Bury St Edmunds

United_Kingdom

The Corn Exchange in Bury St Edmunds Bury St Edmunds, or simply Bury, is a historic market town in the county of Suffolk, in England. At the very centre of East Anglia, the town was established by the Saxons in the 10th century, and its growth was focused around the Abbey of St Edmund. The Abbey grew to become the fourth-largest monastery in Europe and an important site of pilgrimage prior to its dissolution in 1539, since when it became a source of quarry stone for local builders, such that only remnants remain. Today the ruins of the Abbey form part of the Abbey Gardens, a pleasant public park, but the town's Medieval heritage is still visible in much of the street plan of the town centre which has not changed in 1000 years.

The town developed significantly after the dissolution of the Abbey through wealth from agriculture which has always been abundant in West Suffolk. Most of the buildings in the "historic core" of the town are timber-framed Medieval buildings hidden behind brick Georgian fronts, added as symbols of status by wealthy merchants at that time. Some of the grander public buildings - for example the Robert Adam art gallery, which was built as the Corn Exchange, and its Victorian counterpart - reflect directly the agricultural heritage of the area; a heritage which continues to this day with the presence of the Greene King brewery in the centre of the town and a large British Sugar factory on the outskirts. The town has always been famous for its markets - it used to host a twice-weekly provisions market and a weekly cattle market, but now has just the provisions market. Bury is also famous for its floral displays, and has won many awards for these, including the prestigious 'Nations in Bloom' title, contested by towns and cities worldwide.

Because of its position at the "crossroads of East Anglia" (as the town is known), Bury is a popular base for exploring the whole of this region of England. It is not a large town, so it is easy to explore on a day trip or a relaxing weekend or short break; however it is within easy range of many interesting locations such as Newmarket, Cambridge, Lavenham, Long Melford, Norwich and the Suffolk and Norfolk coastlines - and so is frequently used as a base for a longer holiday.

  • Abbey Gardens, Angel Hill. Daily dawn-dusk. Boasts wonderful flower displays and excellent lawns providing a beautiful relaxed environment to spend a sunny afternoon in summer. The gardens also contain a children's playground and a bridge from which the many ducks and geese may be fed. Don't miss the sensory garden designed for people with visual impairments and focusing on sound and scent rather than colorful flower arrangements as the rest of the gardens. The ruins of the Benedictine monastery are freely open to wander around; and the Great Churchyard opening out from the Abbey Gardens towards St Mary's Church provides an atmospheric walk. Free.
  • The Apex Art Gallery. Art gallery M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Art gallery and concert hall.
  • Greene King Brewery Visitor Centre, +44 1284 714297. The largest independent brewery in the UK. Provides tours. You can sample local Greene King ales in almost any local pub.
  • St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Angel Hill, +44 1284 748720. Daily 8AM-6PM. Visitors are welcome to look around the Cathedral on their own. It was built as one of the Abbey's churches, and was made a Cathedral in 1914. Extensive additions in the Gothic style in the 1960s to early 2000s, culminating in the magnificent Tower completed as a Millennium Project. Free.
  • Moyse's Hall Museum, Cornhill. Mon-Sat 10am-5PM (last entry 4PM), Su noon-4PM (last entry 3PM). Moyse's Hall is inside one of the oldest standing buildings in Bury St Edmunds. A small museum, but with interesting exhibits, mostly focused on local history.
  • Theatre Royal, Westgate St, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR, +44 1284 769505. The sole surviving Regency playhouse in the UK, which has been restored to its former glory. Owned by the National Trust but runs a full theatrical programme. Guided tours available.
  • Ickworth House and Parks, The Rotunda, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, IP29 5QE, +44 1284 735270. Located in Horringer, a small village 5 minutes drive away from Bury St Edmunds, Ickworth House and Parks is the a National Trust property and former residence of the Marquis of Bristol. The splendid house is set in acres of grounds, including elegantly sculpted gardens, lakes, walks, a children's play area and a deer enclosure.

Abbey Gardens, Angel Hill. Daily dawn-dusk. Boasts wonderful flower displays and excellent lawns providing a beautiful relaxed environment to spend a sunny afternoon in summer. The gardens also contain a children's playground and a bridge from which the many ducks and geese may be fed. Don't miss the sensory garden designed for people with visual impairments and focusing on sound and scent rather than colorful flower arrangements as the rest of the gardens. The ruins of the Benedictine monastery are freely open to wander around; and the Great Churchyard opening out from the Abbey Gardens towards St Mary's Church provides an atmospheric walk. Free.

The Apex Art Gallery. Art gallery M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. Art gallery and concert hall.

Greene King Brewery Visitor Centre, +44 1284 714297. The largest independent brewery in the UK. Provides tours. You can sample local Greene King ales in almost any local pub.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Angel Hill, +44 1284 748720. Daily 8AM-6PM. Visitors are welcome to look around the Cathedral on their own. It was built as one of the Abbey's churches, and was made a Cathedral in 1914. Extensive additions in the Gothic style in the 1960s to early 2000s, culminating in the magnificent Tower completed as a Millennium Project. Free.

Moyse's Hall Museum, Cornhill. Mon-Sat 10am-5PM (last entry 4PM), Su noon-4PM (last entry 3PM). Moyse's Hall is inside one of the oldest standing buildings in Bury St Edmunds. A small museum, but with interesting exhibits, mostly focused on local history.

Theatre Royal, Westgate St, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1QR, +44 1284 769505. The sole surviving Regency playhouse in the UK, which has been restored to its former glory. Owned by the National Trust but runs a full theatrical programme. Guided tours available.

Ickworth House and Parks, The Rotunda, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, IP29 5QE, +44 1284 735270. Located in Horringer, a small village 5 minutes drive away from Bury St Edmunds, Ickworth House and Parks is the a National Trust property and former residence of the Marquis of Bristol. The splendid house is set in acres of grounds, including elegantly sculpted gardens, lakes, walks, a children's play area and a deer enclosure.

With the leisure centre, cinema and bowling alley just on the edge of town there's entertainment for all the family. If you are without children, walk aroyund the historic town, visit the abbey gardens for a walk and picnic or go a little further out of town and find many well kept parks with wildlife and gorgeous long walks.

  • Bury Festival. Held annually in May/June, the Bury Festival is growing quickly. With outdoor events held in the Abbey Gardens and others at various venues around the town, the festival hosts a combination of film, theatre, music (pop and classical), arts, comedy and other things to appeal to any traveller.

Bury Festival. Held annually in May/June, the Bury Festival is growing quickly. With outdoor events held in the Abbey Gardens and others at various venues around the town, the festival hosts a combination of film, theatre, music (pop and classical), arts, comedy and other things to appeal to any traveller.

Cineworld Multiplex Cinema, Park Way IP33 3BA, +44 871 200 2000 (premium).

Theatre Royal, Westgate St IP33 1QR, +44 1284 769505.

Bury St Edmunds Registered Tour Guides, The Tourist Information Centre, The Apex, Charter Square IP33 3FD, +44 1284 764667. Explore Bury St Edmunds and its history with several walking tours on offer with Registered Guides.

Abbeygate Street in Bury St Edmunds Bury has most of the larger chains of shops such as Next, Dorothy Perkins, Burton etc. A controversial shopping development opened on the former site of the cattle market which houses more chain stores, with a Debenhams the focal point. A few local places include:

  • Market, Cornhill and Buttermarket area. W and Sa. The town fills with stalls selling coffee, fruit & veg, pictures, flowers, hardware etc. Worth a visit, but sometimes the fruit & veg can be a little over ripe. Some good bargains.
  • Javelin, 37 Abbeygate St IP33 1LW, +44 1284 754559. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Clothes.

  • Sainsbury's, Bedingfeld Way IP32 7EJ, +44 1284 767212. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. ATMs. Petrol (different hours). Pharmacy (different hours)
  • Waitrose, Robert Boby Way IP33 3DH, +44 1284 725222. M-Th 7:30AM-10PM, F 7:30AM-9PM, Sa 7:30AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM.

Sainsbury's, Bedingfeld Way IP32 7EJ, +44 1284 767212. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. ATMs. Petrol (different hours). Pharmacy (different hours)

Waitrose, Robert Boby Way IP33 3DH, +44 1284 725222. M-Th 7:30AM-10PM, F 7:30AM-9PM, Sa 7:30AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM.

  • Micks Cycles, 68-69 St Johns St IP33 1SJ, +44 1284 753946. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-4PM.
  • Cycle King, 26 Angel Hill IP33 1UZ, +44 1284 769902. M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10AM-5PM.

Micks Cycles, 68-69 St Johns St IP33 1SJ, +44 1284 753946. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-4PM.

Cycle King, 26 Angel Hill IP33 1UZ, +44 1284 769902. M-Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 10AM-5PM.

Market, Cornhill and Buttermarket area. W and Sa. The town fills with stalls selling coffee, fruit & veg, pictures, flowers, hardware etc. Worth a visit, but sometimes the fruit & veg can be a little over ripe. Some good bargains.

Javelin, 37 Abbeygate St IP33 1LW, +44 1284 754559. M-Sa 9:30AM-5:30PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Clothes.

Bury St Edmunds is home to many different restaurants. A quick walk around the town centre will reveal places suited to every taste and wallet.

  • Maison Bleue, 30-31 Churchgate St IP33 1RG, +44 1284 760623. Tu-Sa noon-2PM & 7-9:30PM. Probably the best restaurants in Bury, Maison Bleue menu focuses on fish. Modern decor, and a convenient situation in the town centre add to the attractions of this restaurant which has sister restaurants in Lavenham and Ipswich. Suffolk might be quintessentially British, but some French charm does not go amiss with a delightfully fishy menu
  • Baileys 2, 5 Whiting St IP33 1NX, +44 1284 706198. M-Sa 9AM-4PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Coffee shop serving tasty homemade meals such as soup, pasta, a wide range of sandwiches, toasties, salads and homemade cakes. Excellent coffees.
  • Valley Connection, 42 Churchgate St IP33 1RG, +44 1284 754149. Daily noon-2:30PM & 5:30-11:30PM. VC is a modern Indian restaurant in the heart of Bury St Edmunds. Good service and great food combine with a contemporary interior to provide a very enjoyable experience.
  • Old Cannon Brewery, 86 Cannon Street, IP33 1JR. A pub/restaurant that brews three of its own beers in an otherwise Greene King-dominated town. Reasonably priced good food and drink.
  • Zen Noodle Bar, 6 Angel Lane IP33 1RF, +44 1284 723559. M-Sa noon-2PM & 5:30-10:30PM, Su noon-9PM. Tasty and reasonable Chinese food (with a bias towards noodle-based dishes). Lots of options for vegetarians.
  • The Station, 7 Out Northgate IP33 1JQ (Opposite train station, +44 1284 754600. Bar: M-Th noon-3PM & 5:30PM-close, F noon-3PM & 5-11PM, Sa 9:30AM-11PM, Su 9:30AM-10PM; food: M-F noon-2PM & 5:30-9PM, Sa 9:30AM-9PM, Su 9:30AM-8PM.
  • Harriet's Tearoom, 57 Cornhill IP33 1BT, +44 1284 756256. M-F 8:45AM-6PM, Sa 8:30AM-6PM, Su 9:30AM-5PM. A great traditional afternoon tea - wide range of teas, coffees, scones, cakes, sandwiches and other food. Can be very busy, especially around lunchtime on a Sa & occasionally service is slow, but it is worth waiting for. Occasionally they have a live pianist.
  • Fredericks at the Ickworth, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, +44 1284 735350. Feast not only your appetite, but your eyes on the decadent architecture and interiors of the Ickworth. With local food given an extravagant twist by up and coming chef Lee Childs 2-course dinnrer £30.

Maison Bleue, 30-31 Churchgate St IP33 1RG, +44 1284 760623. Tu-Sa noon-2PM & 7-9:30PM. Probably the best restaurants in Bury, Maison Bleue menu focuses on fish. Modern decor, and a convenient situation in the town centre add to the attractions of this restaurant which has sister restaurants in Lavenham and Ipswich. Suffolk might be quintessentially British, but some French charm does not go amiss with a delightfully fishy menu

Baileys 2, 5 Whiting St IP33 1NX, +44 1284 706198. M-Sa 9AM-4PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Coffee shop serving tasty homemade meals such as soup, pasta, a wide range of sandwiches, toasties, salads and homemade cakes. Excellent coffees.

Valley Connection, 42 Churchgate St IP33 1RG, +44 1284 754149. Daily noon-2:30PM & 5:30-11:30PM. VC is a modern Indian restaurant in the heart of Bury St Edmunds. Good service and great food combine with a contemporary interior to provide a very enjoyable experience.

Old Cannon Brewery, 86 Cannon Street, IP33 1JR. A pub/restaurant that brews three of its own beers in an otherwise Greene King-dominated town. Reasonably priced good food and drink.

Zen Noodle Bar, 6 Angel Lane IP33 1RF, +44 1284 723559. M-Sa noon-2PM & 5:30-10:30PM, Su noon-9PM. Tasty and reasonable Chinese food (with a bias towards noodle-based dishes). Lots of options for vegetarians.

The Station, 7 Out Northgate IP33 1JQ (Opposite train station, +44 1284 754600. Bar: M-Th noon-3PM & 5:30PM-close, F noon-3PM & 5-11PM, Sa 9:30AM-11PM, Su 9:30AM-10PM; food: M-F noon-2PM & 5:30-9PM, Sa 9:30AM-9PM, Su 9:30AM-8PM.

Harriet's Tearoom, 57 Cornhill IP33 1BT, +44 1284 756256. M-F 8:45AM-6PM, Sa 8:30AM-6PM, Su 9:30AM-5PM. A great traditional afternoon tea - wide range of teas, coffees, scones, cakes, sandwiches and other food. Can be very busy, especially around lunchtime on a Sa & occasionally service is slow, but it is worth waiting for. Occasionally they have a live pianist.

Fredericks at the Ickworth, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, +44 1284 735350. Feast not only your appetite, but your eyes on the decadent architecture and interiors of the Ickworth. With local food given an extravagant twist by up and coming chef Lee Childs 2-course dinnrer £30.

There are lots of bars, clubs and pubs in Bury; it certainly punches above its weight given its size. Many premises have late licences with some bars, clubs and pubs serving until 1AM on weekdays and until 3AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Bar 3, Benson Blakes, Hide Bar, Karooze, Bar Ambition and So Bar provide a fairly relaxed night out and are a welcome alternative to the two main nightclubs (Brazilias and Deja Vu) which are over-priced and tacky by comparison. Ruin, a night club and cocktail bar has recently opened. The cheapest pub in and around the town centre is certainly The Grapes, which is open until 2AM on Fridays and Saturdays.

  • The Nutshell, 17 The Traverse IP33 1BJ, +44 1284 764867. One of the smallest pubs in Britain, and worth a visit if you can fit in. More than five people, and it's impossible to sit down. They also sell tshirts with a woodcarving style picture of the pub on them. A friendly and welcoming pub - step inside and feel like a regular. Apparently haunted. There is a dead cat on the roof.
  • Queen's Head, 39 Churchgate St, IP33 1RG, +44 1284 761554. Pub: M-W 11AM-11:30PM, Th 11AM-12:10AM, F Sa 11AM-12:30AM, Su noon-11:30PM; food: M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-8PM, Su noon-9PM. Probably the best pub in Bury St Edmunds to watch football. Several large screens and can show more than one match at the once. Not particularly remarkable otherwise.
  • The Dog and Partridge, 29 Crown St, IP33 1QU, +44 1284 764792. Pub: M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM; food: M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa Su noon-10PM. Has shaken off its reputation for underage drinking, provides a warm, comfortable environment and serves good food. Known as a good student pub, with nice concrete garden and plenty of seats.
  • The Grapes, 1 Brentgovel Street, +44 1284 754360. One of the best pubs in Bury with rank people and bands providing a lively, if sometimes eccentric, atmosphere. The vibe is fantastic though.
  • The King's Arms, 23 Brentgovel St. A dive which has Strongbow at £3 and happy hour from 5PM-7PM, so is perhaps only worth the one visit. Occasional fights can be viewed for your entertainment in the evenings although these are normally limited to the weekends. Joining in with the entertainment is not recommended as serious injury may occur; view from a safe distance.

The Nutshell, 17 The Traverse IP33 1BJ, +44 1284 764867. One of the smallest pubs in Britain, and worth a visit if you can fit in. More than five people, and it's impossible to sit down. They also sell tshirts with a woodcarving style picture of the pub on them. A friendly and welcoming pub - step inside and feel like a regular. Apparently haunted. There is a dead cat on the roof.

Queen's Head, 39 Churchgate St, IP33 1RG, +44 1284 761554. Pub: M-W 11AM-11:30PM, Th 11AM-12:10AM, F Sa 11AM-12:30AM, Su noon-11:30PM; food: M-Th 11AM-9PM, F Sa 11AM-8PM, Su noon-9PM. Probably the best pub in Bury St Edmunds to watch football. Several large screens and can show more than one match at the once. Not particularly remarkable otherwise.

The Dog and Partridge, 29 Crown St, IP33 1QU, +44 1284 764792. Pub: M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM; food: M-F 11AM-10PM, Sa Su noon-10PM. Has shaken off its reputation for underage drinking, provides a warm, comfortable environment and serves good food. Known as a good student pub, with nice concrete garden and plenty of seats.

The Grapes, 1 Brentgovel Street, +44 1284 754360. One of the best pubs in Bury with rank people and bands providing a lively, if sometimes eccentric, atmosphere. The vibe is fantastic though.

The King's Arms, 23 Brentgovel St. A dive which has Strongbow at £3 and happy hour from 5PM-7PM, so is perhaps only worth the one visit. Occasional fights can be viewed for your entertainment in the evenings although these are normally limited to the weekends. Joining in with the entertainment is not recommended as serious injury may occur; view from a safe distance.

  • The LP, 2 Woolhall St, IP33 1LA, +44 1284 719617. Upstairs nightclub, downstairs bar/restaurant.

The LP, 2 Woolhall St, IP33 1LA, +44 1284 719617. Upstairs nightclub, downstairs bar/restaurant.

  • Post Office, 15 Cornhill IP33 1DY. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, Su 10:30AM-2:30PM.

Post Office, 15 Cornhill IP33 1DY. M-Sa 9AM-5:30PM, Su 10:30AM-2:30PM.

Bury is one of the safest towns in the country and you are unlikely to be a victim of crime; however as with anywhere don't allow yourself to become too complacent.

  • Cambridge - a university city.
  • Lavenham - one of the finest examples of a medieval wool town.
  • Thetford and Thetford Forest a large forest with a wide range of activities, walks, etc.
  • Newmarket
  • Diss
  • Ipswich