Eastern Counties
Places of Interest - Days Out in Bury St Edmunds
Historic Bury St Edmunds, in the heart of West Suffolk is one of the region's best-loved market towns. Bury St Edmunds literally 'the place of St Edmund' in Saxon English, grew up around one of the most powerful monasteries in medieval England.
Today you can wander the Abbey ruins situated in the award winning Abbey Gardens. The gardens have won many prizes over the years the latest in 2007, winning the National Britain in Bloom competition.
A short stroll through the gardens and you arrive at the imposing St Edmundsbury Cathedral, the only cathedral in Suffolk. A little further along the street you will find another fine church, St Mary's. This is where you will find the tomb of Mary Rose Tudor, Henry VIII beloved sister also a beautiful hammer-beam 'angel' roof and the longest parish church aisle in England. In the historic core is the Greene King Visitor Centre. A museum devoted to the regions best known brewer. Take a tour of the brewery and sample one of their famous ales served with a warm Suffolk welcome.
Head up into the town centre and there you will find Moyse's Hall Museum which is housed in one of the oldest town houses in East Anglia. Inside is a fine selection of unsavoury items such as man traps, stone coffins and mummified cats sitting alongside collections of clocks, watches and fine costumes. You will also find a gallery devoted to the Suffolk Regiment - discover exhibits from their fighting past including the Seven Years War.
Bury St Edmunds is a bustling town all year round visit in May for the annual festival, July or August for the award winning floral displays and gardens or November for the nationally acclaimed Christmas Fayre.
For further information on where to stay, where to eat or what's on the area contact the Tourist Information Centre where friendly, knowledgeable staff will be happy to help 01284 764667 or email tic@stedsbc.gov.uk
ST EDMUNDSBURY CATHEDRAL
The only cathedral in Suffolk and for over 1000 years a site of both pilgrimage and worship.
www.stedscathedral.co.uk (Link opens in a new window)
MOYSES HALL MUSEUM
For almost 1000 years Moyse's Hall has looked out over the Market Place of Bury St Edmunds. Currently a museum where, through the myriad of displays, one can follow the history of Suffolk from prehistoric times to the present day.
www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk (Link opens in a new window)
