It’s only an hour or so from London – either by road or rail – but you’ll be entering what seems like a different world completely when you visit Suffolk. A host of varied destinations offer plenty of natural beauty, history, and unique charm.
Bounded by Essex to the south, Norfolk to the north, and Cambridgeshire to the west, Suffolk is an ancient county and the hub for important trade routes across the North Sea on the east coast of England.
Here is our list of the top ten places to visit.
1. Ipswich
The county town is the most populous and continues to thrive not least because of its proximity to the container ports of Felixstowe and Harwich.
But the town retains an attractive blend of ancient and modern – with a waterfront home to the historic Old Custom House and a vibrant community of cafés, shops, and galleries.
2. Bury St Edmunds
In the rural heartlands of Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds also oozes history in the shape of its medieval abbey, exquisite cathedral, historic architecture, and streets and markets seemingly just made for browsing.
3. Aldeburgh
For a more contemporary take on the arts, you’ll not want to miss the charming seaside town of Aldeburgh, which fronts the attractive Suffolk Coast and Heath Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
To catch the famous Aldeburgh Music Festival – which has been staged every year since 1948 – you’ll need to visit in June.
4. Southwold
Further north along the coast – but still within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – you may also find time for a leisurely walk along the beach at Southwold, admiring its quirky pier, lighthouse, and jumble of bright beach huts or a stroll through the charming town itself.
5. Framlingham Castle
Just inland from both Aldeburgh and Southwold sits the stunning 12th-century castle of Framlingham.
Set among manicured parkland and a peaceful lake, the castle is extremely well-preserved and will make the perfect day out for the entire family.
6. Sutton Hoo
If your quest for history goes back still further in time, then you’ll certainly not want to miss a visit to the archaeological site of Sutton Hoo – an ancient and fascinating ship burial site from Anglo-Saxon times.
7. Lavenham
Lavenham is another village imbued with the richness of its very English history – and preserved today in its picturesque collection of timber-framed buildings.
It’ll maybe come as little surprise that Lavenham is frequently acclaimed as Britain’s most perfectly preserved medieval village.
8. Dunwich Beach and Heath
Returning to the Suffolk Coast and Heath Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, probably the best place to appreciate the vibrant landscape of this part of the East of England coastline is at Dunwich Beach and Heath – it’s everything you’d want for picnicking, hiking, or simply relaxing in nature’s glory.
9. Orford Ness National Nature Reserve
An exposed, remote, wild – and once secret – shingle bank just south of Aldeburgh and to the north of the busy shipping lanes around Felixstowe forms the Orford Ness National Nature Reserve.
From the abundance of wildlife and rare flora that makes this one of the most important shingle banks in the world, it is difficult to remember that in its fairly recent past, it was the site for testing Britain’s nuclear weapons.
10. Clare
For the final stop on our list of ten – which is by no means an exhaustive list – let’s take afternoon tea at the café within the ruins of the 13th-century priory at Clare.
Deep in the countryside of Suffolk, this quintessentially English village marks the perfect way to wrap up any day trip.
Summary
Although it’s a relatively easy part of the UK to access, Suffolk is often given a miss among those exploring the delights of the country. But the county is most certainly worth a visit – and you may be taken aback by some of the pleasant surprises that lie in store.