Out & About
Discover… Bury St Edmunds
Where the past meets the present, and a plateful of the finest Suffolk fayre is never hard to find
With over 1,000 years of history to share, including impressive abbey ruins; Suffolk’s sole cathedral; and the only surviving Regency playhouse in Britain, the market town of Bury St Edmunds is an ideal break for lovers of all things yesteryear. Haled as Suffolk’s foodie town, it’s also a fantastic place to tuck in to a variety of top notch nosh – not to mention the allure of the town’s two breweries.
What to see and do
No matter the time of year, a visit to Bury St Edmunds isn’t complete without a stroll through the beautiful Abbey Gardens. With the abbey ruins providing a dramatic backdrop, this mix of floral displays and attractions such as crazy golf, an aviary and a children’s play area will keep everyone happy.
The Arc Shopping centre is also a great place to start exploring the town. With a large car park, plenty of shopping outlets and eateries, and home to the fabulous Apex theatre. From here you can expand your trip and explore what the historic streets have to offer.
Lunch
After exploring the cobbled streets and shops, sate your hunger at Pea Porridge, a delightfully laid back and cosy neighbourhood restaurant which is conveniently tucked away next to Old Cannon Brewery – why not squeeze in a brewery tour after you eat?
Once a bakery, with its original bread oven still in place, the two 19th century cottages now comprise three charming dining rooms. Prioritising local, seasonal produce, Pea Porridge serves up a unique menu of European, British and Middle Eastern dishes and a selection of rare wines that you won’t find in Tesco.
Drinks
The Nutshell is one of the smallest pubs in the country, measuring just 15ft by 7ft. Obviously, at the moment this makes it a hard place to social distance in, but luckily they are now able to offer an outdoor table service.
Serving some of the region’s finest ales and boasting a quirky bar full of memorabilia and historical items, this is certainly one place to put on the ‘to visit’ list when times are more normal once again.
Stay the night
The Angel Hotel
This striking Georgian, ivy-clad boutique hotel is famous within the town for its connection to Charles Dickens, who stayed here several times throughout his life and even mentioned the hotel in The Pickwick Papers. Situated right in the centre of Bury St Edmunds, inside you’ll find an eclectic contrast of comfy contemporary design with touches of exotic grandeur. All rooms are en-suite, with some featuring elegant freestanding copper baths. Downstairs, The Angel Eaterie restaurant has a well-deserved reputation for fine dining. They also serve afternoon teas and host regular wine nights.
