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5 Ways to Escape The Everyday in Bury St Edmunds and Beyond

If you're in need of a change of scenery, a little relaxation, a break from the norm, then check out these ways to escape the everyday in Bury St Edmunds and Beyond ...

1. Visit the Abbey of St Edmund in its 1,000th Year

Abbey Ruins and Cathedral credit Jon Miles 965x540

In Medieval times, The Abbey of St Edmund in Bury St Edmunds was one of the richest, largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England and people came from all over Europe to visit the Shrine of Saint Edmund, the first Patron Saint of England. Saint Edmund’s final resting place is a great mystery; some believe he is buried somewhere within the abbey precincts!

Now in ruins, the Abbey is to be found in the beautiful Abbey Gardens. This year is the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of the Abbey.

Why not take a tour with the Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides and find out the story of St Edmund and the Abbey? or enjoy one of their Ghostly and Macabre Walks from October!

2. See a Film at One of The Oldest Cinemas in Suffolk

A beautifully modernised yet perfectly original 1920's cinema, the Abbeygate Cinema shows everything from timeless classics to box office latest releases.

Now open with its new Premier Screen with cosy sofas, it's the perfect way to unwind and get away from the everyday!

3. Find Out How Beer is Made with Greene King

Join Greene King as they take you on a walk through the brewery's history discovering their oldest buildings and finding out what they have been used for throughout time.

The tour's knowledgeable guides will tell you everything you need to know about Greene King and how their beers are made.

4. Sample Wines on A Tour of a Vineyard

East Anglia is fast becoming a recognisable wine growing region and at Gifford's Hall Vineyard in Hartest, near Bury St Edmunds, you can have a tour of a vineyard and sample some of their excellent wines.

A family owned Vineyard, they grow Bacchus, Madeleine Angevine, Reichensteiner, Rondo and Pinot Noir varieties.

5. Visit the Final Resting Place of a French Queen

Mary Tudor at St Marys Church Rebecca Austin 965x540

St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds is the final resting place of Mary Tudor, Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk and Henry VIII's favourite sister (after whom Henry's ship the Mary Rose was named).

Mary Tudor, the younger surviving daughter of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York, became the third wife of Louis XII of France, more than 30 years her senior. Following his death, she married Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk.

Originally laid to rest in the Abbey of St Edmund, her tomb was moved to St Mary's after the dissolution of the monasteries.

Looking for a place to stay? Visit our Places to Stay Guide.