Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk, set on the River Orwell, and is one of the oldest towns in England. Soaked in history, and with plenty of places to eat, drink, shop, and visit!
Ipswich
Category: Visit
Suffolk is undoubtedly a county for tourists. But the range of places to visit here is much wider than anything that could be associated with the phrase ‘tourist trap’. When out visiting places in Suffolk you’ll find far more wide open spaces than busy roads. Here are just a small handful of the places in Suffolk that we love to visit. Scroll down the page until you find something that tickles your fancy, then click the title for more information.
Thorpeness
Thorpeness is a fairytale inspired holiday village that was dreamt up and created by the Ogilvie family in the early 1900’s. In the heart of the village is a Peter Pan themed boating lake, plus several places to eat and an emporium.
What to do in Pin Mill
Beautiful, unspoilt and quintessentially English: Pin Mill is a gorgeous Suffolk landmark frozen in time. Nestled in the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) this tiny hamlet on the banks of the river Orwell has remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of years: a collection of cottages set against stunning shoreline and ancient forest all centred around the world famous 17th century Butt and Oyster pub. Enjoying the view and talking in the landscape with a walk through the fields and along the coast is one of the undisputed highlights of any trip to Pin Mill, but this special place has a whole lot more to offer than that…
A1120: The Suffolk tourist trail
Suffolk is a beautiful and historic county, steeped in quintessentially English countryside, picturesque villages and sleepy coastal towns. It is only natural to want to see the whole thing but at nearly 4000km2, exploring it can be a slightly daunting prospect. If you are planning on getting around by car then thankfully there is a road that cuts through the heart of this county, passing some of its most loved landmarks and letting you drink it all in via a whole host of ancient paths, medieval churches and award winning restaurants: the A1120.
Reasons to holiday in Suffolk
Britain is a land of diverse wonders and breathtaking beauty. We are lucky to have a lot packed into to our small island nation; a landscape of rolling hills, lush forests and mountain peaks sit on this little lump of land surrounded by the Atlantic ocean. The variety on offer is reason enough for so many holiday makers choose to Britain as the destination for their getaways, and whilst there are an infinite amount of attractions on offer in metropolises like London or Edinburgh it is the small town charm and rural beauty of Suffolk that means this county is one of England’s hidden gems.
RSPB Minsmere
RSPB Minsmere is a fabulous popular destination for twitchers and non-twitchers alike
There’s tons to see (and hear) with stunning coastal scenes accompanied by rare birds breeding and calling in on their annual migrations. There are also otters to be seen in the reedbeds if you look carefully and a plethora of wild flowers and plants
It’s a great place all year round and the visitors centre is free, with helpful staff and volunteers. They also have a great little RSPB shop and café, serving teas and light meals using locally sourced ingredients. There’s also their Discovery Centre and Wild Zone for families, and they have guided walks throughout the year
Suffolk Coast and Heaths – AONB
One of England’s designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
We are lucky enough to have two AONB’s in Suffolk! See our other post here on the Dedham Vale AONB
Back to the coastal one! This stretches all the way from Lowestoft down to the River Sour, meeting up with the Dedham Vale, providing us with stunning heathland, reed beds, salt-marsh and mud-flats
It’s landscape also features the estuaries of five Suffolk rivers; four of which we named Barns after here at Woodfarm; Alde, Deben, Orwell and Stour, as well as the river Blyth
Dedham Vale: Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
We are very fortunate to have not one but two of Englands 33 AONB’s right on our doorstep. Lots of rambling meadows, rolling fields and abundant open marshland, many of which are recognised the world over as ‘Constable Country’ with nearby Flatford and Dedham, arguably being the jewel in the crown of this beautiful area.
Continue reading Dedham Vale: Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Bury St Edmunds: Theatre Royal
The Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds was built in 1819; this beautifully restored Regency theatre is Grade 1 listed, and is the only theatre to be owned by the National Trust.
Lavenham: Art Gallery, Lavenham Contemporary
Lavenham Contemporary is a modern gallery at the end of the high street in Lavenham, showcasing the beautiful work of Paul Evans, one of the most successful landscape artists in the UK.
Continue reading Lavenham: Art Gallery, Lavenham Contemporary