Saxmundham
Saxmundham is a Suffolk market town set in the valley of the River Fromus, a tributary of the River Alde. It is a fairly quiet town, perfect for visitors wanting to get away from the bustle of everyday life and spend some quality time relaxing in the beautiful Suffolk countryside.
There are many different things to see and do in and around Saxmundham. The town is well known for the successful market that is held every Wednesday. It is held in the Market Place just off the High Street. There is also a good range of shops in the town with a mixture of larger, national chain stores and smaller, more specialist shops.
Saxmundham also has its own Museum - see Saxmundham Museum
Nature lovers are able to visit the nearby Minsmere reserve, run by the RSPB. You will find beautiful nature trails here. You are able to hire binoculars to view the wildlife and there is a lovely tea room for a well earned drink after your walk. The reserve holds events throughout the year. See RSPB Minsmere
Nearby Snape Maltings is also worthy of a visit. This collection of buildings date from the mid 19th Century and is a mix of malthouses and granaries. They sit beside the River Alde and were used for malting local barley for the brewing industry until 1960. Since then, the site has been taken over by the Gooderham family who have restored it. You will now find a number of exhibitions within the Maltings. There are shops, galleries and the world famous concert hall where the annual Aldeburgh Music Festival is held.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of places to visit. The local villages of Leiston and Thorpeness hold more touristic treasures including Leiston Abbey, Thorpeness Meare and Thorpeness Windmill. A stay in Saxmundham is certain to help you relax and feel more like yourself again.
There are various options in the area for your accommodation; from family run Bed and Breakfasts to larger hotels. See Accommodation in Saxmundham
Satis House Hotel and Restaurant appeared in Great Expectations, and Charles Dickens was a regular visitor to the family owned owned it in the 19C. Today it is still well worth a visit either for just a meal or for a long stay in the Hotel. Also well worth a visit is The New Round House Restaurant which consistantly receives excellent reviews locally.
Eating Out in Saxmundham
See the Saxmundham Arts and Entertainment Festival for more details on this annual event that aims to foster an interest in all forms of artistic involvement, including the written word, acting, music, puppetry, painting, dance and much more.
