmer Family use only traditional ingredients and methods. Shops located in Haughley, Stowmarket, Woolpit, Stanton, Claydon, Meredith & Norwich Road in Ipswich. 01449 673286 Powters Since 1881, Powters has built a reputation for its ‘Newmarket Sausage’. Prime cuts of East Anglian pork, freshly boned by hand and mixed with their secret blend of herbs and spices gives this a unique and distinctive flavour. Wellington Street, Newmarket 01638 662418 powters.co.uk Red Rat Craft Brewery A brewery whose success allowed it to multiply its output by 20 times in a year to 10,000 pints a week. Among its favourites is the highlyregarded Crazy Dog Stout (named after the owner's own www.suffolktouristguide.com 35
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Suffolk Farmhouse Cheeses The Suffolk Food Hall, Wherstead
dog) which is a great accompaniment to dark meat and game. Troston 01359 269742 Rookery Farm Shop Locally produced Double Fudge Delight ice cream is one of a number of specialities. The shop also sells Sutton Hoo chicken, local lamb, smoked fish, honey and seasonal veg such as purple sprouting brocolli and butternut squash. Tattingstone, Ipswich 01473 327220 St Peters A brewery relying on Anglian malts and water drawn up from the chalky ground within its perimeter. It supplements a range of traditional beers with seasonal treats such as honey porter and fruit beer, as well as a gluten free variety. Bungay 01986 78232 stpetersbrewery.co.uk
Shawsgate Vineyard One of East Anglia’s oldest commercial vineyards producing a range of white, red and rosé wines. Wander around the vineyard, visit the shop, or take a tour. Badingham Road, Framlingham 01728 724060 Suffolk Farmhouse Cheeses All cheeses are made from Jason & Elisabeth Salisbury’s Guernsey cows on their farm in Cottenham. 01473 836996 suffolkcheese.co.uk Suffolk Food Hall The Food Hall brings together several businesses under one roof providing an outlet for the best local quality food. The concept of the Suffolk Food Hall started to take shape in 2005. As farmers, Oliver and Robert Paul were frustrated that consumers had limited
and often inconvenient access to much of the fantastic food produced locally. Hence they set about creating a Food Hall that is a showcase for quality local food with provenance. They have teamed up with a number of specialists, including Hamish Johnston cheese, Crystal Waters fishmonger, Bread by Helena Doy, Promotion Wine and the Bourne Garden Centre and are looking to provide a great day out for the whole family with quality, traceable food alongside other local products. Restaurant. Wherstead 01473 786610 Ufford Produce and Provison Co Award winning specialist Suffolk Food Store. As well as fresh produce from surrounding farms all meat products
SSuffolk Farmers’ Markets ALDEBURGH Church Hall, Victoria Road 3rd Sat monthly 9am to 12.30pm ASSINGTON The Barn at Assington, The Street 2nd Sun 10am-2pm BARSHAM The Grange Farm Centre Last Saturday 9am-1pm BECCLES Beccles Heliport 1st & 3rd Saturday 9am-1pm
EARSHAM Earsham Hall 2nd Sat 9am-1pm EASTON Easton Farm Park 4th Saturday 9am1pm HALESWORTH Holton Village Hall 2nd Sat 9am-1pm HARKSTEAD Village Hall 3rd Saturday 9am 12noon IPSWICH Corn Hill Exchange 1st Sunday 9am-4pm LAVENHAM
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Village Hall 4th Saturday all day LONG MELFORD Village Hall 3rd Saturday 10am-1pm METFIELD Village Hall 1st Saturday 9am -12 noon NEEDHAM MARKET Alder Carr Farm 3rd Saturday 9am-1pm RICKINGHALL Village Hall 2nd Saturday 9am-1pm
SNAPE Snape Maltings 1st Saturday 9.30am-1pm SOUTHWOLD Adnams Cellar & Kitchen Store Every Fri 9am12.30pm STANTON Wyken Vineyards Every Saturday 9am-1pm STOWMARKET Market Place 1st Friday 9am-1pm STRADBROKE
are sourced from suppliers who raise and butcher their animals within a 30 mile radius of the shop. Loudham Lane, Lower Ufford, Woodbridge 0844 556 9323 suffolk-produce.co.uk Willow Trees Farm Shop Willow Trees farm shop sells as much seasonal and local produce as possible, and it is all superb quality. There are cheeses and chickens, cakes and breads, as well as classic frozen vegetables and ready meals. Willow Trees also stock a wide range of locally produced jams and chutneys, oils and sauces, and they are well worth a visit during the short asparagus season for a taste of those alone. Lower Road, Glemsford, Long Melford 01787 280341
Dates indicate the regular day of the month the markets are held Business and Enterprise College 1st Saturday 9am-1pm SUDBURY St Peter's Church Last Friday 9.30am-1pm WHERSTEAD Jimmy’s Farm 1st Saturday 9am-1pm WOODBRIDGE Community Centre 2nd & 4th Saturday 9am-1pm
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The Bildeston Crown: Exterior, Cuisine, Restaurant
Suffolk Food & Drink at The Bildeston Crown Food is an integral part of The Bildeston Crown experience and Chef Chris Lee is fast developing an excellent reputation for his innovative style and both he and the restaurant have won a number of awards and accolades: 2 In September 2007 he was named by The Good Food Guide joint winner of the pp-and-coming chef award for the whole country. 2 In the same month the restaurant was awarded Three Rosettes by the AA making The Bildeston Crown one of only two restaurants in Suffolk to have this status. In 2011 they are the only Suffolk restaurant to still have this. 2 Best Restaurant, Suffolk Food & Drink Awards - Sept 2010 2 Winner “Taste of England” - National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2009
Sorrel Horse Inn This picturesque, quintessential village pub is worth seeking out. Situated in the pretty village of Shottisham 6 miles from Woodbridge you will be enchanted by the inns authentic character and charm. The dispense of beer is still by gravity, direct from casks and tastes great. Traditional Bar billiards can be played in the main bar and Good tasting traditional food is offered in the restaurant. Accompanied dogs and horse riders are welcome. Shottisham 01394 411617 www.sorrelhorseinn.co.uk
Quality produce, sourced locally whenever possible and with much from the owners' own farm, is used when in season, to get the very best results. The eclectic menu at The Bildeston Crown caters for every taste. Vegetarian twists and seafood favourites are plentiful but the confirmed carnivore is most definitely in for a treat if not a difficult decision with the menus which change regularly. Classics features regular favourites; Select is a little more adventurous and at times really quite experimental and Crown Tasting is perhaps the ultimate dining experience at The Bildeston Crown. There is also a mid week set lunch menu. The Bildeston Crown has attracted some very positive press comment from local and national media: 2 Times reviewer Giles Coren “finds a place (The Bildeston Crown) so good, he recommends it without even eating there” when he apparently stumbled upon “the best little progressive kitchen in Suffolk” (Times 19 April 2008). 2 Representing Suffolk and chef Chris Lee beating the Bikers in “The Hairy Bikers' Tour of Britain” screened 24 August 2009 Discover the Bildeston Crown for yourself: call 01449 740510 or go to www.thebildestoncrown.co.uk
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See&Do The National Stud Beacon Rally Karts Jimmy’s Farm
Beautiful countryside, heaps of history, family fun and adventure... see what Suffolk has to offer
SACTIVITY Anglia Indoor Karting This full size, purpose designed indoor racetrack offers many exciting features, all to boost the thrill of competitive racing in an atmosphere of fun and excitement. Farthing Road, Sproughton, Ipswich (01473 240087) Beacon Rally Karts Outdoor off-road rally kart centre for all ages over 5. Three separate tracks and different size karts make this a fun day for all. Bealing Road, Martlesham, nr Woodbridge 01394 610066 Beccles Outdoor Swimming Pool
Traditional lido. Heated pool situated by the river Waveney. Puddingmoor, Beccles 01502 713297 Exploring the Broads
Great fun by cycle or canoe from Outney Meadow Caravan Park. Outney Meadow, Bungay 01986 892338 38 www.suffolktouristguide.com
Felixstowe Leisure Centre 25m pool, state of the art fitness suites, activity hall, bowls hall, soft play area, health suite and more. Seafront, Felixstowe 01394 670411 Foxworth Leisure & Fishery Offering fishing for novices right through to experienced anglers, with three lakes. Foxearth also offers air rifle shooting and archery. Glemsford Road, Foxearth, Sudbury 01787 280024 Fultons Clay Pigeon Shooting 'Have-a-go' taster sessions for beginners comprise safety instruction, gun fit, eye dominance check and include gun loan, cartridges, clays, ear and eye protection. Coaching for the more experienced too. Worlington (07734 735 511) Go Ape! Extreme tree-top challenge course - an amazing trail of nets, rope bridges, slides and trapezes high up in the trees. Santon Downham, Brandon 0870 420 1279 High Lodge Sporting and leisure venue set in 100 acres of woodland, offering Clay Target Shooting, a Pay and Play 9-hole golf course, fishing, holiday lodges, shop and more. Haw Wood, Hinton, nr Darsham 01986 784347 High Lodge Forest Centre High Lodge Forest Centre is the Forestry Commission’s premier recreation destination in East Anglia and right at the heart of Thetford Forest, Europe’s largest manmade lowland forest! With over 70kms of cycle trail, 20kms of walks and 50 pieces of equipment in the children’s Play Arena its perfect for every member of the fami-
ly. ‘Bike Art’ can hire you a cycle to explore the forest floor or you can live life adventurously with ‘Go Ape’; the award winning high wire adventure in the trees. High Lodge has all the facilities you need including a gift shop and café; that serves tasty food and drink from local suppliers. ‘Live Music’ on the green in June/July. Open all year, a site entry charge applies; see our website for full details: www.forestry.gov.uk/highlodge. Mobility scooter available for free hire. 01842 815434 Suffolk Moto Park The home of Suffolk's off-road driving experience, the Moto Park offers the thrill of rough terrain driving. There are 4x4s, with both Land and Range Rovers protected by safety roll cages; Quad Riding, with 250cc Polaris Trail Blazer quads, and 290cc off road Dirt Karts. Instruction and safety equipment provided for all. Clay Pigeon shotting slso available. Red House Farm, Bucklesham, Ipswich 01473 659222 Wildtracks Off Road Activity Park Purpose-built offroad activity park dedicated to a range of fun outdoor events for the public and corporate entertainment market. Offroad driving course and play areas; 4x4s and tuition; Military vehicle driving range; 10m wide, 700m tarmac karting circuit and high performance karts; Purpose-built tracks for motocross, supermoto, quad bikes and rally karts; Clay and laser target shooting, laser combat, archery and fly casting; Hovercrafts and more. Chippenham Road, Kennett, Newmarket 01638 751918
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Suffolk Owl Sanctuary Jimmy’s Farm Oasis Camel Centre
SANIMALS Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm Working livestock farm breeding endangered breeds of farm animals. Cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, alpacas and pigs. Every child gets a free bag of food to feed the animals. Main area of farm is wheelchair and pushchair friendly. Walks round paddocks, beside river and lake shore. Picnic areas. Disabled toilet. Baby changing. Café and shop with gifts and home made refreshments. Mill Lane, Baylham, Ipswich 01473 830264 Easton Farm Park Delightful farm where you can learn all about the different animals. Lambs, ponies, Suffolk Punch Horses, piglets, rare breed cows and more. Chick nursery, adventure playground, pedal tractors, go karts, café and gift shop. Easton, nr Framlingham 01728 746475 Jimmy’s Farm As seen on TV, Jimmy’s Farm is the home of the rare breed Essex Pig. It’s a working farm and is open for visitors 7 days a
week. There's loads to do at the farm for a great family day out. There’s a Nature Trail, Woodland Walk, Beautiful Garden's, Farm Shop, Adventure Play Area and Field Kitchen. You can buy the home reared free range pig produce, beef and lamb in the butchers as well as an abundance of herbs and veggies from the garden. Pannington Hall Lane, Ipswich 0844 4938088 The National Stud The only Thoroughbred horse stud in Britain open to the general public. Take a tour around the 500-acre site, see stallions, 200 mares, and foals. Newmarket 01638 666789 Oasis Camel Centre Farm Park that specialises in camels, llamas, alpacas, plus there's a pets corner, play areas, crazy golf, bouncy castle, walks and gift shop. Orchard Farm, Cratfield Road, Linstead, Halesworth 07836 896644 Suffolk Owl Sanctuary A delightful place to visit to watch, study or simply enjoy the company of Owls and other birds of prey. There are over 60 raptors at the Centre, all housed in spacious aviaries and flying free in narrated flying displays or
Africa Alive At this award-winning attraction set in 100 acres of dramatic coastal parkland where you can get close to the animals and discover the sights, sounds and smells of the world's most vibrant and exciting continent. Enjoy a walking family safari through 8 acres of farmland with lions, rhinos, giraffes, cheetahs and more. An awe-inspiring presentation of the African Savannah, where the animals roam freely together as they do in the wild. Kessingland, Lowestoft 01502 740291 www.africa-alive.co.uk 40 www.suffolktouristguide.com
demonstrations. You will also find Red Squirrels, the Raptor Hospital, an information centre about Owls, a woodland walk with bird hide, picnic areas and plenty of activities for children including a mini-maze & adventure frame, plus the famous Owl Barn Gift Shop. Stonham Barns, Stonham Aspal 01449 711425 Valley Farm Camargue Horses A working farm and a diverse, multi award-winning equestrian leisure centre. Attractions include an animal collection, featuring Britain’s only herd of Camargue horses from the south of France, and their foals, as well as Camelot the Camel, Muffin the Mule and other animal friends, as featured many times on television. Wickham Market, Woodbridge 01728 746916
SOPEN AIR Alton Water Largest reservoir in Suffolk offering fishing, sailing, windsurfing, nature reserve interest, picnic area, footpaths, water sports centre extension and visitor centre. Cycle hire available. Holbrook Road, Stutton, nr Ipswich 01473 589105 Brandon Country Park 32 acres in the heart of the Brecks with walks, cycle and easy access trails. Bury Road, Brandon 01842 810185 The Brecks One of the great natural areas of Britain with over 370 square miles of forest, heathland and countryside. 01842 760116 Carlton Marshes Over 100 acres of beautiful Suffolk grazing marsh, fens and peat pools to explore via waywarked trails. Burnt Hill Lane, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft 01502 564250
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Lackford Lakes Pleasurewood Hills, Lowestoft Marina Theatre, Lowestofts
RSPB Minsmere
Do you love nature? Are you looking for a relaxing countryside walk in beautiful coastal and wetland scenery? If the answer is yes, then try a visit to RSPB Minsmere nature reserve. Minsmere is a perfect place to discover nature. Our two circular walks bring you close to a wide variety of wildlife, whatever the season. Seven birdwatching hides offer shelter, with excellent views across Minsmere's wetlands. The shallow coastal lagoons, known as the Scrape, attract breeding avocets, gulls and terns, migrant wading birds, or large flocks of ducks in winter. In the reedbed, look for the elusive bittern, impressive marsh harrier or tiny bearded tit. With luck you may even spot an otter. In the woods, look for red deer, listen to nightingales and warblers, or watch butterflies flitting among the flowers. Volunteer guides are ready to help you to discover nature. If you see them around, please ask for help. You might like to join them on a guided walk or family activity day - see website for details. In the visitor centre you can refuel in the excellent tearoom, or treat yourself or your garden birds in the RSPB Shop. Minsmere is open daily, except 25 and 26 December, from dawn to dusk. Visitor Centre open 9 am - 5 pm (closed 4 pm November - January). Westleton, Saxmundham 01728 648281 www.rspb.org.uk/minsmere 42 www.suffolktouristguide.com
Clare Castle Country Park Beautiful quiet space that contains the remains of the 13th century stone castle keep. The Nature Trail takes in the River Stour and the Railway Walk. Visitor Centre. Maltings Lane, Clare 01787 277491 Dunwich Heath Coastal Centre Enjoy wonderful walks and fabulous views at this Site of Specific Interest within an area of outstanding natural beauty. Minsmere Road, Dunwich 01728 648505 Fritton Lake A beautiful stretch of water where you can mess about on boats, children can enjoy the playground, forts and mini tractors, there's 9-hole golf, fishing,pony rides and relaxing walks. Fritton, nr Lowestoft 01493 488288 High Lodge Forest Centre The Forestry Commission's premier recreation site in the East of England. You can walk, cycle, play, picnic, barbecue or simply relax and enjoy the forest. Santon Downham, Brandon 01842 810271 Lackford Lakes This nature reserve has year round importance for birds, dragonflies and other wildlife. The visitor centre offers stunning views across the reserve and is an ideal place to start your visit. Lackford, Bury St Edmunds 01284 728706 Nowton Park 200 acres of beautiful Suffolk countryside landscaped over 100 years ago in typical Victorian style. Nowton Road, Bury St Edmunds 01284 763666 RSPB Havergate Island The island is famous for its breeding avocets and terns, which can be seen throughout the spring and summer. The boat trip to the island (at 10am) adds to the interest of your day out, and helps you really feel you're getting away from it all. Prior booking essential. Orford Quay 01394 450732
RSPB Lakenheath Fen A wetland area filled with life: marsh harriers, hobbies, bearded tits and warblers. Lakenheath 01842 863400 RSPB North Warren Nature Reserve Stroll across the heathland to hear Dartford warblers and woodlarks, while bitterns and marsh harriers can be seen in the reedbeds. The wet grassland supports breeding waders and wintering wildfowl, including some of the UK's only regular tundra bean geese. Aldeburgh 01728 648281 RSPB Wolves Wood Ancient woodland used to cover much of East Anglia. This is one of the few remaining areas, managed by traditional coppicing to benefit a variety of wildlife. Hadleigh 01473 328006 Sandlings Forests The Sandlings covers woods in Rendlesham, Tangham and Dunwich. Rendlesham forest is the main area for recreation and there are various picnic sites and recreation areas. There are 3 circular walks including disabled trails and forest cycle trails and an adventure playground. Nr Woodbridge 01394 450164 Thornham Walks Twelve miles of footpaths through the woodland, farmland and parkland of the Thornham Estate. Red House Yard, Thornham Magna, Eye 01379 788345 West Stow Country Park 125- acre country park with a wide range of Breckland habitats - heath, woodland, river and a lake. There are nature trails, walks, bird hides and a bird feeding/viewing area, visitor centre, cafĂŠ, shop, picnic areas and adventure playground. Icklingham Road, West Stow, Bury St Edmunds 01284 728718
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East Anglia Transport Museum Adventure Island Playbarn Mannnigs Amusement Park
SFAMILY FUN Adventure Island Playbarn Excellent purpose-built children’s indoor soft play centre. Units 15/17 Pinbush Road, South Lowestoft Industrial Estate, Lowestoft 01502 519933 Anglia Indoor Karting The thrill of competitive racing in an atmosphere of fun and excitement. Purpose designed race track and hospitality centre. Farthing Road, Sroughton, Ipswich 01473 240087 The East Point Pavilion Visitor Centre A glass, all-weather Edwardian-style structure with a large indoor play platforms called Mayhem. Small souvenir shop, restaurant and tearooms. Royal Plain, Lowestoft 01502 533600 Lowestoft Family Bowl Indoor bowling, 9-hole mini-golf. Capital Estate, Rant Score, Whapload Road, Lowestoft 01502 519200 Mannings Amusement Park Originally opened in 1933 by Sir Billy Butlin this fun park has been run by the Manning family since 1946. Traditional fairground rides and amusement arcades. Seafront, Felixstowe 01394 282370 Mr G’s Bowling Centre 8 lane complex with stylish 200 seating capacity bar & restaurant in the centre of Brandon. Market Hill, Brandon 01842 813111 Moo Play Farm Indoor play barn and outdoor adventure play farm for ages up to 12. Tractor rides, nature hunt, picnic area and farm pets. Locks Road, Brampton, Beccles 01502 575841
Pleasurewood Hills
gift shop, children's shop and lifestyle store, amusements and more. The pier receives visits from Britain's only surviving sea-going steam passenger ship, the PS Waverley paddle steamer and its sister ship the MV Balmoral. North Parade, Southwold 01502 722105
Award-winning amusement park with over 40 amazing rides, including the thrilling 120ft, 50mph Wipeout, Enigma roller coaster and awesome spinning Wizzy Dizzy. Plus lots of family rides and entertainment, including wonderful shows with Sea lions, parrots, acrobats and clowns! Leisure Way, Corton, Lowestoft 01502 586000 South Pier Leisure Complex Ten-pin bowling, amusement arcades, luxury casino and more. Royal Plain, Lowestoft 01502 512793 Southwold Maize Maze A giant puzzle of pathways within 8 acres of maize, a real brain-teaser that will test your navigational skills to the limit. Every year there's a new design. Plus play and picnic area. Old Hall Farm, Halesworth Road, Reydon, Southwold 01379 586746 Southwold Pier
SGARDENS
Following extensive renovation Southwold Pier is now one of the finest examples of a Pier to be found in the British isles. From traditional fish and chips in the Promenade Café to mouthwatering menus in the Boardwalk and The Clockhouse. Plus
Abbey Gardens
Beautiful public gardens surrounding the ruins of the Abbey, with a prize-winning record. Stunning summer bedding displays set the tone for the annual Bury in Bloom campaign. The Gardens include a host of ducks, a children's play area, aviaries, tennis courts, putting, a bowling green, a teashop and a riverside walk leading towards a local nature reserve known as No Man's Meadows. Bury St Edmunds 01284 757067 Helmingham Hall Gardens Spectacular Grade 1 listed garden in the grounds of the 500 year-old house, home to the Tollemache family. A moated and walled garden with many rare roses and possibly the best kitchen garden in Britain. With a new rose garden and herb and knot garden created in the early 1980s. Helmingham Hall, nr Stowmarket 01473 890799 www.suffolktouristguide.com 43
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Somerleyton Hall Sutton Hoo Helmingham Hall Gardens
SHISTORY Christchurch Mansion A fine Tudor mansion built between 1548 and 1550 with later additions. A good collection of furniture, panelling, ceramics, clocks and paintings from the 16th-19thC. Christchurch Park, Ipswich 01473 433554 Euston Hall Home for the Dukes of Grafton for over 300 years and currently lived in by the eleventh Duke. The Hall has been open to the public during the summer for over 25 years. The Hall, Craft Shop and Tea Room are manned entirely by volunteers on open days. The Hall contains, among its treasures, the famous collection of paintings of the court of Charles II and includes works by Van Dyck, Lely and Stubbs. Visitors are also invited to enjoy the tranquil gardens, the church and the river walk to the recently restored watermill. Euston, Thetford 01842 766366 Eye Castle A Norman motte-and-bailey with medieval walls and a Victorian folly. The castle has always had close associations with royalty since the Norman conquest. Eye 01449 724636 Framlingham Castle A magnificent example of a late 12th-century castle. Built by Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, the castle, together with Framlingham Mere, was designed both as a stronghold and as a symbol of power and status - as befitted one of the most influential people at the court of the Plantagenet kings. Architecturally, the castle is notable for its curtain wall with mural towers, an early example of this design. Walk around the impressive wallwalk, explore the mere and admire the fine castle gatehouse. It was here that 44 www.suffolktouristguide.com
Mary Tudor waited to hear whether she or Lady Jane Grey had been declared Queen after the death of Edward VI. A new introductory exhibition in the Poorhouse tells the story of the people who lived in the castle through its long and varied history. Glemham Hall An elegant, red brick Elizabethan mansion surrounded by 300 acres of parkland situated between Woodbridge and Saxmundham. Glemham Hall was built circa 1560 by the de Glemham family, who took their name from nearby Great (Magna) and Little (Parva) Glemham. After a varied history, the Cobbold brewing family purchased the house in 1923; it became the home of Captain John Murray Cobbold - founder and first chairman of Ipswich Town Football Club as a professional club - and his wife Lady Blanche, a daughter of the 9th Duke of Devonshire. The 3,000 acre estate now hosts a variety of events including a country fair, open air opera and theatre. Little Glemham, Woodbridge 01728 746704 Hadleigh Guildhall A medieval timber-framed complex, Grade I listed dating from 15th century. There is a timbered guildroom, an old town hall which has a fine crown-post roof, a Georgian assembly room and a Victorian ballroom. Small walled garden with medieval features. Market Place, Hadleigh 01473 823884 Holton Saint Peter Postmill A restored postmill, dating from the mid18th Century, on a 2-storey roundhouse. There are displays on the history and workings of the mill. Holton St Peter, Halesworth 01986 872367 Kentwell Hall & Gardens Moated redbrick Tudor mansion in a tranquil parkland setting. Over 150 years ago it
was written that ‘visitors emerging from the Avenue on a summery evening cannot withhold admiration when they see the manifold beauties of Kentwell Hall’. This remains true today. The exterior is almost unaltered, whilst the interior retains the original Tudor service areas. Elsewhere, alterations reflect the changing tastes of successive families, embellished by that of the present owners. Renowned for its incredible Re-creations of everyday Tudor life and, occasionally, of WWII daily life. The present owners’efforts, since 1979, to restore the house and recover and extend the once noted gardens, add to any visit’s enjoyment. Long Melford 01787 310207 Lavenham Guildhall of Corpus Christi One of the finest timber-framed Tudor buildings in Britain, with tearoom, shop and children's guide. Market Place, Lavenham 01787 247646 Leiston Abbey
One of Suffolk's most impressive monastic ruins of a 14th century abbey with a 16th century brick gatehouse. Leiston 01223 582700 Melford Hall Romantic Tudor mansion, home of the Hyde-Parker family. New interpretations, craft displays, special events. Long Melford 01787 379228 The Malthouse Project Restored old maltings, which dates back to the 17th Century. Elsey's Yard, Risbygate Street, Bury St Edmunds 01284 732550
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Woodbridge Tide Mill West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village
Orford Castle The unique polygonal towerkeep of Orford Castle stands beside the pretty town and former port which Henry II also developed here in the 1160s. His aim was to counterbalance the power of turbulent East Anglian barons like Hugh Bigod of Framlingham, and to guard the coast against foreign mercenaries called to their aid. An 18-sided drum with three square turrets, and a forebuilding reinforcing its entrance, the keep was built to a highly innovative design. Climb its spiral staircase leading to a maze of rooms and passageways and visit the museum in the upper hall. Orford 01394 450472 St Edmundsbury Cathedral There has been a church on the site of Suffolk's Cathedral for nearly 1000 years. Once part of the great Abbey of St Edmund, St James' Church served the people of the town. The nave of today's church, started in 1503, is the successor of that church. Though little remains of the Benedictine Abbey, following the Dissolution in 1539, St James' Church has continued to grow over the centuries. In 1914 St James’ became the Cathedral church of the Diocese of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich. The last 40 years have seen several additions to the church and its associated buildings, culminating in the recent Millennium Project. The striking Millennium Tower, completed in 2005, is now the crowning glory of St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds 01284 754933 Saxtead Green Postmill This corn mill was one of many built in Suffolk from the late 13th century. Though milling ceased in 1947, it is still in working order. Climb the stairs to various floors, which are full of fascinating mill machinery. Saxtead Green
01728 685789 Somerleyton Hall & Gardens Home of the Crossley family since 1844, the Hall was remodelled from an original Jacobean Manor. 12 acres of beautiful gardens with famous 1846 Yew Tree Maze. Guided tours of the hall, garden trail, Walled Garden and special events. Somerleyton, Lowestoft 0871 222 4244 Southwold Lighthouse
Enjoy a tour of this marvellous operational landmark, first lit in 1889. Stradbroke Road, Southwold 01502 722576 Sutton Hoo One of Britain’s most important and atmospheric archaeological sites, burial ground of the Anglo-Saxon kings of East Anglia, discovered during 1939 excavations, completed in 1991. Priceless royal treasures were discovered in a huge ship grave. Axhibition hall tells the compelling story of early English history, and you can also enjoy sandlings heathland and woodland walks. This year's exhibition at Sutton Hoo features the stunning work of Time Team artist Victor Ambrus. See how his drawings bring the people of the past to life and capture the atmosphere of a distant history. Nr Woodbridge 01394 389700 Thorpeness Windmill This working mill dates from 1803 and is a Visitor Centre for Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Uplands Road, Thorpeness 01728 687110 West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village Unique reconstructed Anglo-Saxon Village
built on an original settlement site, giving visitors the opportunity to touch and experience Anglo-Saxon houses as we imagine them to have been one thousand five hundred years ago. Visitors can also see the archaeological objects excavated from the site on display in a specially built centre. West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds 01284 728718 Woodbridge Tide Mill By the early 1950s Woodbridge was home to the only surviving tidal mill in the country. It is now fully restored and working. Tide Mill Way, Woodbridge 01473 626618
SMUSEUMS The Amber Museum The UK’s only purpose-built museum dedicated to the history of amber. The Museum has artefacts, carvings, jewellery and objets d'art from the Whole Amber World; both modern and antique. It also houses many large examples of Amber found on the English coast - including the largest at 2.2kilo. The Amber Shop has a stunning collection of Amber jewellery and gifts. 15 Market Place, Southwold 01502 723394 Bawdsey Radar Station Visit ‘The Magic Ear’- an exhibition about the history of Radar. In 1937, Bawdsey was the first of the Chain Home Radar stations that played a crucial role in the Battle of Britain. Bawdsey 07821 162879 Bentwaters Cold War Museum Musuem housed in a command post or bunker on what was the USAF air base at RAF Bentwaters. See restored ‘war operations’rooms and other displays. Bentwaters Parks, Rendlesham. www.suffolktouristguide.com 45
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Arc Bury St Edmunds Gainsborough’s House Lady Florence River Cruises
Gainsborough’s House Established museum in the birthplace of artist Thomas Gainsborough. The historic townhouse, with an attractive walled garden, displays more of the artist’s work than any other gallery. The collection is shown together with 18th century furniture and memorabilia with work by Gainsborough’s contemporaries and followers. There is a varied programme of temporary exhibitions of both historic and contemporary art. Gainsborough Street, Sudbury 01787 372958 Greene King Brewery The visitor centre is full of interesting exhibits and displays about the brewery, plus you can book a tour around the brew house. See how Greene King make their famous beers during your guided tour, have a tutored tasting and learn about Greene King and Bury St Edmunds from 1086 to the present. Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds 01234 714382 Heavy Horse Museum Museum dedicated to the Suffolk working horse breed (or Suffolk Punch), the oldest such breed in the world and possibly the most perfect working animal ever bred by man. Shire Hall, Market Hill, Woodbridge 01394 380643 Ipswich Museum The museum and gallery has displays of Roman Suffolk wildlife, Suffolk and world geology, the Ogilvie bird gallery, People of the World and much more. High Street, Ipswich 01473 433550 East Anglia Transport Museum A fabulous working museum where the past comes to life. Travel as often as you like on preserved historic vehicles or take a trip on the narrow gauge railway. Chapel Road, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft 01502 518459 Long Shop Museum Discover Leiston’s unique history and visit 46 www.suffolktouristguide.com
the home of the Garrett collection. An award-winning museum housed in the original Garrett works buildings including the Grade II listed Long Shop built in 1852 as the 1st production line for portable steam engines. Four exhibition halls, resource centre, picnic garden and gift shop. Main Street, Leiston 01728 832189 Mechanical Music Museum and Bygones Small music boxes, polyphons and organettes, larger street pianos and player organs, large fair organs, dance band and cafe organs plus a number of unusual items and the Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. The interior roof is adorned with hundreds of old records and horned gramophones. Blacksmith Road, Cotton 01449 613876 Mid Suffolk Light Railway Museum The MSLR, known affectionately as ‘The Middy’was a classic case of a railway built late on in the great railway age that never paid its way - indeed, it effectively went broke before it opened, but still struggled on for fifty years. This fine example of quirky English history is remembered in Suffolk’s only railway museum. Brockford Station, Wetheringsett 01449 766899 Moyse’s Hall Museum Housed in the oldest domestic building open to the public in East Anglia, Moyse’s Hall dates back over 800 years. Many striking architectural features can be seen in the building. A museum for 100 years, it houses local history collections relating to the town, Abbey & St Edmund. They also include William Corder’s scalp from Murder in the Red Barn relics as well as many other curios from the local area. Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds 01284 706183 Museum of East Anglian Life Open-air museum in 75 acres of beautiful countryside. Here you can explore nearly 3km of woodland and riverside nature
trails, learn about fascinating East Anglian crafts and traditional Gypsy culture and discover fifteen splendidly restored historic buildings. Plus steam engines, animals, including Suffolk Punch horses, and more. Stowmarket 01449 612229 The National Horseracing Museum The story of the people and horses involved in racing from its Royal origins to Lester Piggott, Frankie Dettori and other modern heroes. Highlights include: the head of Persimmon, a great Royal Derby winner in 1896; a special display about Fred Archer, the late Victorian jockey who committed suicide, which features the pistol he used to take his life; and the colourful jackets of ‘Prince Monolulu’, the 1950’s tipster. High Street, Newmarket 01638 667333
SSHOPPING Arc Bury St Edmunds This fabulous centre is the new heart of shopping in Bury St Edmunds with a great array of fashionable retailers - 35 smart new shops and restaurants, topped off by the breath-taking new curved Debenhams flagship store. Prospect Row, Bury St Edmunds 01284 763124 Bridge Farm Barns Located in Monks Eleigh, one of Suffolk’s prettiest villages, Bridge Farm Barns is a collection of unique, independent retail businesses and a tea room, each offering a good selection of distinctive products. Monks Eleigh 01449 740456 Buttermarket A centre situated in the retail core of Ipswich and featuring many familiar high street names such as Internacionale, Hallmark, Pilot, Model Zone, Boots, Hawkins Bazaar and TK Maxx. St Stephen’s Lane, Ipswich 01473 281879
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Leiston Film Theatre The Granary, River Stour Trust, Sudbury Coastal Voyager
The Guineas Retailers offering brands at affordable prices. Clothes stores include Dorothy Perkins, Cazual, JD Sports and Peacocks. For cards and wrapping there’s Pandoras, Card Factory and Clinton Cards. Newmarket 01638 665809 Snape Maltings A unique collection of quality shops and galleries in converted granaries and malt house buildings by the River Alde. There’s a large house and garden shop, a food hall, Samphire ladies and men’s fashion, Little Rascals selling toys and books for children; crafts, gifts and ceramics at The Shop on the Quay; a large antiques centre and two art galleries. Snape, nr Aldeburgh 01728 688303 Stonham Barns A leisure, shopping and rural pursuits complex with specialist craft, antique, home furnishing and interiors shops and a restaurant. Pettaugh Road, Stonham Aspal, Stowmarket 01449 711755 Tower Ramparts Undercover mall with around 30 shops set over two levels. Stores include jewellers Warren James and Ernest Jones, The Perfume Shop, Boots, fashion shops
Warehouse, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge and Topshop and gift and card shops Paperbox and Clinton Cards. Tavern Street, Ipswich 01473 226386
SSHOWTIME Aldeburgh Cinema Delightful independent cinema. The auditorium dates back to around 1920, and today it has 286 seats and all the latest technology. 51 High Street 01728 452996 Cineworld Cardinal Park, Grafton Way, Ipswich 0871 2002000 Electric Picture Palace, Southwold Owned and run by Southwold Film Society this delightful small cinema was opened in 1991 by Michael Palin. It is named after the first Southwold cinema which began to operate in 1912 and follows the style of this period. It has 66 authentic cinema seats, a box office, kiosk, circle, organ and air-conditioning. 07815 769565 Fisher Theatre Georgian building that started life as a theatre but spent most of its life serving other purposes until 2001 when it reopened as a
centre for shows, arts and film. Broad Street, Bungay (01986 897130) Haverhill Arts Centre Originally the Town Hall, this 210-seat auditorium hosts music, theatre, arts events, and films. High Street, Haverhill 01440 714140 Hollywood Cinema Anglia Square, Ipswich 01473 232666; 41 London Road South, Lowestoft 01502 564567; Hatter Street, Bury St Edmunds 01284 762586 Leiston Film Theatre Suffolk’s oldest purpose built cinema, first opened in 1914. The original picture house had a capacity for 700 people; it had a small stage and a pit for the then ubiquitous organ. After a re-refurbishment, completed in July 2001, it is more than ready for the 21st Century. High Street 01728 830549 Marina Theatre This superb theatre dates back to 1897 and today hosts a range of top flight shows. Lowestoft 01502 533200 New Cut Arts Centre Community arts centre hosting a range of theatre and music productions, plus film screenings. New Cut, Halesworth 0845 6732123
The apex Bury St Edmunds’state-of-the-art music and entertainment venue presents a wide variety of events throughout the year. Live music ranges from jazz to classical and from folk to rock. Regular events include Fat cat Comedy Club on the second Sunday of every month and Footloose - a free dance event for all the family on the third Sunday. The venue also plays host to the Bury St Edmunds Festival, a plethora of music with over 20 events from the 19th – 29th May. The stunning auditorium is acoustically designed for perfect sound and the white oak galleries give a contemporary feel. There are studios for workshops, including popular dance classes. The café bar is open daily, situated in the beautiful atrium it is a stylish place to relax and is also home to a series of free concerts. The apex is situated in the heart of the town, in Charter Square, the arc shopping centre, and has ample parking just 200 yards away. The apex website, www.theapex.co.uk, has details of all forthcoming events and their booking details, or ring the box office on 01284 758000 for more information.
Three Bonzos and a Piano are just one of a whole range of top acts appearing at the apex. Catch them on 11 June
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Newmarket Racecourse Spa Pavilion Theatre, Felixstowe
New Wolsey Theatre A 400-seat theatre with a varied programme of drama, music, comedy, poetry, dance and children's shows. Civic Drive, Ipswich 01473 295900 Palace Cinema Fabulous independent cinema dating back to 1937 and offering blockbuster movies and a real retro cinema experience. Crescent Road, Felixstowe 01394 671330 Quay Theatre Small, charming theatre by the Stour offering a wide range of shows and films. Quay Lane, Sudbury 01787 374745 Regent Theatre & Corn Exchange The Regent is East Anglia’s largest theatre, and the Corn Exchange has an impressive Grand Hall. They feature top West End shows, international music, comedy and high quality amateur productions. Ipswich 01473 433100 Riverside Theatre Films, occasional stage shows and restaurant. Quayside, Woodbridge 01394 382174 The Seagull An important performing arts venue, reopened in 2009, offering a diverse range of shows, classes and workshops. Morton Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft 01502 589726 Seckford Theatre New 350-seat theatre situated in the beautiful grounds of the four centuries old Woodbridge School. Woodbridge 01394 615111 Spa Pavilion Located on Felixstowe’s picturesque seafront, this excellent 892 seat theatre has an adjoining restaurant with wonderful panoramic sea view. Undercliff Road West, Felixstowe 01394 282126 Theatre Royal Built in 1819 and designed by the eminent architect William Wilkins, this is the country's sole surviving example of a Regency playhouse. One of only eight Grade 1-listed theatres in the country, it is, in terms of 48 www.suffolktouristguide.com
both its architecture and history, one of the most significant theatre buildings in the UK. You can enjoy a wide range of entertainments. Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds 01284 769505
SSPORT
Greyhound Racing Evening racing with up to four races per hour, every Tues and Friday. Mildenhall Stadium, West Row, Mildenhall 01638 711777 Ipswich Town Football Club Championship club steeped in history. Stadium tours available. Portman Road, Ipswich 0870 111 0 555 Ipswich Witches Top speedway racing every Thursday night. Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich 01473 623640 Newmarket Racecourses One of the world’s greatest racetracks, steeped in history and offering top racing and an unbeatable experience on both its Rowley Mile and July Racecourses. Cambridge Road, Newmarket 01638 675500
STOURS
Coastal Voyager Fast exciting seatrips from the harbour. Southwold Harbour Kiosk 07887 525082 Deben Cruises Cruises on the River Deben for organised parties. The Quay, Waldringfield, Woodbridge 01473 736260 Greene King Brewery Start at the museum and finish off with a tasting at the Brewery Tap. Guided tours of Brew House for over 12s only. Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds 01234 714382 Hoofbeats Tours around Newmarket’s rich equestrian heritage, including The Gallops, Equine swimming pool, British Racing School, The National Stud, Jock Club rooms and more.
Laceys Lane, Exning, Newmarket 01638 578628 Ipswich Blue Badge Guides Walking tours on Tues and Thurs, MaySept. Discover the town’s history and heritage. Also, Ipswich Ghost Tours on 1st Thurs of month. Ipswich Tourist Information Centre 01473 258070 Lady Florence River Cruises For a different fine-dining experience, cruise the calms waters of the river Alde and Ore while enjoying a freshly prepared meal. Orford Quay, Orford 07831 698298 Newmarket Tours Palace House can arrange hour-long tours of historic Newmarket, explaining in depth its associations with Royalty and the Sport of Kings. Tourist Information Centre, Palace Street, Newmarket 01638 667200 Orwell River Cruises Choose between the 3.5 hour Harwich Harbour Cruise or the 2.5 hour Pin Mill Cruise and explore some the stunning coastline. Orwell Quay, Ipswich Wet Dock 01473 836680 River Stour Trust Boat trips from Sudbury to Great Henny and vice versa on Edwardian style electric launch with a traditional canopy or a pontoon-style boat. Take in lunch at the delightful Henny Swan. The Granary, Quay Lane, Sudbury 01787 313199 Waveney River Centre A range of vessels available for hire from rowing boats and canoes to luxury day cruisers. Staithe Road, Burgh St Peter, Beccles 01502 677343 Waveney River Tours River trips from Outlon Broad to a number of destinations along the southern Broads. Mutford Lock, Bridge Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft 01502 574903 Woodbridge Open Top Bus Tours A chance to get a great view of some of the town’s historic features. 01394 382240
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Events 16 July Bryan Ferry at Thetford Forest 29 April - 2 May May Day Re-Creation of Tudor Life at Kentwell
Festivals, concerts, country shows, historical recreations, airshows, sports... Suffolk has it all
SAPRIL
13-14 Craven Meeting Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket (0845 579 3010) 16-17 Classic & Vintage Weekend East Anglia Transport Museum, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft (01502 518459) 22-24 Aldeburgh Easter Music Festival Snape Maltings Concert Hall (01728 687100) 22-25 Suffolk Spring Garden Show Trinity Park, Ipswich (01702 549622) 22-25 Easter Re-Creation of Tudor Life Kentwell, Long Melford (01787 310207) 24-25 Celebrating Eostre West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 728718) 28-15 May High Tide Festival Halesworth (0207 566 9765) 29-2 May May Day Re-Creation of Tudor Life Kentwell, Long Melford (01787 310207) 30-1 May Guineas Festival Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket 30-1 May Large Model Air Show Rougham Airfield (01359 270524)
30-2 May Village life in the 7th Century West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow (01284 728718)
SMAY
1 Historic Vehicle Rally Ipswich to Felixstowe (01473 715666) 1-2 Suffolk Game & Country Fair Glemham Hall, Little Glemham, Woodbridge (01485 528954) 2 Woodbridge Horse Show Trinity Park, Ipswich. 2 Mendlesham Street Fair Mendlesham, nr Stowmarket (01449 766563) 7-8 The Newmarket Home & Garden Show Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket (0800 141 2823) 8 South Suffolk Show Ampton Racecourse, Ingham (01638 750879) 8 Wings & Wheels Air and car displays. Henham Park, Beccles (01986 872710) 8 East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival Oulton Broad, nr Lowestoft (01780 470718) 14-15 The Suffolk 4x4 Show and Autojumble Rougham Airfield (01359 270524)
21-30 Suffolk Open Studios Showcase Exhibition Art and crafts. Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham (01359 270880) 26-5 June Stowmarket Festival Stowmarket (01449 612060) 26-12 June Pulse - Ipswich Fringe Festival Ipswich (01473 295900) 28-30 WWII Whit, 1940's Fete Re-Creation Kentwell, Long Melford (01787 310207)
SJUNE
1-2 The Suffolk Show Trinity Park, Ipswich (01473 707110) 2-5 Southwold Charter Fair Southwold (01502 722576) 3-5 Suffolk Folk Festival Woodbridge (01473 742334) 4-5 Woolpit Steam Rally Warren Farm, Wetherden, nr Stowmarket (01359 241886) 4-5 Anglo-Saxon Death and Burial West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 728718)
The stars come out in Suffolk
There’s a host of top stars performing open air concerts in Suffolk this Summer... At High Lodge, Thetford Forest you can see Erasure, simple Minds, Bryan Ferry and Status Quo, at the Latitude Festival there’s a whole roster of top talent, while at Newmarket Racecourse there’s Tom Jones, Peter Andre (left), Scissor Sisters, The Wanted, Texas, Jools Holland, and James Blunt.
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2 July Katherine Jenkins, Ipswich Arts Festival 11 June British Gas Great East Swim
5-19 Woolpit Festival Woolpit (01359 240655) 9 Music in the Forest - Status Quo High Lodge, Thetford Forest (01842 814612) 10 Music in the Forest - Erasure High Lodge, Thetford Forest (01842 814612) 10-12 Ipswich Riverside Folk Weekend Folk music festival. Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich (01473 601902) 10-26 64th Aldeburgh Festival of Music & The Arts Snape Maltings Concert Hall and surrounding venues (01728 687110) 11 Music in the Forest - Simple Minds High Lodge, Thetford Forest (01842 814612) 11 British Gas Great East Swim Alton Water, Ipswich www.greatswim.org 11 Horham Bygones Country Rally Horham, nr Eye 11-12 Eye Open Gardens Eye. 11-12 Teddy Bear Parachuting and Flower Festival Blundeston. 12 Rural Pastimes Euston Park, Euston Hall, nr Thetford. 12 100 Years of the Trolleybus East Anglia Transport Museum, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft (01502 518459) 18-19 Long Melford Midsummer Country Show Melford Hall, Long Melford. (0800 141 2823) 18-19 Helmingham Food & Drink Festival Helmingham Hall (01473 890799) 19 The Hidden Gardens of Bury St Edmunds Bury St Edmunds (01284 754993) 19 Lavenham Hidden Gardens Lavenham (02787 247434) 19 Nowton Park Country Fair Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds (01284 757093)
1910 July Great Annual Re-Creation of Tudor Life Kentwell, Long Melford (01787 310207) 24 Newmarket Nights July Racecourse, Newmarket (0844 579 3010) 24-10 July Ip-Art - Ipswich Arts Festival Ipswich (01473 433100) 25-26 Crafts of the Anglo-Saxons West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 728718) 25-26 The West Suffolk Country Fair Rougham Airfield (01359 270524) 26 Chelsworth Open Gardens Day Chelsworth (01449 740257) 26 Bus & Coach Event East Anglia Transport Museum, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft (01502 518459) 26 Two Counties Motor Show Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket (07799 765095) 30 - 3 July 14th Festival of Beer and Brewing Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket (01449 612229)
SJULY
1-3 Thurston Festival Thurston, Bury St Edmunds 3 Ipswich Music Day Christchurch Park, Ipswich (01473 433100) 3 Darells Day Landguard Fort, Felixstowe (07749 695523) 6-10 Bures Music Festival Bures. www.jazzbythestour.org.uk 7-9 July Festival July Racecourse, Newmarket (0845 579 3010) 9-31 Bungay Festival 10 Heveningham Hall Country Fair Heveningham Hall, nr Halesworth (01986 798151) 14-17 Latitude Festival Henham Park, Beccles (0871 231 0821)
14 Music in the Forest High Lodge, Thetford Forest (01842 814612) 15 Music in the Forest High Lodge, Thetford Forest (01842 814612) 15Newmarket Nights July Racecourse, Newmarket (0844 579 3010) 15-17 Earsham Festival Bungay (01986 893445) 15-17 Weeting Steam Rally Fengate Farm, Weeting (01842 810317) 16 Music in the Forest - Bryan Ferry High Lodge, Thetford Forest (01842 814612) 16-17 5000 Years West Stow AngloSaxon Village, West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 728718) 16-7 Aug International East Anglian Summer Music Festival Hadleigh (01473 822596) 17 Peasenhall Pea Festival Nr Yoxford.(01728 660457) 17 Ufford Bygones & Fun Day Crown Farm, Ufford, nr Woodbridge (07812 037150) 22 Newmarket Nights July Racecourse, Newmarket (0844 579 3010) 23-24 Travellers Through Time West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 728718) 27-28 Aug Theatre in the Forest Rendlesham Forest (01473 288886) 29 Newmarket Nights July Racecourse, Newmarket (0844 579 3010) 29-1 Aug Westleton Wild Flower Festival & Exhibition Westleton. 30-31 Stitch in Time West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 728718) www.suffolktouristguide.com 51
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29 - 30 Aug Eye Show & Country Fair 25 - 27 Nov Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fair
S AUGUST
1-31 Snape Proms Snape Maltings Concert Hall, Aldeburgh (01728 687110) 5 Newmarket Nights July Racecourse, Newmarket (0844 579 3010) 6-7 Southwold Model Railway Exhibition Southwold (01502 723230) 6-7 Thurlow Steam & Country Fair Horseheath, nr Haverhill (07711 988332) 7 Helmingham Festival of Classic and Sports Cars Helmingham Hall (01473 890799) 7-8 A Visit from the Saxons West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 728718) 11-12 Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival Lowestoft 12 Newmarket Nights July Racecourse, Newmarket (0844 579 3010) 13-14 Felixstowe Carnival 13-14 Air Display & Classic Car Show Rougham Airfield, nr Bury St Edmunds (01359 270524) 13-14 Steam & Crafts Weekend Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket (01449 612229) 16 Aldeburgh Carnival 18-19 Thorpeness Regatta & Fireworks Thorpeness 21 Beccles Carnival 21 Westleton Barrel Fair Westleton, nr Saxmundham 26-29 The High Summer ReCreation of Tudor Life Kentwell, Long Melford (01787 310207) 27-29 Mildenhall Cycling Rally 27-29 Village life in the 7th Century West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow (01284 728718) 29-30 Eye Show & Country Fair Goodrich Park, Palgrave, nr Eye (01379 52 www.suffolktouristguide.com
898816) 28-29 Walsham le Willows Open Gardens Nr Bury St Edmunds
SSEPTEMBER
3 Yoxford Oxfayre Yoxford 3 Traditional Music Day Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket 4 Art on the Prom Felixstowe (01394 671033) 4 Suffolk Heavy Horse Spectacular Easton Farm Park, Easton, nr Woodbridge (01394 380643) 10-11 Harvest at Jimmy’s Jimmy’s Farm, Ipswich (0207 292 7121) 10-11 Trolleybus Gala Weekend East Anglia Transport Museum, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft (01502 518459) 10-2 Oct Artworks Exhibition Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham (01359 270091) 17-18 Grand Henham Steam Rally Henham Park, nr Beccles (01502 742376) 22-24 Cambridgeshire Meeting Newmarket Racecourses (0844 579 3010) 24-25 Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival Snape Maltings, nr Aldeburgh (01728 688303) 24-25 5000 Years West Stow AngloSaxon Village, West Stow (01284 728718) 24-25 Michaelmas Re-Creation of Tudor Life Kentwell, Long Melford (01787 310207) 27-1 Oct Fressingfield Music Festival Fressingfield, Nr Eye.
SOCTOBER
5-8 Ipswich Beer Festival Ipswich Corn Exchange www.ipswichcamra.com 8 Future Champions Day July
Racecourse, Newmarket (0844 579 3010) 8-9 Robin Hood Game & Country Show Trinity Park, Ipswich 8-23 Halesworth Arts Festival 15-31 Scaresville - The Haunted Village Kentwell, Long Melford (01787 310207) 24-30 Anglo-Saxon Family Life West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 728718)
SNOVEMBER
4 Big Night Out Fireworks Melford Hall Park, Long Melford (01787 379783) 4-6 The Art, Craft & Design Show Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket (0800 141 2823) 5-6 Christmas Craft, Food and Country Gift Fair Suffolk Showground, Trinity Park, Ipswich (01283 820548) 6 Yule Fest West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow (01284 728718) 10-14 Southwold Literary Festival Southwold (01803 867373) 12-11 Dec Craft Fair Weekends Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham (01359 270091) 13 Yule Fest West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow (01284 728718) 20 Yule Fest West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, West Stow, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 728718) 25-27 Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre Bury St Edmunds (01284 764667)
SDECEMBER
10-21 Kentwell Christmas Wonderland Kentwell, Long Melford (01787 310207)
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Percussionist Evelyn Glennie Entertainment in the Abbey Gardens
SBURY ST EDMUNDS FESTIVAL - 19-29 MAY The Bury St Edmunds Festival runs from Thursday 19 May to Sunday 29 May, 2011 and takes full advantage of Bury St Edmunds' new music venue, the apex. The acclaimed 500-seat concert hall with its superb acoustics, airy open spaces and relaxing coffee/drinks bar will host a number of festival events every day and will provide a lively, central meeting place for festival followers and shoppers. Festival Manager Nick Wells has condensed this year's Festival programme to eleven days; packing in the usual buzzing mix of contemporary and classical music, outdoor
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concerts, jazz, folk, film, comedy, poetry, walks, street theatre and much more. Evelyn Glennie, Jan Garbarek with the Hilliard Ensemble; English Chamber Orchestra with Howard Shelley, Penguin Cafe, the Brodsky Quartet, Gilad Atzmon, Staff Benda Bilili, Richard Rodney Bennett with Claire Martin and the Vida Guitar Quartet are just some of the top artists appearing this year. The opening weekend of the Festival will have a party atmosphere with ‘Blues Brothers’ and ‘Take That’ tribute nights in the Abbey Gardens and Abbeygate Picturehouse features heavily throughout the festival with a
mouth-watering selection of films with a musical link. The Festival brochure is widely available and can be viewed as an e-magazine on the Festival website at www.buryfestival.co.uk. Keep up to speed with all the latest news and behind the scenes action by following the Festival on Twitter. Tickets for all Festival events are on sale at the Festival Box Office at the apex, Charter Square, Bury St Edmunds. They can be booked online at www.buryfestival.co.uk, by calling 01284 758000 or email boxoffice@theapex.co.uk
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Weddings Seckford Hall Glemham Hall
There’s no better place to be for your special day Suffolk is the perfect location for your wedding
SVENUES
Hall also caters for evening receptions for up to 140 guests, and there's Minstrel's Gallery from which a small band can play. Woodbridge www.seckford.co.uk (01394 385678)
Seckford Hall
Seckford Hall is a splendid Tudor hotel near Suffolk's Heritage coast, set amongst 34 acres of private countryside. It is licensed for civil ceremonies with an oak-panelled Great Hall, which can seat 30 people, or the Lakeside Suite for up to 120 guests, which overlooks the gardens. A glamorous marquee in the grounds is available for hire, with windows, French doors, carpet, chandeliers, and heaters to keep it warm whatever the weather. The
Glemham Hall This impressive, elegant red brick Elizabethan mansion is steeped in history and is the perfect setting for a traditional English country-style wedding. This stunning venue is now offering a mid-week wedding package that retains all the romantic charm that Glemham Hall is renowned for but at a fraction of the cost. Glemham Hall, Little Glemham, Woodbridge www.glemhamhall.co.uk (01728 746704) Christchurch Mansion Christchurch Mansion is a red brick Tudor manor house set amid lovely 100 acre parkland, close to the centre of Ipswich. The picturesque grounds are perfect for wedding photography; the rooms of the manor are beautifully furnished in various period styles from Tudor to Victorian. Soane Street, Ipswich (01473 433554)
Ufford Park Best Western Ufford Park Hotel, Golf & Spa is set in a tranquil 120 acres of historic Suffolk parkland. The hotel holds a civil wedding licence and offers a choice of beautifully decorated modern function rooms that can accommodate small gatherings or large parties. Prior to the big day there are also the golf, spa and health club facilities to enjoy; perfect for hen parties and stag weekends. Melton, Woodbridge www.uffordpark.co.uk (01394 383555) 56 Find more information online at www.suffolkweddingsguide.co.uk
Le Talbooth
For a wedding in the heart of Constable Country this family run, luxury country house hotel is set in an idyllic position beside the river Stour and provides fabulous menus, and rooms, to suit every style of wedding. The River Room offers space for larger parties, while the Weavers room is suitable for a small, intimate gathering. There's also a marquee on the upper terrace, which caters for groups of up to 180 people. Dedham www.milsomweddings.com (01206 323150) Bedford Lodge Hotel The elegant white Bedford Lodge, with it's romantic rose gardens, dates back to the 17th century. A beautiful venue for a civil wedding ceremony and wedding reception, the hotel offers a choice of three self-contained banqueting suites which can accommodate from 10 to 150 guests. There is also space for a marquee in the grounds. Bury Road, Newmarket (01638 663175)
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Thorpeness Country Club
Trinity Park
Thorpeness Hotel and Country Club The Thorpeness Country Club is a magical wedding location, just a pebbles throw from the beach. The hotel offers a selection of menus and dishes, all of which are individually priced, allowing you the flexibility to create a bespoke menu and package to suit your requirements. You may wish to give your wedding a seaside theme, or simply opt for something traditional; the choice is yours. www.thorpeness.co.uk (01728 452176)
This contemporary setting for a wedding sits amid 300 acres of beautiful landscaped grounds, and has a stunning courtyard garden. The venue holds a license for civil marriages and partnership ceremonies, and also offers the services of
Hungarian Hall Events The wedding venue is set in landscaped surroundings. The tastefully decorated Danube Suite can cater for up to 160 ceremony guests. For the reception, the stunning marquee is suitable for 200 guests. The marquee has been carefully designed with a curved window, presenting guests with beautiful rural views throughout the day. The marquee can also be tailored to meet your individual colour schemes and dĂŠcor ideas. Pettistree, Woodbridge. www.hungarianhallevents.co.uk (01394 460362)
Butley Priory This luxury fairytale wedding venue, with a stunning gothic interior, was originally an Augustinian Monastery. The Priory is located between Rendlesham Forest and the Heritage Coast. Both the Great Hall, which can seat 90 people, and the smaller panelled Drawing Room seating 50, are licensed to hold wedding ceremonies. Sumptuous overnight accommodation is also available. Woodbridge, Orford, Aldeburgh www.butleypriory.co.uk (01394 450 046)
a wedding coordinator. The Park can comfortably accommodate up to 500 guests for a wedding breakfast, and more intimate spaces can be created for smaller wedding parties. Ipswich. (01473 707119) www.trinityparkevents.co.uk St. Peters Hall
The moated St Peters Hall is fully licensed for weddings and civil ceremonies and offers a superb photogenic medieval setting for weddings for up to 250 people, with bar, two function rooms, garden, optional marquees and a chapel. The Hall has an on-site events manager and will help as much as you wish with planning and is also home to Wickedly Good Food, the high-class event catering company. St Peter South Elmham, Bungay www.stpetershallsuffolk.co.uk (01986 782288)
Hintlesham Hall With its grand entrance to the estate and its sumptuous rooms, Hintlesham Hall is ideal for a picturesque wedding banquet in regal settings, whether you marry at the Hall or nearby, any day of the week. There's a warm, relaxing and friendly ambience to this beautiful country house hotel, together with attentive staff and renowned cuisine. The magnificent Salon, the Carolean Room with its stunning 17th century plasterwork ceiling and the intimate Justice room are licensed to accommodate civil ceremonies for up to 100, 50 and 20 guests respectively. Hintlesham Hall Hotel, Hintlesham, Ipswich (01473 652334) 58 Find more information online at www.suffolkweddingsguide.co.uk
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Haughley Park Barn Hungarian Hall
Haughley Park Barn
plete with on-site accommodation, it is a great venue for the smallest, most intimate gathering to the grandest of events. High Lodge Wood, Hinton, Nr Darsham, Suffolk. www.highlodge.co.uk (01986 784347)
flint built, it is fully carpeted and attached to the Main Barn where a reception can be held to seat up to 300 guests, with a large dance floor and licensed bar. (01394 459 995) www.wantisden.co.uk Bruisyard Hall
Wantisden Valley This 17th century, oak-framed barn is surrounded by beautiful country house gardens. A private, exclusive and individual venue located in central Suffolk, Haughley Park Barn is an idyllic setting for a wedding with civil ceremony, reception _and evening party all in the one place. Haughley Park, Stowmarket. www.haughleyparkbarn.co.uk (01359 240 701) High Lodge High Lodge is unique venue on the Suffolk Coast, giving exclusive use to you and your guests at exceptional value and at a very high standard. Their caring and professional team ensure that every detail of your wedding celebration is taken care of. High Lodge can provide the full wedding package, including civil ceremonies and, com-
Wantisden Valley, in the heart of the Suffolk countryside on the Heritage coast, provides for civil ceremonies and receptions in a beautiful and very private location in Suffolk. A number of buildings are available. Shepherd's Cottage is an 18th century thatched building nestled on the edge of a medieval wood, overlooking extensive lakes. It is licensed for civil ceremonies and small receptions for up to 40 guests with an enclosed garden and patio area. The Mixing Barn is licensed for 40 to 170 guests for civil ceremonies. Brick and
Bruisyard Hall is a historic manor house which has been renovated and is available for weekend breaks, holidays and weddings. The Hall is in a beautiful position in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, providing wonderful settings for some stunning wedding photos. Staff can provide contact for details for caterers, marquee hire, florists and even a wedding planner should you wish, but then it is down to you to organise your perfect wedding day without the constraints often imposed by hotels. Bruisyard, Saxmundham. www.bruisyardhall.co.uk (01728 638712)
Woodhall Manor A private country house made available for business and leisure purposes. Exclusive use of the manor allows you and your party to celebrate in complete privacy and enjoy luxurious surrounds, truly making the Manor your dream home for the duration of your stay. The Manor is an exceptional place to do business, secluded away from it all on the Suffolk Heritage Coast, yet just two hours from London. With sole use, the day’s business can be conducted in privacy in any of the four reception rooms, all fully equipped with the latest IT and communications technology. The Manor is also the ideal venue for Weddings and private parties. With 9 acres of English country gardens you will be spoilt for choice with photographic backdrops and beautiful settings. Accommodation is in 12 en-suite bedrooms furnished to an exceptional standard and catering will be provided to your exact specifications. The Banqueting suite can seat 120 for a sit down meal and up to 200 if a less formal buffet menu is preferred. Smaller parties can opt for a more intimate setting, dining in the Manor itself. Larger celebrations can be accommodated in marquees in the grounds. For further information about Suffolk's best kept secret call 01394 411 288 or visit www.woodhallmanor.co.uk Find more information online at www.suffolkweddingsguide.co.uk 59
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Christchurch Mansion The Swan at Lavenham
Ipswich Town Hall and Corn Exchange Professionals at Ipswich Town Hall and Corn Exchange can help plan your event down to the very last detail. The prestigious grade II listed building in central Ipswich can cater for any size group from 50 to 800 guests. The rates are reasonable, and professional and experienced staff are on-hand to help ensure and unforgettable and special day. (01473 433465)
groom to use as an extra area for a crèche or quiet room. There are marquee areas for larger wedding receptions, and The Orangery and beautiful gardens are available for reception drinks. Horringer, nr Bury St Edmunds (01284 735957) Somerleyton Hall and Gardens
The West Wing at Ickworth
An elegant setting for Weddings and Civil Partnerships for 80 to 200 guests. The impressive Gallery on the first floor of The West Wing overlooks the beautiful Italianate Gardens, and accommodates wedding ceremonies and sumptuous wedding breakfasts for up to 200 guests. The Court is a smaller room, adjacent to The Gallery, and is available for the bride and
The Hall and gardens at Somerleyton have been the setting for many magical weddings over the years. Somerleyton Hall is the perfect venue for any wedding day. Its lavish architecture, fine staterooms, three ceremony rooms, and formal gardens designed by Price Albert's favourite architect John Thomas, provide a perfect setting and ideal backdrop for a traditional country wedding. The wedding ceremony can take place in three different areas of the estate; the main Hall, the gardens,
Orwell Park This elegant Georgian Mansion set on the banks of the River Orwell in over 110 acres of parkland provides an exclusive setting for weddings, with a suite of rooms for civil ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and celebrations, offering exceptional food, lavish rooms and magnificent views over the River Orwell. Orwell Park Events, Nacton, Ipswich. (01473 653232) www.orwellparkevents.co.uk 60 Find more information online at www.suffolkweddingsguide.co.uk
and the walled garden. The gardens are also perfect venues for a wedding reception. Somerleyton Hall, Lowestoft. www.somerleyton.co.uk (01502 734904) The Swan at Lavenham The Swan dates back to the 15th Century when it played a key role in Lavenham's wool trade. Today it is a quintessential English country hotel and restaurant, proud of its achievement of an AA four star 81% rating and two AA Rosettes. The Swan offers a full package of wedding assistance, with floral arrangements, wedding cakes made to order, a Master of Ceremonies available, and a Honeymoon Suite for after the big event. Lavenham. (0844 556 9425) The Bildeston Crown
The Bildeston Crown is located in the heart of Suffolk's picturesque countryside, close to the historic towns of Bury St. Edmunds and Ipswich. The Bildeston Crown is an original 15th century coaching Inn which has been imaginatively refurbished to restore the building without losing any of the character of its past 600 years. With a function room licensed for weddings, a fantastic honeymoon suite, an award winning chef, and catering for up to 150 people, this is a perfect all-purpose Wedding venue for that special day. High Street, Bildeston (0844 556 9423)
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Somerleyton Hall Kersey Mill
Jockey Club Rooms
There are six individual rooms all licensed for civil ceremonies, so they are able to cater for a small intimate wedding ceremony or a celebration of up to a maximum of 100 guests. All weddings at the Jockey Club Rooms have the exclusive use of the venue, this gives total flexibility for couples to design the day in a bespoke style for their personal wishes. The Jockey Club Rooms can be your own country house providing the perfect backdrop for a formal wedding, a relaxed country house style party celebration with a traditional afternoon tea, or even a barbecue on the terrace overlooking the private walled garden. Jockey Club Rooms, 101 High Street, Newmarket. www.jockeyclubestates.co.uk (01638 663101)
Fynn Valley Golf Club & The Valley Restaurant
Only a stone's throw from Ipswich set in picturesque surroundings, our Valley Restaurant offers fantastic views across the golf course's rolling countryside. Weddings are a speciality at Fynn Valley. Each event is tailored to your individual requirements and prices start at £25 per person midweek and £40 per person at weekends for a package including ceremony, arrival drink, three course wedding breakfast, wine with the meal and fizz for the toast. They also cater for stand alone civil ceremonies and evening receptions. Witnesham, Ipswich (01473 785267) www.fynn-valley.co.uk Wingfield Barns The Great Barn, in its magnificent and very private location offers the perfect setting for a day as special as your wedding. Wingfield Barns is fully licensed to conduct
civil ceremonies so your marriage can be conducted on-site or at a nearby church, moving into the Barn for your reception and celebration. Adjacent to the Great Barn is the terrace and lawns which offer great outside space in fine weather and can accommodate outside catering, dancing, musical entertainment or a wedding fete. Church Road, WIngfield (0844 822 7518) www.wingfieldbarns.com Shire Hall Located in the heart of Woodbridge, the magnificent 16th Century Shire Hall is a stately style setting for a Civil Ceremony. Built in 1575 by Thomas Seckford the building has been a focal point of Woodbridge for over 400 years. Make your grand entrance via the steps into the frosted pink airy Council Chamber which can hold up to 80 people (seating for 50). Photographs may be taken in and around the building which is surrounded by the pastel splendour of the market town’s ancient inns and restaurants which are perfect for a traditional reception. The Shire Hall is open 9am-2pm, MondayFriday should you wish to view the Council Chamber. (Telephone appointments advised). Call: 01394 383599 or email: admin@woodbridge-suffolk.gov.uk
The Stoke by Nayland Club, Hotel, Golf & Spa With its magnificent setting in 300 acres of picturesque, rolling Suffolk countryside, a beautifully appointed hotel and superb facilities, The Stoke by Nayland Club provides one of the most idyllic venues for weddings and wedding receptions. The Hotel holds a licence for Civil Marriage Ceremonies and, with the assistance of the experienced and dedicated team, their tailor-made, comprehensive wedding service is second to none. Keepers Lane, Leavenheath (01206 265818) Find more information online at www.suffolkweddingsguide.co.uk 61
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PlacestoStay Hintlesham Hall Run Cottage Touring Park
Visitors to Suffolk are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a great place to stay. Here are just a few of the hotels, holiday parks, guest houses, cottages and farmhouses Suffolk has to offer... SHOTELS The Brudenell Most of the 42 rooms of the fresh looking Aldeburgh hotel offer either spectacular views of the sea or of the River Alde and marshland. There's a superb restaurant that overlooks the sea and a beach terrace. The Parade, Aldeburgh www.thebru.co.uk (01728 452071) The Bildeston Crown A stylishly renovated 15th century timber framed former coaching inn. Each of the Bildeston Crown's twelve en-suite double rooms are uniquely decorated. The hotel's AA triple rosette restaurant is rated equal to London's top restaurants by the British Food Guide. High Street, Bildeston (01449 740510) www.thebildestoncrown.com The Ship at Dunwich Once a haunt of smugglers, you will now find a traditional coastal inn with real ales, real food and real fires, comfortable, traditionally furnished bedrooms, an enormous garden and a beach that really is just a short stroll away. A perfect base from which to explore this wild and wonderful coastline. Tel: 01728 648219 www.shipatdunwich.co.uk Thorpeness Hotel Right next to the Meare at Thorpeness, and five minutes' walk from the beach,
the hacienda style three star Thorpeness Hotel is a great spot for all who come to enjoy the golf, the Meare boating lake, tennis and al fresco dining on the terrace. Thorpeness, Aldeburgh (01728 452176) www.thorpeness.co.uk The Westleton Crown Set in the heart of the quintessentially Suffolk village of Westleton, this traditional coaching inn is perfectly situated for exploring the delights of the Suffolk Heritage Coast. The Westleton Crown combines the character and charm of its heritage with the comforts of contemporary living: smouldering log fires, 34 stylish bedrooms, sumptuous duvets, Egyptian cotton bed linen, Fired Earth bathrooms, an award winning restaurant, sophisticated wine list and delightful terraced gardens. (01728 648777) www.westletoncrown.co.uk The Swan at Lavenham A classically charming 15th century country hotel that's complete with rich furnishings, inglenook fireplaces and 45 beautifully decorated en-suite bedrooms. The stunning oak beamed restaurant has been awarded AA four star 81% rating and two AA Rosettes. High Street, Lavenham (01787 247 477) www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk Kesgrave Hall The Kesgrave Hall Hotel offers plenty of
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luxurious contemporary cool. All the rooms are exceptionally comfortable and well equipped. The hotel's 100-seat restaurant has an open-plan kitchen, and offers a full a la carte menu from 12 noon to 9.30pm. Hall Road, Kesgrave, Ipswich (01473 333741) www.milsomhotels.com Sutherland House This two star boutique hotel on Southwold's High Street is truly unique, blending medieval charm with contemporary furnishings. High Street, Southwold (01502 724 544) www.sutherlandhouse.co.uk Hintlesham Hall Offering sumptuous comfort, this spacious four star hotel is a classically decorated Elizabethan Manor House set in 175 acres of rolling countryside. The 33 bedrooms and suites are of varying shapes, sizes and styles. Guests can enjoy the health club and pool, and treat themselves to a range of health and beauty treatments. Hintlesham (01473 652334) www.hintleshamhall.com Angel Hotel Considered to be the oldest inn in the picturesque medieval village of Lavenham. The attractive pub hotel accommodation offers eight well-equipped en-suite bedrooms, six doubles, one twin and a family room. Market Place, Lavenham (01787 247388) www.theangelhotel.com
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The Ship, Dunwich King’s Head Orford Kesgrave Hall
The Swan Hotel The fine looking Swan Hotel on Southwold’s market place has 42 unique bedrooms a peaceful drawing room. The hotel's two AA rosettes restaurant offers a menu for all pockets. Market Place, Southwold (01502 722186) www.adnams.co.uk/hotels The Crown This boutique hotel in the pretty village of Stoke by Nayland, in the Stour and Box river valleys, has eleven stylish luxury ensuite bedrooms, all individually designed and furnished. The restaurant offers great food, wine and real ale and a choice of dining areas to suit your mood. Main Road, Stoke By Nayland www.crowninn.net (01206 262001)
SPARKS & CARAVANS Broadland Holiday Village Bring your own caravan or stay in a brick or wooden lodge close to one of the prettiest of the Norfolk broads. A heated indoor pool, sauna, gym, boat hire, waterside bar and restaurant have earned it a full five stars. Oulton Broad, Lowestoft (01502 573033) www.broadlandvillage.co.uk Badwell Ash Holiday Lodges These cosy Scandinavian timber lodges cater for the sportsperson, nature lover and lounge lizard all at once, thanks to their lakeside setting, wireless internet and outdoor hot tubs. It's for grown ups only though. Badwell Ash www.badwellashlodges.co.uk (01359 258444) Carlton Meres Country Park Leisure lodges and touring caravan pitches are dotted around a well-stocked fishing lake, but there's a restaurant, beer garden, play area, tennis court, gym, spa,
sauna, steam room and an outdoor swimming pool too. Saxmundham (01728 603344) www.carltonmeres.co.uk Broadland Sands A classic, affordable seaside holiday on the coast between Great Yarmouth and the historic fishing port of Lowestoft. The four star site offers a heated pool 45m water flume, sun terrace, crazy golf and tennis. Corton (01278 792222) www.broadlandsands.co.uk High Lodge Self-catering lodges for up to six with balconies over-looking a well-stocked fishing lake, grassland and woodland area. The site offers a challenging nine-hole golf course and clay pigeon shooting. Darsham www.highlodge.co.uk (01986 784347) Run Cottage Touring Park Camp amid wildlife in this peaceful caravan touring park on the Heritage Coast. Caravans and motor homes from £16 per night, tent pitches from £10 per night, all with 10amp electric hook up. Open all year round. Hollesley, Woodbridge (01394 411309) www.run-cottage.co.uk Pakefield Caravan Park An award-winning four-star caravan park complete with outdoor pool, wi-fi and children's play area perched high on a cliff top near Lowestoft. Its mobile homes have modern kitchens, shower rooms, toilets and TVs. Lowestoft (01502 539264) www.pakefieldpark.co.uk Felixstowe Beach A full, family holiday park, complete with mini-slide, adventure playground and paddling pool, within a stone's throw of Felixstowe and the perfect base to explore the coast. Felixstowe (0844 8471115) www.hoseasons.co.uk
OXFORD COLLECTION The Oxford Collection is a select portfolio of over 20 hotels located throughout the British Isles. Each property has been handpicked to offer the very best in comfort, indulgence and relaxation with delicious, award-winning cuisine available. Whether you're looking for a place to rejuvenate in the serene seclusion of a Cornish bay, to escape in the heart of enchanting Suffolk, or for the spirited, a challenging round of golf on a championship course, the Oxford Collection promises to deliver and exceed your every need. Collection properties have been conveniently classified into three clusters, Hideaway Hotels, Golf & Elemis Spa Hotels and Classic Hotels. So if you're looking for something a little bit special, the Oxford Collection is the ideal choice. The stunning Suffolk Golf Hotel & Elemis Spa located on the outskirts of the historic town of Bury St Edmonds is part of the Oxford Collection. It has first rate facilities; and the River Lark meanders gently thought its 18-hole Championship golf course enhancing the challenging course with natural water features. The hotel's spa facilities include an indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam room and fully equipped gymnasium. Furthermore, with 40 comfortable wellequipped en-suite bedrooms, the Suffolk Golf Hotel & Elemis Spa is an ideal base to explore East Anglia and grant you the rare chance to relax and escape from the taxing facets of modern life. For more information or to book a stay at the Suffolk Golf Hotel & Elemis Spa call: 08444 146 600
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Sweffling Hall Farm The Angel Hotel
SCOTTAGES & FARMS Bay Tree Cottage An idyllic, thatched, self-catering, Grade II listed, chocolate box hideaway dating from the 17th century in the well-known village of Redgrave. Bay Tree cottage overlooks fields to the front and rear and offers beautiful walks on the doorstep. The large rear garden is totally private and houses a small, separate studio room. Redgrave, Eye (01993 810194) The Old Mill Nearly a thousand years old, the Old Mill on the River Deben overlooks its own golf course, which is free for guests. With shops close by and beaches 10 miles away, this self-catering holiday cottage makes for a unique break away. Glevering Mill, Wickham Market, Woodbridge (01728 746571) Sweffling Hall Farm 17th century farm house on working farm mainly producing free range eggs for supermarkets. Set back from the main road close to the market town of Framlingham, 8 miles from the Heritage Coast A garden and live pond ideal for walks and cycling with woodland trust nearby, together with full amenities and ample parking you are sure of a arm welcome. (01728 663644) www.swefflinghallfarm.co.uk Valley Farm Vineyards Guests to Valley Farm can opt for the selfcatering cottage (sleeps 8-10) with its garden and terrace, or bed and breakfast at the farmhouse. The Elizabethan farmhouse is surrounded by 14 acres of wineproducing vineyards that guests can wander through. The vineyard visitors' centre offers wine tasting sessions. Four star 64 find more at www.suffolkhotelsguide.com
accommodation. Wisset (01986 785535) www.valleyfarmvineyards.co.uk Rumburgh Farm This working farm offers b&b farmhouse accommodation, or self-catering in one of two lodges (each sleeping four, plus travel cot). The lodges are situated alongside a fishing pond stocked with trout. Southwold and Walberswick are close by, as are the attractions of Kessingland Wildlife Park, Banham Zoo, Orford and Framlingham castles. Rumburgh, Halesworth (01986 781351) www.rumburghfarm.co.uk
SGUEST HOUSES/B&B Ocean House A beautifully decorated Victorian guest house, a stone's throw from Aldeburgh's beach and High Street. There are two double/twin en-suite rooms, each with bay windows that overhang the beach and offer views up and down Crag Path. There's also a top floor musician's studio room with a grand piano. Crag Path, Aldeburgh (01728 452094) www.oceanhousealdeburgh.co.uk Kiln Farm Guest House Accommodation at Kilm Farm is within the Victorian farmhouse and a courtyard of six converted stables. Double, twin and family rooms are available, some selfcatering. The farm's meadow is a certified Caravan Club location and has spaces for five tourers with electric hook up. Kiln Lane, Elmswell, Bury St Edmunds. (01359 240442) www.kilnfarmguesthouse.com The King’s Head Orford A ‘very English’ historic 13th Century pub that combines all the atmosphere of a traditional inn with great real ales, classic
pub lunch favourites and a more traditional evening menu, which incorporates modern British cuisine and twists on popular classics. All dishes are prepared using local ingredients where possible and subject to chef’s acclaimed, individual style. Front Street, Orford (01394 450271) www.thekingsheadorford.co.uk Sorrell Horse Inn Milden Hall is a 16th century farmhouse that offers bed and breakfast accommodation for up to six people. The farmhouse is decorated with beautiful period furniture and tapestries, there are three large bedrooms and a woodburner-heated hall sitting room. Self catering accommodation is also available in a restored Tudor barn. The Hall, Milden, Lavenham (01787 247235) The Old Butchers Shop The Old Butcher's Shop bed and breakfast is a listed building in the centre of the conservation area Orford village. There are three rooms, one of which looks out to the sea. Guests can have breakfast in the courtyard in the summer and there's a large garden with fine views of Orford church. 111 Church Street, Orford, nr Woodbridge (01394 450517) www.oldbutchers-orford.co.uk Newmans Hall A quiet place to stay in the Suffolk countryside. Guests at this B&B have the use of a heated indoor swimming pool and an En-Tout-Cas tennis court. There are two double bedrooms and one twin bedroom. The breakfast room has French windows onto the garden, there's spacious grounds and a pub nearby. Little Waldingfield, Sudbury (01787 249111)
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Information
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www.suffolktouristguide.com Everything you need to know about Suffolk
Information
National Rail Enquiries
08457 484950 Suffolk Tourist Information Centres Flatford (seasonal) Flatford lane T 01206 299460 E flatordtic@babergh.gov.uk
Newmarket Palace House, Palace Street T 01638 667200 E tic.newmarket@forest-heath.gov.uk
Hadleigh Hadleigh Library T 01473 823778 E hadleigh.library@libher.suffolkcc.gov.uk
Southwold 69 High Street T 01502 724729 E southwold.tic@waveney.gov.uk
Ipswich St Stephen’s Church, St Stephen’s Lane T 01473 258070 E tourist@ipswich.gov.uk
Stowmarket Museum of East Anglian Life T 01449 676800 E tic@midsuffolk.gov.uk
Bury St Edmunds 6 Angel Hill T 01284 764667 E tic@stedsbc.gov.uk
Lavenham (seasonal) Lady Street T 01787 248207 E lavenhamtic@babergh.gov.uk
Sudbury Gaol lane T 01787 881320 E sudburytic@babergh.gov.uk
Felixstowe 91 Undercliff Road West T 01394 276770 E ftic@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
Lowestoft East Point Pavilion T 01502 533600 E touristinfo@waveney.gov.uk
Woodbridge Station Buildings T 01394 382240 E wtic@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
Centres are staffed by dedicated, experienced officers who know everything there is to know about what’s going on in their local patch. Check their opening hours locally as some are seasonal and some may close at 1pm on Saturdays. Aldeburgh 152 High Street T 01728 453637 E atic@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk Brandon 31 High Street T 01842 814955 E tic.newmarket@forest-heath.gov.uk
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