Days Out in Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a medieval Suffolk town with fantastic features such as historical architecture, the Cathedral, plenty of shops, cafés and restaurants, plus the famous Bury St Edmunds Abbey, which is surrounded by the Abbey Gardens.
What's On Bury St Edmunds
Please click on the link above for a comprehensive month-by-month guide to What's On in Bury St Edmunds!
Please click on the link above for a comprehensive month-by-month guide to What's On in Bury St Edmunds!
For some more information on this wonderful town, please see our Guide to Bury St Edmunds.
Getting to Bury St Edmunds is easy, with many buses available from surrounding areas and trains from London taking roughly 2 hours, plus great connection routes for those driving.
From Bury St Edmunds Train Station there are hourly local trains to Cambridge and Ipswich and every second hour a semi-fast service runs to London Liverpool St (via Ipswich & Colchester) and to Ely & Peterborough. Two Ipswich-bound stopping trains are extended through to Harwich International.
The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, is a fantastic entertainment venue that opened in October 2010. They offer a wide range of entertainment including theatre, comedy and live music in the form of pop, rock, jazz, blues, world music and more. The venue is open daily, even on non-event days, for visitors to relax with a tea or coffee whilst taking in the sights of this stunning building. Please click on the link above for more information, including a guide to what's on.
Two festivals take place in May each year in Bury St Edmunds - The Fringe Festival - with loads of live entertainment in the form of comedy, music, dance, theatre & street performance - and the Bury St Edmunds Festival - a 17-day festival offering an exciting mix of contemporary and classical music, outdoor concerts, jazz, folk, opera, dance, film, poetry, comedy, walks, street theatre and much more.
For more information on these annual festivals, along with details of all festivals happening across Suffolk each year, please see Suffolk Festivals.
To see what the weather's up to please click here - Weather Forecast for Suffolk.
There are a number of things to do in Bury St Edmunds that would make great days out for all the family.
You could grab a tasty or arty treat from the Whelnetham Community Centre for their Craft and Farmers' Market that takes place every second Sunday of the month, and those of you that fancy a spot of shopping during your day out in Bury St Edmunds you will not be disappointed as the town is the main cultural and retail centre for West Suffolk!
The Just Traid Centre, is a not-for-profit association set up by local churches that includes a great shop and café selling produce from Fair Trade suppliers - the proceeds of which are given to nominated charities to assist in alleviating poverty in developing countries.
If walking, hiking, rambling and other outdoor activities sound too much like hard work for you, why not opt for a pampering day out in Bury St Edmunds instead? At the SK Clinic & Spa, you can indulge yourself in one of the many beauty and relaxation treatments on offer.
The Clinic provides a huge variety of treatments to choose from for both men and women, which include facials, massages, body wraps, hand & feet treats, Fake Bake tanning, make-overs, hot towel shaves, as well as luxurious treatment packages that can be completely customised by the client to suit their skin needs and concerns. Days out in Bury St Edmunds need not be a tiring experience!
Many do enjoy active days out, however, and there are many activities in Bury St Edmunds that will get you out and about in the fresh air.
Ickworth House, is a spectacular National Trust property open to visitors. Within this architectural oddity you will find a renowned collection of paintings, portraits, furniture and other treasures.
The estate offers a great day out for visitors including tours of the house, a vineyard and a children's play area.
The House is surrounded by beautiful Italianate gardens to be explored as well as acres of woodland and wildlife - perfect for long walks or a bike ride. The West Wing at Ickworth, has a lovely boutique gift shop and a fine restaurant that is open all day.
For more information on National Trust properties in Bury St Edmunds and across the whole of Suffolk please see The National Trust in Suffolk.
If history is of particular interest to you, just 7 miles north-east of Bury St Edmunds is the Pakenham Water Mill. The 18th Century Water Mill is open to the public. It is the only working Mill in the UK, and there is also a working Windmill in the parish of Pakenham. There is a Tea Room, located in the Miller's House, serving teas, coffees and home-made cakes. The Water Mill is a haven for wildlife and at the rear of the mill is a tranquil setting where you can walk, sit and enjoy a cup of tea and cake and watch the swans on the millpool. This historical landmark makes for a very popular day out for tourists, ramblers, school parties, local artists and families alike.
Another fascinating building that must be seen is Blackthorpe Barn.
This 16th Century thatched barn is now an art centre with summer programme of events that focus on classical music, visual arts, drama and crafts. The Barn is a magical place during the lead up to Christmas and features a Crafts Market with an eclectic mix of crafts, from traditional wood turning and gorgeous and practical wooden items, hand-made clothing and soft furnishings to totally unique and one-off jewellery designs, tasty food and many other glorious things that will catch your eye.
For a true taste of local heritage, a trip to the Greene King Visitor Centre, Bury St Edmunds, should be at the top of any Days Out list. Here you can visit the home of Abbot Ale, Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Ruddles County. There is a Museum that traces the history of brewing in and around Bury St Edmunds, take a guided tour of the Brew House, sample the variety of beers in the Brewery Tap and then visit the shop to buy gifts, souvenirs and - of course - cases of beer!
Why not continue your day out in Bury St Edmunds by taking in a play or a musical at the Theatre Royal? Built in 1819, the beautiful theatre is one of the three oldest playhouses in Britain and the only Theatre on the National Trust’s Portfolio of properties - well worth viewing in its own right.
You will have definitely worked up an appetite during you day out, and Bury St Edmunds offers a number of wonderful places to eat, drink and relax in.
Alternatively, choose from some traditional, local fare and refreshing real ales from one of the Pubs & Inns in Bury St Edmunds at any time during your day out - such as The Tollgate Inn or the The Black Boy Public House.
Please click here for our full list of Eating Out Options in Bury St Edmunds.
As there are so many things to do and see in Bury St Edmunds, you may be inclined to stay overnight. There are many great and unusual accommodation options to choose from, including -
Kiln Farm Guest House, provides comfortable bed and breakfast accommodation as well as a Caravan Club certified for touring caravans.
The Old Manse Barn is a modern self contained apartment with views over unspoilt countryside, plus a pre-stocked fridge with local, fresh continental breakfast to be enjoyed in your own time.
Gingell Cottage in nearby Thurston offers luxury cottage accommodation as a holiday let or B&B for virtually any duration, with facilities such as fishing, horse riding and walks through the nature reserve.
Those of you who enjoy the simple life of caravan accommodation, or the pleasures of sleeping rough in the great outdoors have The Dell Caravan Park.
Please see our full list of all Accommodation Options in Bury St Edmunds.
Hotels are an easy accommodation option if you are looking to spend two or more days out in Bury St Edmunds. Suffolk Hotel, Golf & Leisure complete with a leisure club with swimming pool, sauna, steam room and spa, is the ideal choice for fans of golf and leisure activities.
Please click here for our full list of Hotels in Bury St Edmunds.
Finally, after spending a day out in Bury St Edmunds, seeing the sights and partaking in the many things to do, you will see that the town is very romantic and would make a wonderfully memorable location for a wedding ceremony, reception or honeymoon. Please see Getting Married in Bury St Edmunds for more information, and click here for our full list of Wedding Services in Bury St Edmunds.
Please click here for our FULL LIST of Services in Bury St Edmunds.
