Category Archives: Self Catering Bury St Edmunds

National Trust Properties in Suffolk

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There’s nothing more British than a day spent wandering the halls and grounds of a historic country house. In Bury St Edmunds we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by a selection of beautiful stately homes that are now owned by the National Trust and are open for the public to enjoy. They have been lovingly preserved and give us a glimpse of what life would have been like for the inhabitants of these incredible houses throughout the centuries.

Whatever the time of year, National Trust properties never fail to charm. In the autumn winter the cosy cafes that every property boast are the perfect place to relax after you’ve discovered what the house has to offer and been for a bracing walk. In the spring, most of the houses are surrounded by daffodil-filled gardens and lamb-filled pastures, and there’s nothing like a stroll around the grounds on a great British summer’s day.

Here are just a few of our favourite National Trust properties within easy distance of Bury St Edmunds:

Ickworth:

Ickworth House is only a few minutes drive outside of town, but is set in the middle of a stunning park that is covered in daffodils and lambs in the spring. The house itself is Italianate and incredibly striking and houses an impressive art collection, but the gardens and grounds are even better.

Ickworth House, National Trust in Suffolk

The Summer House

My favourite spot is just down the hill past the estate church: the summer house. There are high red brick walls on three sides, which keep the wind out, and a picturesque lake on the fourth. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic on a summer’s day.

The playground and the ‘trim trail’ walk that starts just behind it are wonderful for families.

Melford Hall:

About a 20 minute drive from Bury St Edmunds, in the classic Suffolk village of Long Melford, Melford Hall stands surrounded by beautifully manicured lawns. It’s small (for a National Trust property) but perfectly formed, and boasts a great cafe. In the summer, you’ll often find volunteers giving visitors free croquet lessons on the lawn!

The grounds are beautiful for a stroll and it’s worth wandering up the hill to have a look at the huge village church, built when the wool industry was booming.

Melford Hall, National Trust in Suffolk

Melford Hall

Oxburgh Hall:

This property is a good 45 minute drive away from Bury St Edmunds, but it’s worth it. Oxburgh Hall is surrounded by a picture-perfect moat and stunning grounds, but the best bit is the priest’s hole which you can actually crawl into. It’s not recommended for claustrophobics, but it’s incredibly exciting for adults and children alike!

Oxburgh Hall, National Trust in Suffolk

Oxburgh Hall

Have you been to any of these properties? Have we missed out your favourite National Trust property in Suffolk?  Please comment! 

The Best Independent Restaurants in Bury St Edmunds

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We all like to support independent restaurants and cafes, but when we’re on holiday it’s sometimes hard to find out where the best independent restaurants are hiding. We’ve put together a list of the best independent places to eat in Bury St Edmunds so that you can just relax and enjoy the experience!

  1. The Old Cannon. 

The Old Cannon is an independent brewery and restaurant in the heart of town that uses local ingredients in their beers as well as their delicious selection of food.

2. Mings Oriental

This independent restaurant serves up Chinese and classic Asian flavours with a twist, using only the best ingredients. It’s conveniently located right in the centre of Bury St Edmunds, and they even do takeaway Monday-Thursday!

3. Maison Bleue

The Maison Bleue serves up, you guessed it, wonderful French cuisine that has won all sorts of awards. TripAdvisor consistently rates it among the top 10 fine dining restaurants in the country, so put on your best shoes and go and see what all the fuss is about.

4. The Zen Noodle Bar

Another fantastic spot for dinner right in the centre of town. The chefs at Zen cook up Chinese, Japonese, Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese influenced rice and noodle dishes where you can see them at work. They also do takeaway if you’d rather eat with your feet up.

5. Casa del Mar

For a Mediterranean feel, head down to Casa del Mar, a quirky little independent place in the centre of Bury St Edmunds that serves up tapas and meze alongside main courses.

6. Cafe Kotanni

A brilliant lunchtime option is this little Greek cafe that is always popular. Little wonder, when everything is so delicious. Try the meze platter!

And when you get peckish…

7. Really Rather Good Coffee

This beautifully decorated coffee house serves wonderful hot drinks alongside extremely tempting cakes, as well as a few savoury options. It’s right on Angel Hill, looking down at the old Abbey Gate, so you can re-energise before exploring more of the delights of Bury St Edmunds. 

Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds

The Abbey Gardens

 

Things to Do in Bury St Edmunds

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As well as being the perfect base to explore the wonders of East Anglia, Bury St Edmunds makes the perfect destination for a weekend break, with plenty of activities to keep you busy within the town itself!

  1. The Abbey Gardens

Bury St Edmunds was once an extremely important centre of Pilgrimage, and the remains of the huge Abbey can still be found in the town centre, having now been turned into beautifully kept public gardens.

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2. The Cathedral

The 16th century Cathedral was only completed in 2005, with the addition of a beautiful tower, which can be seen from miles around.

3. The Smallest Pub in England

The Nutshell is officially the smallest pub in England, with its bar area measuring only 15ft by 7ft. Squeeze into the pub to sample some local beers and inspect the extraordinary collection of objects hanging from the ceiling which are a guarantee that you’ll never lack a topic of conversation.

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4. Greene King Brewery Tour

Greene King is a national brand, but it was born in Bury St Edmunds and the empire is still run from the original town centre brewery. The tours are extremely interesting and end with a tasting session in the brewery’s own pub, The Brewery Tap, where they don’t hold back on the free samples.

5. Theatre Royal

The Theatre Royal is a beautiful example of a Regency theatre and has recently been lovingly restored. Check out the website for details of the incredibly varied shows the theatre has to offer.

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6. Medieval Grid

Parts of the old town centre still look much as they have for centuries, with crooked Tudor houses and cobbled streets. A happy couple of hours can be whiled away exploring the medieval grid, perhaps with a few pit stops at pubs offering pints of Greene King’s finest.

7. Moyses Hall

Moyses Hall is almost 900 years old and served as the town gaol, workhouse and police station before becoming a museum over 100 years ago. No visit to Bury St Edmunds is complete without learning about the fascinating history of this once-great religious centre and market town.

8. Market Day

There has been a market in Bury St Edmunds for centuries, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays the town centre is still taken over by stalls selling flowers, food and everything in between.