Out & About
Discover Saxmundham
Escape the hustle and bustle in this peaceful Suffolk market town with easy links to nearby attractions
Set in the valley of the River Fromus, Saxmundham is a historic market town nestled amongst the Suffolk countryside. Many of the town’s shops and houses are Georgian and Victorian, with some even dating back to the Elizabethan era, giving visitors the sense of stepping back in time. With a long-running (think 1272!) market held every Wednesday and a bustling high street filled with independent shops, cafes and the area’s only Waitrose, there’s plenty to browse. One of the best ways to see the whole town and its landmarks is the Saxmundham Town Trail, an easy 1-2 hour meander that starts at the railway station.
What to see and do
Saxmundham has its very own museum, which is located on the high street and is open from Easter through to October. It provides a charming insight into the town’s past, when Saxmundham played host to the Suffolk Show and was an important staging post between London and Great Yarmouth.
Fancy visiting a real life secret garden? Head to The Walled Garden nursery in nearby Benhall. Surrounded by large trees, this pretty one-acre garden is lovely to wander round, while the attached garden centre has everything the green-fingered could ever wish to find.
With great access by rail and road, Saxmundham also acts as a gateway for visiting many of the nearby attractions along the coast such as Snape Maltings, Leiston Abbey, Thorpeness Windmill, Aldeburgh and RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve.
The last is the perfect place to bring the whole family for a stroll through gorgeous woodland, wetland and coastal scenery, all while keeping an eye out for the reserve’s many species of resident wildlife.
Lunch
In need of a bite to eat? Vela combines an art gallery and cafe bar, providing a gemütliche (cosy) atmosphere to enjoy art, German food, German beer and artisan coffee. There‘s a sunny courtyard too so you can soak up the spring air while you snack on some Bratwurst.
Dinner
The Bell at Sax is known for serving ‘good food at good prices’. With seasonal menus packed with local produce, this is proper homecooked comfort food at its finest. Best of all, families are warmly welcomed, as are dogs in the bar area.
Stay the night
Happy Days Retro Vacations
Looking to stay somewhere a little different? Happy Days Retro Vacations is just the ticket. This small, tree-lined garden campsite is home to seven vintage American trailers (five Airstreams, an Avion and a Streamline) plus a vintage British caravan, affectionately known as Elsie. Each of these unique accommodations sleeps between 4-5 people, and there are also four additional camping pitches if you want to bring your own tent or camper. There’s a fantastic kids’ play area complete with giant trampoline and a 1950s army truck. The toilet and shower block offer family shower rooms. Classic films are shown in the onsite cinema (the wood clad Red Shed) twice a week.
