Suffolk
Lazing on the sand, hurtling down a roller coaster, or sipping coffee at
a stylish boardwalk cafe to the sound of the waves. The choice is
yours at award-winning seaside resorts on the Suffolk Coast
Coastal Gems
Big skies, long shingle beaches and historic towns and villages draw visitors back time and again to the Suffolk Heritage Coast. Walking, cycling and birdwatching make this a year-round destination - to say nothing of the castles and churches to be explored.
Pretty market towns such as Framlingham, Woodbridge and Orford border the ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty'. Explore the remarkable site of an Anglo Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo - and find out more at the visitor centre. See the picturesque tide mill at Woodbridge, climb the lofty castle keep at Orford (which towers almost 100 feet over the pretty town and harbour), or stroll along the castle ramparts at Framlingham - and admire the wonderful view.
At Felixstowe, enjoy award-winning gardens and floral displays. Let off steam in the amusement park, and go nautical at the lofty Landguard Fort and fascinating museum Spot the world's largest container ships from the port viewing area, then head to Felixstowe Ferry for a trip across the Deben to Bawdsey, home of radar.
Go north to the bright seaside town of Aldeburgh, world famous for music and literature - with composer Benjamin Britten the inspiration for fabulous Snape Maltings concerts. Stroll along the High Street lined with art galleries, individual shops and eateries to please every purse and palate. At neighbouring Thorpeness - with its mock Tudor homes and 'House in the Clouds', you can hire a rowing boat on the mere.
Voucher Offers
Check out the special offers, including 2 for 1 vouchers at top Suffolk Coastal attractions: Framlingham Castle, Orford Castle and Sutton Hoo.
Suffolk Coastal Stations
Felixstowe: One train per hour (with easy change at Ipswich) from London Liverpool
Street (1 hour, 53 minutes). Woodbridge, Melton and Saxmundham: One direct
train every two hours from London Liverpool Street (2 hours).
Further Information: www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/tourism
---------------------------------------------------
Seaside Splash
Lazing on the sand, hurtling down a roller coaster, or sipping coffee at a stylish
boardwalk cafe to the sound of the waves. The choice is yours at two
award-winning seaside resorts on the Sunrise Coast. Family friendly Lowestoft
has two vast Blue Flag beaches, two lively piers and a great shopping centre. You
can watch the rising sun at Britain's most easterly point, stroll in beautiful
promenade gardens, or relax over a cool drink in the East Point Pavilion - as the
children dash in and out of the Royal Plain Fountains. Heading north, you can
sample spine-tingling rides at Pleasurewood Hills, or go south to see majestic wild
lions and rhinos in their natural surroundings at Africa Alive in Kessingland.
Less than half an hour away, in an area of outstanding natural beauty is
Southwold - voted Britain's most traditional resort in 2007. Classic shops and
restaurants are minutes from the sandy Blue Flag beach, picturesque harbour and
elegantly restored pier. Close at hand are old market towns, castles, stately homes
and the amazing Broads.
---------------------------------------------------
Voucher Offers
Check out the special offers, including 2 for 1 vouchers, at top
Sunrise Coast attractions: Pleasurewood Hills.
Sunrise Coast Stations
Beccles, Halesworth, Lowestoft and Oulton Broad South: One direct train every
two hours from London Liverpool Street (via the scenic East Suffolk Line).
Further Information: www.visit-sunrise.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------
Countryside Bliss
Welcome to the South and Heart of Suffolk - where the
countryside is undulating and tranquil, and the towns are
steeped in medieval history. Here you'll experience the past
in colourful Tudor Re-creations at Long Melford's Kentwell
Hall, or trace 700 years of the wool trade at Lavenham's
fabulous timbered Guildhall. Unwind in the glorious Stour
Valley landscapes of Constable - and admire the
remarkable Gainsborough collection at the painter's nearby
birthplace in Sudbury.
Richly decorated houses and magnificent churches will
inspire you, open air theatre will lift your spirits, and the
wealth of antiques, art galleries, local crafts and delectable
specialist shops will allow you to indulge your own
particular passion. You'll enjoy the freedom of cycling along
quiet country lanes, perhaps following the signposted
Heart of Suffolk or Cycle South Suffolk routes, or discovering Needham Lake.
The award-winning Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket is on the doorstep,
and a hop away is Eye Castle with its amazing views over ancient rooftops. Above
all, you can relax in the knowledge that with so many farm shops, country pubs
and restaurants you will be able to savour the very best of local Suffolk produce. Why not take some home?
---------------------------------------------------
South and Heart of Suffolk Stations
Stowmarket: Two trains per hour from London Liverpool Street (1 hour,
30 minutes). Manningtree (for Dedham and East Bergholt): Three trains per hour
from London Liverpool Street (60 minutes). Dedham is a signposted 30 minute
walk from the station. Sudbury: One train per hour (with an easy change at Marks
Tey) from London Liverpool Street (1 hour, 15 minutes).
Further Information: www.southandheartofsuffolk.org.uk
Sitting at the head of the Orwell, one
of Suffolk's loveliest and most historic
rivers - Ipswich is a fine blend of
ancient and modern
West Suffolk - Newmarket and
Bury St. Edmunds
As you enter the town of Newmarket, in its
wonderful heathland setting, you are stepping right
into the heart of the racing world. Known for
centuries as home of ‘The Sport of Kings - today
Newmarket boasts two very distinct racecourses.
The NatWest Rowley Mile is the most historic
stretch of turf in the entire world of sport, and hosts
world-class racing throughout spring and autumn.
Few sporting occasions can match the dramatic
spectacle of its flagship event, the Stan James
Guineas Festival. Summer at Newmarket heralds
the magic of the July Course, with its old fashioned
grandstand, sun-dappled lawns, magnificent beech
trees and beautiful floral displays. Social and
sporting highlights of the season are the Ritz Club July Festival and Newmarket
Nights - an evening racing event followed by a concert from a well-known act. Other
must see attractions are The National Stud, the National Horseracing Museum and
the original Jockey Club headquarters. Why not stay over for an escorted tour of the
training gallops and a trainer's yard for a real insider's view?
In West Suffolk, open spaces and country parks combine with nature reserves to
provide the perfect short break for families keen to get out and about in the fresh air.
The new RSPB Lakenheath Fen Reserve is an ideal place to enjoy a large-scale
wetland, with rare marsh harriers, bearded tits and hobbies. It is home to a huge
diversity of fenland wildlife, and the reserve and visitor centre are easily reached via
a network of trails within a short walk of Lakenheath station.
Bury St. Edmunds is rich in medieval and Georgian architecture, and has a vibrant
shopping centre decked with flowers in summer. Historic streets bustle with
individual shops, cafés, restaurants and a traditional twice-weekly market. Soaring
above is the majestic tower of St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, a fine landmark beside
the famous abbey gardens. Hardly surprising that Bury was a winner in the 2007
RHS Britain in Bloom Awards. Why not take a guided tour to appreciate the town's
treasures, the cathedral, the beautifully restored Theatre Royal or the local Greene
King Brewery? Make time to see the clocks in the remarkable ‘Face of Time'
gallery at Moyse's Hall Museum.
---------------------------------------------------
Voucher Offers
Check out the special offers, including 2 for 1 vouchers, at top
West Suffolk attractions: Ickworth House.
Train Offers
Newmarket Racing: Treat yourself and the family to a fun day out at the races - and
bag a bargain travelling by train. The all-inclusive offer includes train travel, coach
transfer to the racecourse and race entry. Check out our full listing of train offers
West Suffolk Stations
Bury St. Edmunds: One train per hour (with an easy change at Ipswich) from
London Liverpool Street (1 hour, 50 minutes). Newmarket and Brandon: One
train every two hours (with an easy change at Cambridge) from London Liverpool
Street (2 hours, 15 minutes).
Further Information:
Bury St. Edmunds - www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk
Newmarket - www.visitforestheath.co.uk
---------------------------------------------------
Quayside Living
Sitting at the head of the Orwell, one of Suffolk's
loveliest and most historic rivers - Ipswich is a fine
blend of ancient and modern.
The story of the town with its famous port can be
traced back to Saxon times, and its later medieval
prosperity is reflected in twelve beautiful churches
and stunning Tudor architecture. Former merchants'
homes and a magnificent Victorian Old Custom
House, combine with the chic, ultra-modern
buildings of the Waterfront, where you can linger in
quayside restaurants, bars and pavement cafés
overlooking the marina. Take a cruise on board
the Orwell Lady taking in Harwich Harbour and
the UK's largest container port at Felixstowe.
On a walking tour of the town, you will discover links with Charles Dickens and
Cardinal Wolsey, marvel at the richly decorated Ancient House, and admire a
20th C. Norman Foster masterpiece in gleaming black glass. Ipswich has over
1,000 acres of beautiful parkland, including Christchurch Park with its lavish Tudor
mansion housing an important collection of Constable and Gainsborough
paintings. Ipswich Museum and Ipswich Transport Museum reveal more about the
town's enthralling past.
---------------------------------------------------
Voucher Offers
Check out the special offers, including 2 for 1 vouchers, at top Ipswich
attractions: Blue Badge Guide Walking Tours and Open Top Bus Tours.
Ipswich Station
Three trains per hour (two on Sundays) from London Liverpool Street
(1 hour, 10 minutes).
Further Information: www.visit-ipswich.com
