_Things not to miss when you visit Suffolk

If you’ve not been to Suffolk before and you’re hard-pressed for time, here’s the things you can’t miss out on.

Southwold

Take an Adnams Brewery/Distillery tour, play the ingeniously silly games on the Victorian pier, stroll down the High Street with its artisan food shops, boutiques and cafes, have a walk on the Common with its lovely sea views (okay, yes, and a 'golf ball' nuclear power station, we won’t lie, but it’s quite aesthetically pleasing), discover the Blackshore Harbour area with its fresh fish stalls, then take your pick of many fine Adnams’ pubs for lunch before an afternoon on the beach. Perfect.

Sutton Hoo

You’ve seen the film The Dig, now see the place it’s based on… the grave, with its fabulous ship and treasure, of an Anglo Saxon King on the River Deben at Sutton Hoo. The National Trust property has fabulous interpretation, great walks overlooking the river, and a high tower from which you can see the full extent of the burial site.

Spend some time in lovely riverside Woodbridge while you’re here with its Tide Mill and quirky Thoroughfare.

Ipswich Waterfront

Great at any time of the day, Ipswich’s Waterfront is best on a Summer’s evening with the sun going down, watching the reflections of the boats in the marina as you sip a cocktail or take an early supper in the many bars and restaurants, not least The Salthouse.

Lavenham

One of the best-preserved medieval towns in the country, Lavenham has higgledy-piggledy timber-framed buildings from a time when the wool trade made this area one of the richest in England. Find the house that featured in Harry Potter, and don’t miss the Little Hall, Guildhall of Corpus Christi, The Crooked House and the lavish Church of St Peter and St Paul.

Framlingham

Known as Fram to locals, this is a charming market town with laid-back appeal. Don’t miss the extraordinary St Michael church with its fine array of 16th century sculpture and English Heritage-managed Framlingham Castle. Yes, it’s a shell but the impressive crenelated walls are still intact, indeed you can take an aerial walk around them, and the interpretation is excellent. Oh, and Ed Sheeran wrote a song about it, Castle On The Hill. He grew up here.

Where can I find Ed Sheeran in Suffolk

Bury St Edmunds

Bury started out as a Benedictine monastery to accommodate the remains of Edmund, the last Anglo Saxon king of East Anglia who was martyred by Vikings and who was also the first patron saint of England until the Turkish imposter came along (dragons, really? Really?).

Along with the Abbey ruins, its lovely gardens and Cathedral, this lovely market town is now also known for its charming Georgian streets, Regency theatre, and eclectic shopping as well as its burgeoning restaurant scene. This is also Suffolk’s top-rated town for dogs! Book yourself on a friendly tour of the town with the acclaimed guides.

National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket

You’ll be lucky to be here for a race day at one of the town’s two racecourses, so head for the, to give it its full title, the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art, where you can learn about the town’s horseracing history and culture.

Built on the site of Charles II’s original palace, this is an impressive complex where you can dress up in racing silks and everyone can try the vigorous horse simulator. Take a tour with Discover Newmarket.

Aldeburgh

Well-heeled Aldeburgh is a small seaside town at the head of the River Alde and has a buzzy atmosphere of top quality restaurants, characterful pubs, ice cream parlours and fancy shops.

Don’t be put off by the long queues at the High Street’s main fish and chip shop – they’re queueing because of the quality of the product. Take your purchase and head off along the pebbled beach where you can see the daily fishing catch at the wooden shacks.

Take a tour of The Red House, the home of composer Benjamin Britten and his partner Peter Pears, and Aldeburgh Museum.

Constable Country

‘I associate my careless boyhood with all that lies on the banks of the Stour,’ wrote English painter John Constable and you can walk in his footsteps in the Dedham Vale, at Flatford Mill where he painted his most famous work The Hay Wain and the evocative Willy Lott’s Cottage, which features in the painting.

Where to find John Constable in Suffolk

Snape Maltings

Snape Maltings is home of the Aldeburgh Music Festival and the annual September food festival, possibly the best in the region, but it’s worth a visit at any time, enjoying the craft shops, galleries, food hall, café, Plough & Sail pub, and then taking a stroll through the reedbeds to the river. There’s a nice two mile walk to Iken church along the estuary.