Suffolk Day – 21 June 2024

We may be biased but we just love everything about Suffolk. From the beautiful landscapes and the stunning coast to its historical attractions, market towns and more, Suffolk offers something for everyone. We’re so incredibly lucky to work and live in such a stunning county, and our team really makes the most of their days off. For Suffolk Day, we’ve put together our team’s top Suffolk spots to enjoy with their families.

Read on to discover more….

Aldeburgh

The coastal town of Aldeburgh is certainly a favourite with many holidaymakers, and it’s taken the top spot for both our Owner Experience Team Leader, Taylor and our Maintenance Operative, Stu.

Located within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Aldeburgh is a great place to visit for a holiday in the UK. Renowned for its fish and chips, beautiful shingled beach and a bustling high street full of independent shops, pubs, restaurants, galleries, a golf course and more, Aldeburgh offers something for everyone. It’s also home to one of Britain’s oldest cinemas.

Stu’s favourite place in Aldeburgh is the seafront. For him, there is nothing in the world like the old smokehouses on the beach. Passing the taste of the smoked fish is amazing, and the staff are always so polite and happy to chat about the history of the smokehouse and Aldeburgh.

Not originally from Suffolk, Aldeburgh was always a firm favourite for Taylor and her family and one of the reasons they decided to move to the county. As a baby, Taylor’s daughter loved visiting Aldeburgh and to this day it’s still her favourite place to go. She loves to run on the stones, go for fish and chips and then get an ice cream from Harris and James. Sounds like the perfect day!

To find out more about Aldeburgh and why it should be on your must-visit destination list, read our Aldeburgh area guide.

Bury St Edmunds

Often described as a jewel in Suffolk’s crown is the market town of Bury St Edmunds – and it’s certainly a destination that stands out for our Experience Manager, Becky!

Bury St Edmunds has a wealth of history to explore, with links to the Magna Carta as well as the town having a cathedral. One of Becky’s favourite places is Abbey Gardens. Located in the heart of the town, it has the Abbey ruins to explore, beautiful flower displays, a play area for little ones, and lots of green space to enjoy a picnic, while taking in the beautiful surroundings.

The Theatre Royal and The Apex offer a diverse programme of events throughout the year. Becky is a regular visitor, having seen Mumford and Sons, The Proclaimers, as well as the much-anticipated Panto many times.

But that’s not all. There are many great food and drink options to enjoy whilst in Bury St Edmunds and on the outskirts, too. Becky recommends the following:

• For a unique experience – www.ice.restaurant
• For something special – peaporridge.co.uk
• For the most amazing breakfast – gastrono-me.co.uk
• With her overall favourite pub being – theonebull.co.uk – Becky describes it as great drinks, great food and a great atmosphere – what more could you want?

To find out more about Bury St Edmunds, check out our Bury St Edmunds area guide.

Dunwich and Iken

Dunwich holds many great memories for our Quality Assurance Manager, Tamar. Once the capital of East Anglia, Tamar has been visiting Dunwich since she was a young child, and it’s still her favourite place in Suffolk, and was one of Pig’s too.

It has centuries of fascinating history, as well as multiple local myths and ghost stories, all of which you can find at the local museum. Tamar enjoys being able to venture out for miles and miles of stunning walks across the coastline, woodlands, heathlands, and fields. Whatever the weather, Tamar says it is an incredible place to explore, especially when you have your dog by your side! Her favourite way to spend a day off is visiting Dunwich, exploring new paths and areas for hours, before eventually stopping at the locally renowned pub or tea rooms for much needed refreshments, all of which are dog friendly, so your four-legged friend doesn’t have to miss out.

Coming in a close second is Iken. Pig would love a long walk exploring Tunstall Woods and then venturing over to Iken; otherwise start at Snape Maltings for a gentler stroll to the riverbanks and small sandy beach area. When the tide is in, and the sun is shining, you get beautiful waters, and scenery, whereby you can go kayaking (available to hire in the area), paddleboarding, or swimming. Tamar has spent many summer days relaxing on the sandy shore while her partner and Pig play in the waters to cool off, or they kayak downriver towards Aldeburgh. Sounds ideal!

Felixstowe

The traditional seaside town of Felixstowe is our Owner Experience Executive, Kyrah’s top destination in Suffolk. Great for a day out with family and friends, Kyrah says she always has the best time when she visits Felixstowe. One of her favourite things to do is getting fish and chips (you can’t not when by the sea), and taking them to the viewpoint, where sometimes you’ll be able to spot some of the largest container ships in the world.

With so much to see and do in Felixstowe, it really is a great day out for all. Kids and grownups can enjoy a day at the beach, building sandcastles, jumping waves and playing in the arcades. With fairground rides, mini golf, shopping in the town and a wonderful array of eateries, Felixstowe has it all. There’s even a Sunday market, Landguard Fort Nature Reserve to explore and for those visiting with children, a stop at Martello Park is a must.

Visit during the spring and summer months and you can enjoy some great views from the Ferris Wheel. There’s also the Spa Pavilion for those who love to watch live music and shows. Why not find out more about Felixstowe and our stylish places to stay in the area?

Leiston and Thorpeness

Our Regional Marketing Manager, Matt’s favourite Suffolk spots are Leiston and its surrounding area. Matt’s favourite thing about the area is the walking opportunities available, which he loves to enjoy with his four-legged companion, Nelson. It’s home to the oldest purpose-built cinema in Suffolk and has the 14th Century remains of Leiston Abbey, as well as a high street offering a good range of shops and restaurants. Matt is also a keen golfer, and with both Thorpeness and Aldeburgh golf courses nearby – it’s every golfer’s dream.

Located in the heart of the Suffolk Heritage Coast, Leiston is close to the fairy tale village of Thorpeness and the coastal town of Aldeburgh – both high on Matt’s places to go, with Thorpeness being another of Matt’s favourite places to spend a day. With its charm, iconic House in the Clouds and Meare, with Peter Pan themed islands, when in Suffolk, a trip to Thorpeness is highly recommended. There’s even miniature golf, an antique store and a number of eateries. Thorpeness also offers some great walks and cycle rides.

Why not find out more in our area guide?

Walberswick and Southwold

Our Business Development Manager, Hannah, gets to visit so many local local places when out and about recruiting our stylish places to stay, but Walberswick and Southwold take the top spot for her.

Starting off in Walberswick, Hannah recommends either walking along the harbour over the footbridge or taking the foot ferry across to neighbouring Southwold. When in Southwold, there are so many highlights to enjoy – Hannah’s top picks are:

• A visit to the Sole Bay/Little Fish and Chip Shop – Tucking into their delicious fish and chips whilst watching the boats go by in the harbour – it doesn’t get much better than this
• Take a long loop walk around Southwold, along the sand dunes towards Gun Hill. You’ll find some wonderful beachfront cafes to enjoy for tasty drinks, ice creams or a light bite.
• Taking a walk along the pier – all 190 meters of it, is a must. The view, when looking back at the town, is simply stunning, and you’ll be able to spot Southwold’s lighthouse standing in all its glory. The lighthouse stands at 31 meters tall and it is still a working lighthouse to guide vessels navigating the East Coast.
• Visit the high street and mooch around the wonderful array of shops whilst sampling a Harris and James gelato.
• Head to one of the fabulous pubs in the town and sample the local Adnams delights. Or, with the local brewery in the town, why not take an Adnams tour?
• Then, walk through the common enjoying the views on offer, back to the harbour and across back to Walberswick.

If you love to watch the sunset, Southwold harbour offers the perfect play to enjoy this.

Perfect for couples, families and, of course, four-legged friends, why not find out more about Southwold in our area guide?

Woodbridge

If she had to pick our Senior Owner Experience Executive, Vicki’s favourite Suffolk destination would be Woodbridge. This riverside market town has it all and offers a great family day out. From fantastic walks, beautiful scenery and a fabulous high street full of independent shops and cafes to local history, a cinema and more, there’s plenty to do when in Woodbridge.

One of Vicki’s favourite things is to walk from the train station, along the River Deben to the Woodbridge Museum. If you’re visiting with children, there are some great play areas for them to play in. Elmhurst Park, close to the high street, offers a wheelchair-accessible climbing frame.

Woodbridge isn’t too far from the Best of Suffolk HQ in Badingham, so it’s often a favourite destination for a team get-together.

Venture just outside of Woodbridge, and you’ll find the Anglo-Saxon burial ground of Sutton Hoo. From soaking up its history and woodland walks to enjoying the far-reaching views across the River Deben, a visit to Sutton Hoo offers a great day out.

Find out more about Woodbridge and view our stylish places to stay.

With so much to see and do in Suffolk, our stylish places to stay offer the perfect retreat after a busy day exploring. Whether you’re looking for a cosy cottage for two, a family holiday or a large cottage for a big get together, view our stylish places to stay and start planning your Suffolk break.