Bury St. Edmunds Area Guide

Surrounded by countryside with 1,000 years of history to explore, Bury St Edmunds - the home of Saint Edmund, the original patron Saint of England - offers award-winning food and drink, fantastic shopping, the arts, annual festivals, and stunning parks.

Visit the magnificent St Edmundsbury Cathedral and stand among the ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund in the stunning Abbey Gardens, once the most famous pilgrimage location in England. Known as Suffolk's foodie town, Bury St Edmunds is home to Greene King and an array of award-winning restaurants.

Highlights and Attractions

St Edmundsbury Cathedral

Known as the Parish Church of St James until the 20^th century, building began in the late 11^th century on the orders of Abbot Anselm, when he was unable to make the pilgrimage to the shrine of St James in Compostela, Spain. St Edmundsbury Cathedral – or The Cathedral Church of St James as it is formally entitled – received its cathedral status in 1914 with the creation of the diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. It is the only Cathedral in Suffolk.

An ongoing work through the centuries, St Edmundsbury Cathedral was the only unfinished Anglican cathedral in England until 2010, when the final phases were completed through a millennium project. The Millennium Tower, a resplendent 150-foot Gothic structure, opened in 2005 and a stunning vaulted ceiling was signed off five years later. Book the Tower Tour for a closer look and to take in the impressive views from the roof.

The Historic Abbey Gardens

The beautiful Abbey Gardens in the heart of Bury St Edmunds are a place to unwind and relax. Take a stroll around the impressive formal flower beds and pristine lawns. Take in the herb garden, sensory garden, water garden and enjoy the 400 rose bushes in the pretty Appleby Rose Garden.

The play area, aviary, river and open spaces are favourites with families, as is the popular ice cream kiosk.

The imposing 14^thcentury Great Gate at the entrance to the Abbey Gardens conjures up Bury St Edmunds’ illustrious history. The ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund once one of the richest and largest monasteries in Europe, can be found within the Abbey Gardens and an insight into the towns long history.

Theatre Royal

Built in 1819, the Grade 1 listed Theatre Royal is the country's third oldest theatre and Britain's last surviving Regency Playhouse. Performances throughout the year range from drama and dance to music and comedy - not forgetting the Christmas pantomime.

Arc Shopping Center

Arc is an ultra modern retail, leisure and residential development providing some 36 shops, cafe's, restaurants, a magnificent multi-purpose cultural venue and high quality residential apartments in the town center of Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk. It is focused around two open shopping streets and a public square, and hosts top brand shops and stores like H&M, Next, Hobbs, Crew Clothing, New Look and River Island to name but a few.

The Centre is also home to high quality coffee shops and restaurants with Nando's, Wagamama, Carlucci's, Byron Burger, Costa, and Muffin Break heading up some great places to relax during the shopping experience and right through into the evening. Arc also provides more than 850 parking spaces and the award winning Apex 500-seat public venue which throughout the year features music, art and other high quality entertainment events. Link this to the 62 apartments above the shops, and you truly have a vibrant 24/7 venue which is a true gem in the heart of the historic Town Centre.

The Apex

Brand new exciting acts come to this superb venue in the heart of the town with a diverse range of artists performing everything from classical music to pop, rock, jazz, blues, world, country and folk.

Praised for its architectural design and amazing acoustics, The Apex also plays host dance companies, comedians and speakers who regularly grace the stage, while dance and yoga classes take place in the studios. The café, meanwhile, provides a popular resting spot for shoppers in the surrounding arc Shopping centre.

Beyond Bury St Edmunds

With stunning countryside, idyllic villages, quirky boutiques and cosy pubs, there are so many wonderful things to do in neighbouring villages and towns.

Discover the picturesque Suffolk wool towns of Lavenham, Long Melford and Clare, the home of horse racing at Newmarket and Ipswich, East Anglia’s waterfront town.

If you want a day out at the beach, Bury St Edmunds is just an hour away from the beautiful Suffolk Coast with charming seaside towns to explore.

If you are feeling energetic how about exploring on foot on one of the local walking routes which take in quaint villages, cosy pubs and stunning Suffolk scenery, or hop on two wheels and follow our many cycle routes.

With historic houses, galleries, exhibitions, festivals, and museums, exquisite food, unique boutiques, beautiful countryside, live music, dance, theatre and cinema, there is so much to explore in Bury St Edmunds and beyond.

Ickworth House

Ickworth House is a country house near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. It is a neoclassical building set in parkland. The house was the residence of the Marquess of Bristol before being sold to the National Trust in 1998.

As one of England's more unusual houses, Ickworth has been unflatteringly described as resembling "a huge bulk, newly arrived from another planet" and as "an overgrown folly".^[3] It is now being architecturally reassessed and recognised as the only building in England comparable with the monumental works of Boullée and Ledoux.^[3]

The design concept was based on the designs of Italian architect Antonio Asprucci, most noted for his work at the Villa Borghese, which the Bishop-Earl had seen. Asprucci's plans were adapted and the building work overseen by English architects Francis Sandys and his brother Joseph Sandys.

The façades are of brick covered in stucco; beneath a roof of slate and lead. The central rotunda is 105 ft. high with a domed and balustraded roof. the building is entered through the central entrance ionic pedimented portico.

The rotunda is decorated with pilasters, which on the lower floor are Ionic and Corinthian above. The ground and first floor and the third floor and the balustraded parapet are divided friezes bas-relief.

The rotunda is flanked by segmental single story narrow wings (appearing as a blind arcade) linking, in the palladian fashion, to two terminating pavilions; these segmental wings are broken at their centre by projecting bays which house the Smoking Room and the Pompeian Room, both later 19th century additions.

Commuting

Bury St Edmunds railway station serves the town, operated by Greater Anglia, on the Ipswich to Ely Line. Trains run seven days a week, every two hours to Peterborough and hourly to Ipswich and Cambridge. Trains from Peterborough continue to Ipswich after Bury St Edmunds. Onward train connections from Cambridge link with London King's Cross, London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, whilst Ipswich provides connections to Liverpool Street via Colchester.

The main interchange for bus and coach services for Bury St Edmunds is the bus and coach station, located on St Andrews Street North in the town centre. Bus services link the town centre with the main residential housing areas of the town. From November 2012 Sunday bus services were introduced over some of these routes. There are regular bus services to the neighbouring towns of Brandon, Cambridge, Diss, Haverhill, Ipswich, Mildenhall, Newmarket, Stowmarket, Sudbury and Thetford and many of the villages in between. Daily National Express coach services between Victoria Coach Station in London and Bury stop at the town's bus and coach station, as does the cross-country service between Clacton-on-Sea and Liverpool which travels via Cambridge, Peterborough, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester.

Food, Drink and Accommodation

Indulge your appetite with award-winning fine dining to quality Suffolk home-cooked pub grub and from cocktail to gin bars, there are a huge number of places to eat and drink each with their own unique atmosphere.

Whether it’s a family get together or a romantic meal, finding the perfect place to eat in Bury St Edmunds is easy as there are so many choices to tempt your taste buds.

You can easily while away an afternoon or evening with friends in Suffolk's foodie town, which is home to the county's only Michelin-starred restaurant.

Bury St Edmunds also has a real café culture with an excellent choice of cafés and tearooms, perfect for a spot of people watching whilst enjoying a slice of cake.

The annual Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival held in August is a veritable feast of delicious dishes to try and buy together with demonstrations by top celebrity chefs.

You can sleep in Charles Dickens’ favourite four poster bed at the iconic Angel Hotel (pictured), relax in a Tudor house, enjoy a night or two in a cosy pub, or sleep under the stars.

The Nutshell - Britain's smallest pub

With a bar that measures just 15ft by 7ft, The Nutshell proudly holds the title of smallest pub in Britain as confirmed in the Guinness Book of Records.

Located in the heart of the town, The Nutshell has been proud to serve customers jostling for a place at the bar since it first started serving beer in 1867. Now a major tourist attraction for local and worldwide visitors, The Nutshell continues the tradition of serving some of the regions finest ales, and providing a bar not just full of customers, but interesting historical items, photos and memorabilia.

Maison Bleue

Maison Bleue is a very special French-modern fine dining restaurant, winning critical acclaim nationally. Experience Brittany born chef-patron Pascal Canevet’s unmistakable style, creativity, and balance of flavour with his innovative seasonal Menus.

The stylish independent restaurant has an understated elegance with a relaxed and welcoming ambiance. Set within the Suffolk market town of Bury St. Edmunds, Maison Bleue celebrates its heritage with original features including deep-set windows and original beams offering an intimate feel with modern art, crisp linen, and luxurious tones.

Maison Bleue has a proven track record of consistently achieving the highest accolades including The Craft Guild of Chefs: Restaurant Chef Award, Trip Advisors Best of the Best Award, Worldwide Luxury Restaurant Awards, Suffolk Restaurant of the Year Award, and gaining Trip Advisors Certificate of Excellence, Travellers Choice and five-star rating year on year.

Pea Porridge

Tucked away on a residential square, this Michelin star restaurant’s unusual name is a nod to the old town green which once stood out front. The two brick cottages date back to 1820 and formerly served as a bakery, and the original cast iron bread oven is still in situ. It’s warmly and personally run by a husband and wife, and has a homely, slightly bohemian vibe, with wooden furnishings and interesting artwork hung on exposed brick walls.

The daily changing menu of North African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes sees lots of ingredients cooked over charcoal, beech, oak, birch or pine cones. The sourdough flatbread fresh from the oven kicks things off perfectly and the unfussy dishes deliver bold, well-defined flavours which are skillfully executed. The esoteric wine list champions organic and natural wines.

The Angel Hotel

This Georgian ivy clad 4 star boutique hotel and restaurant surprises with a twist of urban chic. This Suffolk hotel is right in the heart of Bury St Edmunds town centre and everything is just a step from here. Explore winding cobbled shop filled streets and a plethora of ancient architecture on the doorstep. Once inside, The Angel Hotel is a curious contrast of comfy contemporary design with touches of exotic grandeur. Warm leather sofas vie for your company in the lounge, which is filled with curiosities, pop art, eccentric oddities and cool vintage furniture. It is a hotel of many different aspects all artfully blended together into an exciting package and the bedrooms are no exception. The Angel Eatery has a great reputation and dining here is a culinary treat.

Events

Foodies will love the two day free Our Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival held on August Bank Holiday Sunday & Monday from 10am to 5pm each day.

With an annual line-up of cooking demonstrations, the chance to taste and purchase food and drink from over 100 stalls and a popular farmer’s market, this is a foodie’s heaven.

The annual Bury St Edmunds Whitsun Fayre (May Bank Holiday, Sunday and Monday), transforms Bury St Edmunds town center into a sea of colour with plant and flower stalls, perfect for spring!

You'll find flower and plant stalls as well as craft stalls in Buttermarket and Cornhill, a selection of food and drink, charity stalls and a Flower, Food & Craft Market on Angel Hill. Free entry!

Schools

The present day Culford Hall is a listed historical building. It has been altered at different times in its history. The Hall is presently set within 480 acres of a beautiful Grade I listed park, designed by Sir Humphrey Repton.

Culford School provides an education to over 750 boys and girls from age 1 to 18, to make them ready for life. Boarding is available from age 7 and in the Senior School more than half the children are boarders, the majority coming from East Anglia and the London area. Culford is proud of its outstanding pastoral care and for their pupils’ superb academic and extra-curricular achievements.

King Edward VI School, Bury St Edmunds

Established almost 500 years ago as a Church of England School, The school continues to enjoy very close links with St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

In terms of culture, inclusivity is one of it's core values. So, whilst as a Church of England school, they hold dear their Christian ethos and values, they enthusiastically welcome students from all denominations or none.

Academically the school has an enviable reputation and a real desire to employ the very best techniques for teaching. This enables students to progress to a wide range of education or career paths once they complete their studies.

Beyond the classroom, extra-curricular activities are second to none. Students can access a phenomenal range of sporting, musical, dramatic and artistic opportunities.

Leadership challenges are offered at all levels and students can participate in the Duke of Edinburgh award, Junior Leadership Team, Sports Leaders Award and much more. They can work with other institutions in the Bury Schools Partnership, the wider local community and through the schools' academic and cultural partnership with the Yangjing-Juyuan Experimental School, Shanghai.

Above all else, at King Edward VI, they encourage the development of well-rounded individuals, fully prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world and are a community for whom the values of kindness, creativity, tolerance, aspiration and respect for ourselves and others are central to all that they do.