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The beautiful county of Suffolk has a unique combination of gently rolling countryside, woodland, villages, valleys, rivers and estuaries and the bustle and cultural diversity of its larger towns.
Ipswich, birthplace of Thomas Wolsey, is the largest historical town and administrative centre. Located on the River Orwell in the heart of Suffolk, it is acclaimed as the regional centre for commerce, retail and entertainment, with growth and investment already underway with the development of the quayside marina, a new Dance East Theatre, Suffolk University and Snoasis project, Ipswich’s appeal as the place to be increases daily. With only an hour by train to London, Cambridge or Norwich Suffolk’s accessible to all.
During medieval times South Suffolk became one of the wealthiest parts of England as many towns and villages developed as the financial centres of cloth industry production. These include England’s best preserved medieval towns of Lavenham, Long Melford and Sudbury, birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough. Wander through some of the delightful villages immortalised on the canvases of Constable and Gainsburgh: Kersey, Cavendish, Chelsworth and Polstead, or if you can make early morning at Newmarket, the 'horseracing capital of the world', you’ll be watching many a prize horse being put through their paces. Whilst the ancient market town of Bury St. Edmunds reveals from within the still standing abbey walls its important part in English history.
The largely unspoilt Heritage Coastline, ever-so-slowly eroding and changing with time, consists of low, crumbling cliffs that one boasted important Saxon shipping ports (Sutton Hoo). Now largely protected National Trust areas, rife with wildlife (RSPB Minsmere), sandy and shingle beaches, dotted with Martello towers and castles (Orford & Framlingham) that protected its villages with watchful eyes during war-time. The two major seaside resorts, Lowestoft, which mixes a holiday resort with a busy fishing port and Felixstowe with its seafront gardens sit north and south along the coastline, whilst the two smaller seaside towns of pretty Aldeburgh and Southwold, emanate peaceful, captured period charm.
Whether you are new to the area, or have lived here all your life, passing through city, country lanes or perhaps along the coast, the exploring journeyman can not but appreciate the beauty, history, culture, enjoying the many secrets of Suffolk.
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