Places to visit in Suffolk

Start your Suffolk adventure in Bury St Edmunds, with a snoop inside the skeletal ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund – one of the most impressive places to visit in Suffolk. If its stones could talk, they’d tell tales of martyred kings and Tudor queens, and how this was the most powerful Benedictine monastery in England. Join a tour with Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides and explore its rose- and herb-gardens.

Step inside the home of one of the UK’s best-loved pub brands, Greene King. Founded in 1799, Westgate Brewery is designed so that gravity transfers ingredients down one floor to the next at each stage of the brewing process. On a tour, you’ll head up to the brewhouse roof for spectacular views across the town, and enjoy a tutored tasting of its most popular tipples. For beer lovers, this is one of the top things to do in Suffolk.

For this evening’s entertainment, you have two options – the first of which is a show at the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Britain’s only remaining Regency playhouse. This elegant spot was established more than 200 years ago, but its stand-up, musicals and plays are right up to date. It also offers behind-the-scenes tours, if you’ve ever fancied treading the boards yourself!

Do you dare to meet the Grey Lady? She’s just one of the many fearsome ghouls that haunt Bury St Edmunds: this old town is positively overrun with spectres, as you’ll learn on a Ghostly & Macabre Tour – the spookiest of Suffolk attractions. It meets by moonlight on evenings throughout winter and spring, for 90 minutes of chilling stories and local legends. 

What do Angelina Jolie, Pierce Brosnan and Charles Dickens have in common? They’ve all stayed at The Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds, an award-winning boutique guesthouse and restaurant. It’s located in the heart of Bury St Edmunds, overlooking the abbey (and perfectly placed for other Suffolk attractions), and its Georgian facade is absolutely covered in ivy. You should stay here tonight – it’s spectacular.

One of the first vineyards in England, Wyken Vineyard was planted in 1988 – and today its vines are large, lustrous and laden with fruit. The estate offers tours from 11am, with tutored tastings for non-drivers – featuring its award-winning Bacchus and Moonshine vintages. If you’re behind the wheel, worry not: you can buy bottles of Wyken’s wine (and beer) in the vineyard shop.

Looking for foodie things to do in Suffolk? At Forage Kitchen you’ll discover the natural bounty of fruits, herbs and vegetables in the region’s forests and hedgerows – and how to use them in your cooking. Its expert guides and chefs host foraging workshops and seasonal pop-ups; there’s also a private dining room with an open kitchen for deliciously wild dining.

Once one of the richest towns in the country thanks to its thriving wool trade, Lavenham in Suffolk is thought to be the best-preserved medieval town in England. Explore its quirky crooked houses and winding streets lined with more than 300 listed buildings – many of which now house boutique shops and cute cafes.

At first glance, Kentwell Hall looks absolutely charming: one of England’s finest moated Tudor houses, with more than 25 acres of parkland to explore. But it’s also home to Scaresville (every October) – featuring a haunted village and live-action zombies. Indeed, Kentwell’s events and festivals line-up is impressive year-round: think Tudor craft workshops, outdoor cinema, treasure hunts and much more. 

It’s been a busy two days, so take some time out this evening with a Twilight Spa session at Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa – tonight’s hotel. You can arrive any time from 4pm, to relax in its swimming pool, sauna and steam room, and kick back in the outdoor hot tubs. Why not make a night of it with a light supper and bubbly in your bathrobe?

Start your day early at the legendary Sutton Hoo, one of England’s greatest archaeological discoveries. This Anglo-Saxon royal burial site has ancient weapons and treasures to pore over, several walking trails through its peaceful woodlands (including wheelchair-accessible options), and a 17-metre viewing tower for a bird’s-eye view of the 7th-century burial mounds. One of the most intriguing places to visit in Suffolk.

On the banks of the River Deben, the market town of Woodbridge is a charming spot for shopping, waterside walks and coffee overlooking the yacht harbour. Before you travel, become a “friend” of the Tide Mill: there are only two in Britain, and this is the oldest. The £10 fee buys you entry and the opportunity to buy its own mill-ground flour, a treat for all bakers and chefs. 

Pop into Pump Street Bakery in Orford for lunch: it’s the kind of cafe whose stands are piled high with almond croissants, crunchy sourdough, fluffy doughnuts and more. All are baked fresh every day: this place is surely one of the best-smelling places to visit in Suffolk! Pump Street is also famous for its artisan chocolate bars, which feature premium cocoa from all over the world – and its two passions collide in this superb cafe. 

Once a military weapons testing site, now a nature reserve, Orford Ness is a conservation success story – and one of the most intriguing (and Instagrammable) places to visit in Suffolk. Take the ferry across the River Ore, looking out for seals and porpoises, then follow one of the three walking trails through the wilderness. Learn more about Orford Ness’ dark past at Laboratory 1, Black Beacon and its ‘The Island of Secrets’ exhibition.

Distilled in small batches in a studio overlooking the sea, Fishers Gin is created from coastal botanicals and foraged wild herbs – and has become one of Suffolk’s most award-winning tipples. At its distillery in Aldeburgh, behind-the-scenes tours reveal gin’s colourful history, how it is made and the best ways to drink it – with a chance to taste (if you’re not driving) a tot or two for yourself.

From its lobster pot-style lampshades to the menu of local seafood, every inch of The Suffolk Sur-Mer in Aldeburgh oozes coastal cool. Check in for the next two nights, before heading for dinner up on the rooftop: a glorious spot for aioli prawns and smoked mussels, one of the most sought-after places to visit in Suffolk. Post-dinner, take a stroll along the beach to Maggi Hambling's brilliantly eccentric Scallop sculpture.

The cherry on the cake of today’s things to do in Suffolk is a live performance at Snape Maltings, whose concert hall was founded by composer Benjamin Britten. From classical recitals to contemporary ensembles (and everything in-between), its line-up changes year-round – and its setting is equally spectacular, beside the peaceful River Alde. In summer, also check what’s on at Thorington Theatre, an outdoor amphitheatre built in a Second World War bomb crafter.

The wide golden sands of  are your first stop this morning, for a sea-breezy walk along the shore and Edwardian pier, and maybe even an ice cream – why not? Look out for the colourful sea glass on the beach: each shard’s sharp edges have been smoothed by the waves into collectible nuggets. One of the best beaches in Suffolk. 

Tuck into super-fresh fish and chips at Sole Bay Fish Co in Southwold, or visit its smokehouse to try home-smoked local delicacies. Its gourmet platters are the stuff of Southwold legend: order the half-lobster with all the trimmings (it also comes with mussels, crevettes, whelks, prawns and crayfish tails – and chips), then head to the beach for a finger-licking feast.

The home of one of Suffolk’s best-loved gins, Adnams Copper House Distillery offers behind-the-scenes tours where you can learn how its famous spirit is made. Book on the 3.15pm tour, which is followed by a cocktail-making masterclass. Adnam’s in-house mixologist reveals the best ways to mix, muddle and quaff its gins, sharing new drinks recipes to add to your repertoire. For foodies, this is one of the top things to do in Suffolk. 

Hop on board Coastal Voyager’s Southwold coast cruise, for your chance to spot porpoises and seals in the wild. With the wind in your hair, you’ll head out from Southwold Harbour on a high-speed boat, whipping over the waves on a thrilling adventure. It’s the perfect finale to your east coast trip: this wild coastline is one of the best places to visit in Suffolk.