LOCAL AREA GUIDE
Places to visit and things to do!
Visit Suffolk and the East of England for royal estates, historical architecture, expansive wetlands, and a vast network of lakes and rivers. Home to many of England’s swanky coastal towns and some of the most impressive country manor estates, there’s plenty to do in the East of England. Travel through England’s history with some of the country’s best-preserved Roman remains, Norman motte-and-bailey castles, and Tudor keeps. For those who aren’t history buffs, there’s also relaxing spa breaks, live music festivals, diverse wildlife and great shopping trips to enjoy.
CAMBRIDGE
There’s something for everyone when it comes to entertainment in Cambridge. You can go punting on the River Cam, enjoy a picnic in the park, join a walking tour of the city or explore further afield from the seat of a bicycle following the excellent network of cycle paths in and around the city.
King’s College Chapel is celebrated for its choral services including the famous A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, broadcast live by the BBC to the nation and across the globe on Christmas Eve. If you have a chance to hear the sublime Choir of King’s College, you will be enchanted. Choral Evensong is sung here most days during term time, as it is in many other college chapels – all free and open to everyone.
As well as the free-to-enter University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, which houses world-class collections of art and antiquities spanning centuries and civilisations, and Kettle’s Yard, one of the country’s finest galleries and a major centre for 20th century and contemporary art, visitors will find a wide range of artworks, sculpture trail walks and galleries to appreciate.
Theatre lovers will delight in the range of performances on offer, from student theatre to touring and West End shows. Come summer, Cambridge is buzzing with al fresco performances of music in the parks and green spaces as part of the annual Summer in the City programme of events.
Punting in Cambridge: Scudamores Let’s Go Punting
BURY ST EDMUNDS
Surrounded by countryside with 1,000 years of history to explore, Bury St Edmunds is the home of Saint Edmund, the original patron Saint of England.
In Medieval times, The Abbey of St Edmund was one of the richest, largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England and people came from all over Europe to visit St Edmund’s Shrine. The Abbey was dissolved in 1539 and Edmund’s final resting place is a great mystery; some believe he is buried somewhere within the Abbey precincts!
Bury St Edmunds is known as Suffolk’s foodie town with everything from award-winning fine dining to quality Suffolk home-cooked pub grub each with their own unique atmosphere. For beer lovers, Greene King has been brewing beer in Bury St Edmunds for more than 200 years. Shopping in Bury St Edmunds offers plenty of choice with a great mix of fantastic independents and High Street favourites. There are beautiful outdoor spaces to explore and a plentiful arts scene including theatre, live music, film and art.
NEWMARKET
Newmarket in Suffolk is the home of horseracing. It was once the sporting playground for royalty and is now home to over 3,000 horses and boasts two racecourses. The racecourses host two of the five British Classic Races plus countless race days and the July Festival, one of the most glamourous events in the racing calendar.
Some of Newmarket’s attractions are best experienced in the mornings on a Discover Newmarket tour. Watch the town come to life as the riders put their equine colleagues through their paces on the Training Grounds or go behind-the-scenes in the historic stable yards.
Another of Newmarket’s top attractions is Palace House. This fantastic site is the home of the National Horse Racing Museum, as well as being the flagship home of the Retraining of Racehorses charity. This venue sits in the remains of King Charles II palace and was named Suffolk Museum of the Year in 2017 and they offer up a variety of exciting exhibitions throughout the year and it is also home to the fantastic on-site restaurant The Tack Room.
ELY
Nestling under the big skies of the Fen countryside, in the shadow of its magnificent cathedral, Ely offers a wealth of attractions and things to do.
As the second smallest city in England, it is compact enough to explore on foot, but large enough to fill a full day and more.
From the monastic buildings of the city past, through to the vibrant food scene of today, the scenic majesty of the Riverside, Ely packs a great deal into a pocket city. With Ely Cathedral, independent shops around the city centre, places to relax and replenish both body and mind, there has never been a better time to enjoy this quintessentially English jewel.
NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES
Discover distinctive fenland landscapes, grand houses, lush farmland and a myriad of waterways, cycle paths and wildlife. Suffolk and Cambridgeshire are counties filled with natural beauty, from picturesque coastlines in the east to medieval wool towns in the west. Constable Country is also still very much as landscape artist, John Constable, painted it.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire/anglesey-abbey-gardens-and-lode-mill
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/ickworth-estate
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire/wimpole-estate
OUR PROPERTIES
Three stunning properties to suit all tastes
Luxury moated farmhouse | Sleeps 12
Historic timber framed farmhouse with open plan kitchen, dining and living room, dining hall, TV room. Stunning master suite, 5 additional double/twin bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. Large garden and south facing terrace with outside seating and fire pit.
Stunning Victorian manor house | Sleeps 10
Secluded moated manor house with drawing room, dining room, kitchen with Aga, sitting room and separate children’s TV room. 3 double bedrooms, 2 twin bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Large garden and terrace with outside seating and fire pit.
Fabulous Grade II gate cottage | Sleeps 4
Set at the entrance to Little Bradley Hall with views over stunning parkland, Lodge Cottage has a well- equipped open plan kitchen, dining and living space. 2 double bedrooms and bathroom. Sun terrace with outside seating and fire pit.
“We had a fabulous stay at Cowlinge Hall during October half term. Celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary with all the family, the hall was a perfect place to do this. Absolutely beautifully decorated throughout, it felt like we were living in an interiors magazine for the week! Great location for exploring rural Suffolk.”
“We had the most fantastic stay at Norley Moat House! The house was extremely comfortable and well decorated, with a fully stocked kitchen and everything one could need to feel at home. It was close to some great local pubs and outings in Newmarket.”
“The lovely lodge is set in beautiful surrounding countryside. Everything you could possibly need is provided for a really enjoyable stay.”
“Cowlinge Hall is a beautiful property, perfectly laid out for our group of ten adults celebrating the New Year. We could all fit around the dining table comfortably and there were multiple relaxation areas with exceptionally comfortable sofas! The kitchen is incredibly well stocked with cookware and utensils. The bedrooms and bathrooms were also finished to a great standard – the whole group slept well!”
“We had a fantastic time celebrating our parents 50th Wedding anniversary. The house is well equipped with everything you need, lots of different breakout areas for everyone to have their own space. Beds really comfortable with good quality bedding (a priority for me!)! We had planned some day trips but the area was so lovely we just stayed locally- going on a local walks, and using the garden games. Our children enjoyed riding their bikes up and down the lane and playing football on the field outside the house.”
“Really lovely house and grounds with everything you’d need, even a selection of games for the garden. We had a great stay.”
“We had the most wonderful stay at Norley Moat House. It was the perfect place for a family get together. Lovely interior design, beautiful artwork but more importantly it felt like home. My family were over the moon about our stay.”
“Lodge Cottage is a most relaxing and comfortable place to stay, especially if you are seeking peace and tranquillity. The surrounding countryside is beautiful with easy access to so many interesting places.”
