Escape to Suffolk – it’s the perfect place to unwind
Unplug your busy daily life and enjoy peace and tranquillity in Suffolk, one of the country’s most unspoilt and beguiling counties.
Suffolk is a county of gentle landscapes, of rolling countryside and a wild and beautiful coast, of enormous skies and wide horizons. It’s a county with a proud agricultural and seafaring heritage, a fascinating history of industrial and military ingenuity, and of creative endeavour.
Suffolk is a place waiting to be explored. Spend some time here and you’ll discover the people who have made Suffolk so special. It’s the place that inspired artists like Constable, Gainsborough and Maggi Hambling; writers such as Arthur Ransome and Ruth Rendell; musicians such as Benjamin Britten and Ed Sheeran.
Be ready to embrace the great outdoors. Much of Suffolk’s charm comes from its wonderful natural treasures; its myriad walking routes, some of them as old as civilisation itself, and its fascinating nature and wildlife.
Pull on your walking boots, grab some binoculars and explore magnificent RSPB Minsmere on the coast, or stunning Carlton Marshes, a jewel in Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s diverse collection of nature reserves.
In Suffolk’s captivating market towns and picturesque villages, you’ll find cosy pubs and tea shops, eclectic high streets full of independent shops, interesting galleries, barns and old buildings stacked with antiques and collectables.
Ready for some action? There’s so much to keep you entertained. You can cycle Suffolk’s quiet country lanes, take to the water in a kayak. The Rivers Waveney, Stour, Orwell and Deben are among the most beautiful rivers in Britain.
When you’ve worked up an appetite you’ll be ready to sample some of the glorious food and drink for which Suffolk has a well-earned reputation. The county grows and rears some of the UK’s finest produce, and has some of the most talented chefs you’re likely to come across in its excellent restaurants and gastropubs.
So, plan your escape now. There are cosy country cottages, beautiful beach houses, stylish hotels, comfy B&Bs all waiting, where the welcome will be warm and the atmosphere relaxed.
5 places to visit in Suffolk in 2024
Southwold
The quintessential English seaside town has a charm all its own; quaint streets lined with fishermen’s cottages, sandy beaches and a promenade fringed with colourful beach huts. Visit the pier, the harbour, the lighthouse, the boating lake with its vintage tearoom. The perfect place for holidays and weekends away.
exploresouthwold.co.uk
Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds has a rich history stretching back 1,000 years. It was home to St Edmund, the original patron saint of England. Visit the magnificent cathedral and beautiful Abbey Gardens. Go shopping, take in a show at the Theatre Royal or Apex, and eat in one of the excellent restaurants.
visit-burystedmunds.co.uk
Constable Country
Few places are as evocative as the Stour Valley, where the painter John Constable was born, and grew up. Within the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, enjoy walking among the timeless rural landscape where he painted his most celebrated works.
dedhamvalestourvalley.org
Framlingham Castle
Surrounded by parkland and its mere, 11th century Framlingham Castle was once at the centre of a vast network of power and influence. Walk the spectacular walls behind which Mary Tudor was proclaimed Queen of England. There are breathtaking views of the Suffolk landscape. The castle hosts events throughout the year.
english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/framlingham-castle
Sutton Hoo
The Anglo-Saxon royal burial site and beautiful 255-acre estate is home to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. Visit the burial grounds and explore the exhibition where you can discover the incredible story of the ship burial of an Anglo-Saxon king and his treasured possessions.
nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo
This article appeared in the Great British Staycations magazine.
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