The crowds have gone, the days have drawn in, the weather’s a little chillier, but there’s still something magical about days out in Suffolk… especially if you’re on the hunt for unique festive gifts with a bit of history thrown in.
Bury St Edmunds
The jewel in Suffolk’s destination crown, Bury St Edmunds is dog-friendly and listed as one of Britain’s top 20 foodie hot spots by The Telegraph – this is Suffolk’s Foodie Capital.
While away a day under the Christmas lights exploring the 200 stores that line picturesque medieval streets and elegant Georgian squares, with lots of independent shops offering unique festive gifts alongside High Street brands.
Take a look at the Bury St Edmunds & Beyond website for details of Christmas shows, award-winning pantomime, meet and greets with Santa, Christmas light trails, and festive markets.
Oh, and if you really to get under the skin of the town, then take a tour with the Bury St Edmunds guides that will take in the Abbey Gardens and St Edmundsbury Cathedral. They’re brilliant.
Walberswick and Dunwich
If you’re after ruggedness with a chilling North Sea breeze, this is for you. Park up at Walberswick and take a walk along the sandy beach and then across boardwalks through the marshes to Dunwich.
Once one of the busiest and biggest ports in medieval England, two storms sank the town into the depths of Sole Bay and all that now remains is a single street, ruins of an abbey and shingle beach. Have lunch at The Ship Inn and take a look inside the tiny museum where there’s a diorama of the town in its pomp.
Back in Walberswick watch the families trying to catch crabs at Wally’s Bridge before perusing the shops around the village green.
Ickworth
Set in more than 1800 acres of parkland and gardens, with a new all-weather path to enjoy them from, Ickworth House is the place for tranquil strolls and bike rides.
To warm up, head into one of the cafes for a hot chocolate and then into the Rotunda to see Ickworth’s array of treasures. Being a National Trust property, the shop will give you lots of Christmas gift inspiration.
And for the festive period, the house and gardens will come alive with trails and shows, and there’ll be themes of travel, traditions and storytelling with colourful Wintry scenes from across the Continent.
Snape Maltings
There’ll be Christmas festivities aplenty at Snape Maltings where you can indulge in serious retail therapy in a wide range of independent shops including house and garden, homeware, clothing, ceramics, arts and crafts and Suffolk food and drink.
Have snacks or a meal in the restaurants or pub to fortify you before you explore the fabulous nearby natural landscapes, including a circular loop through Snape Warren and a wonderful riverside walk to Iken Church.
Wool Towns and Gainsborough’s House
Taking in some of the most beautiful scenery of Suffolk, enjoy a tour that includes Kersey, Long Melford, Clare, Cavendish with its ‘Suffolk Pink’ cottages and the piece de resistance, Lavenham where you can stop for Christmas shopping in some exquisite independent shops and maybe pop in for lunch or a cream tea at The Swan Inn.
If you’re on this route, don’t miss the revamped Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, birthplace of the renowned British painter and home for many of his oil paintings, works on paper and artefacts, as well as housing a new exhibition space.
Southwold
It may look as if it was set in aspic in 1953, but the picturesque seaside town of Southwold is a vibrant place to spend a day, with fabulous independent shops, cafes and delis on the High Street. While you’re here you can take a tour of Adnams’ Brewery and Distillery, or the iconic Lighthouse, and you must head along the Victorian pier and enjoy the very silly amusements in the Under The Pier show.
Head down to Blackshore Harbour where you can take a ferry row boat to picturesque Walberswick (there’s also a bridge further downriver), enjoy refreshments in the cafes or pub, and definitely buy some fabulous shellfish or seafood to take home for supper.
Ipswich
Ipswich will put on its glad rags for the festive season with Christmas lights across the town and Christmas trees on the Waterfront and in the Cornhill.
While in the town look out for the 15th century Ancient House and its decorative pargeting, look out for statues of Cardinal Wolsey and Carl Gile’s beloved Grandma, and stretch your legs in Christchurch Park and head into the Tudor mansion to see the biggest collection of Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable paintings outside of London.
You’ll need to book but look out for the brand new Illuminate festive light trail at Holywells Park just off the town centre. The trail will feature a food and drinks court located half way round, offering a diverse selection of sweet treats, hot food, and a selection of beverages including mulled wine.
Depending on tastes, visit the nearby Suffolk Food Hall overlooking the Orwell River and bridge, or go to Jimmy’s Wildlife Park and Farm, which has a superb range of exotic animals, not least a group of polar bears in 14 acres of tundra.
Framlingham
One of the loveliest market towns in Suffolk, Framlingham has a wide range of independent shops focused around the market place itself. It’s a great place to mooch around for a while, maybe have refreshments in one of the cafes, restaurants and pubs like The Crown or Castle Inn. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the days to visit for the actual market.
Of course, the highlight here is the imposing English Heritage Framlingham Castle, surrounded by parkland and a picturesque mere. Summon up your courage and take the spectacular wall walk to admire stunning views of the town and countryside before exploring the centuries of history of this superb construction in the interactive exhibition.
Woodbridge and Sutton Hoo
Woodbridge isn’t just a pretty riverside market town, it also has one of the most vibrant pedestrianised High Streets in the county with lots of interesting stores and independent shops… oh, and quite a few great cafes and pubs. Make sure you visit the Tide Mill Museum by the River Deben.
Head off to National Trust Sutton Hoo to explore the inspiration for the Netflix film The Dig that starred Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes and Lily James, telling the true story of amateur archaeologist Basil Brown who uncovered the amazing burial ship and treasure of Anglo Saxon King Raedwald.
The treasure is now in London but there’s lots to see here about Anglo Saxon life, scale the observation tower to get views of the whole burial site and walk the parkland to get a sight of the Deben and Woodbridge way below you.
Aldeburgh and Thorpeness
There’s lots of independent shopping to be done on Aldeburgh High Street but, let’s face it, it’s the fish and chips you’ve come for. Buy them on the main thoroughfare and then take a walk along the picturesque seafront, find a spot to sit and tuck in.
Also alongside the shingle beach, you can discover the Martello Tower from the Napoleonic Wars, the Aldeburgh Museum at the Moot Hall, Maggi Hambling’s Scallop installation and take a look at the seafood and shellfish that the fishermen have brought in.
You can’t be in this neck of the woods without visiting Thorpeness, the vision of architect, playwright and lawyer Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie who built a fairytale holiday village of part timber framed mock Tudor and Jacobean houses around a 3 foot deep, 64 acre artificial lake called The Meare. Ogilvie was a friend of JM Barrie and the lake’s islands have Peter Pan themes.