Suffolk

Suffolk is dotted with picturesque villages seemingly lost in time. The county made its money on the back of the medieval wool trade, and magnificent churches and lavish Tudor homes attest to its wealthy past. To the west are the picture-postcard villages of Lavenham and Long Melford. Further north, Bury St Edmunds ushers in historic buildings and a market-town vibe, while the appealing seaside resorts of Aldeburgh and Southwold overflow with genteel charm.

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Suffolk.

  • Historic Site

    Sutton Hoo

    Somehow missed by plundering robbers and left undisturbed for 1300 years, the hull of an enormous Anglo-Saxon ship was discovered here in 1939, buried…

  • Ruins

    Abbey Gardens

    Now a picturesque ruin in parkland behind the cathedral, Bury's once-mighty abbey still impresses despite the townspeople having made off with much of the…

  • Cathedral

    St Edmundsbury Cathedral

    The 45m-high tower of this cathedral was only completed in 2005 and is a vision in Lincolnshire limestone – its traditional Gothic-style construction…

  • Museum

    Gainsborough's House

    Thomas Gainsborough's atmospheric birthplace is now home to the world's largest collection of his work. The 16th-century house and gardens feature a…

  • Historic Building

    Kentwell Hall

    Gorgeous, turreted Kentwell Hall may date from the 1500s and be full of Tudor grandeur, but it's still used as a private home, lending it a wonderfully…

  • Nature Reserve

    Orford Ness

    Wind-whipped, remote Orford Ness is the largest vegetated shingle spit in Europe and was once used as a secret military testing ground; now it's a nature…

  • Nature Reserve

    Minsmere

    The coast near Dunwich draws ranks of birdwatchers, thanks to RSPB Minsmere. The reserve is home to one of England's rarest birds, the bittern, with…

  • Historic Building

    Theatre Royal

    A rare treat – Britain's only working Regency playhouse features ornate gilding, sweeps of boxes and a trompe l'oeil ceiling, all revealed on self-led …

  • Museum

    Moyse's Hall

    Set in an impressive 12th-century undercroft, Moyse's Hall's rarities include a locket containing some of Mary Tudor's hair, finds from the town's ruined…

  • Brewery

    Greene King Brewery & Beer Cafe

    They’ve been crafting beer in this brewery since 1799, now you'll find heritage displays and a 'Beer Cafe' stocking the on-site brews. Tours (11am and 2pm…

  • Historic Building

    Lavenham Guildhall

    Lavenham's most enchanting buildings are clustered along High St, Water St and around the unusually triangular Market Pl. They're dominated by this early…

  • Church

    St Peter & St Paul

    This late-Perpendicular structure seems to lift into the sky, with its beautifully proportioned windows, soaring flint tower and gargoyle waterspouts…

  • Castle

    Orford Castle

    The three square turrets and 18-sided drum design of this slender 12th-century structure not only make it highly unusual, but also very beautiful. It's…

  • Historic Building

    Melford Hall

    From outside, the romantic Elizabethan mansion of Melford Hall seems little changed since it entertained Queen Elizabeth I in 1578. Inside, there's a…

  • Historic Building

    Little Hall

    Caramel-coloured, 14th-century Little Hall museum was once home to a successful wool merchant. Inside, you'll see how the rooms of this medieval mini…

  • Brewery

    Adnams

    Spend an hour touring the high-tech kit inside this Victorian brewery, indulge in a 30-minute tutored tasting, then select a free bottle of beer to take…

  • Area

    Seafront & Pier

    Southwold's shore-front is its main attraction. Amble along the promenade, admire the squat 19th-century lighthouse, then drop by the 190m-long pier,…

  • Public Art

    Scallop

    Maggi Hambling's sculpture commemorates Aldeburgh’s links with the 20th-century composer Benjamin Britten, who spent much of his life in the town. It…

  • Church

    St Mary's Church

    St Mary's is one of the largest parish churches in England, and it contains the tomb of Mary Tudor – Henry VIII's sister and a one-time queen of France…

  • Church

    Holy Trinity

    Magnificent Holy Trinity is more cathedral- than church-sized, a spectacular example of a 15th-century wool church. The stained-glass windows and flint…