History and Heritage Things To Do in Suffolk

The history and heritage of Suffolk is fascinating to discover, witnessed in its impressive range of castles, ancient sites, churches, museums and grand stately houses. History in Suffolk is never far away, from the architectural flight of fancy at Ickworth House, near Bury St Edmunds, to Sutton Hoo, close to Woodbridge, the site of one of the UK's greatest archaeological discoveries that reveals the lives of the Anglo Saxons in ancient Suffolk. The castles of Suffolk have also witnessed pivotal moments in English history, such as Framlingham Castle where Mary Tudor was declared the first ruling Queen of England.

With its rich agricultural heritage, Suffolk grew wealthy on wool and textiles during the Medieval era, and the trade shaped the beautiful architecture of towns like Lavenham, Sudbury and Long Melford. Elsewhere, the county's celebrated equestrian heritage still thrives in Newmarket, the international home of horseracing, and the Suffolk Punch Trust near the coast in the village of Hollesley. The Museum of East Anglian Life celebrates Suffolk's rich agricultural past, while Kentwell Hall brings the English history back to life with its re-creations of bygone eras. In the attractive market town of Bury St Edmunds, discover Georgian splendour at the fully refurbished Theatre Royal and the architectural magnificence of the town's cathedral.