Days Out You Can Enjoy From Bury St Edmunds

Nestled in the Cambridgeshire Fens, Ely is a compact city full of character and with plenty to explore. Ely is best known for its magnificent Cathedral; widely acknowledged as one of the wonders of the Medieval world. Built in 1083, the architectural marvel has a unique octagonal lantern tower and is surrounded by extensive parkland. Visitors can explore the cathedral daily, with opening hours from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Don’t miss the Stained Glass Museum, located within the cathedral, showcasing a stunning collection of stained glass spanning over 800 years.

Ely has two museums, one located in the historic Bishops Gaol and the other, Prickwillow museum, displaying a collection of large working diesel engines. You can also pay a visit to the former family home of Oliver Cromwell, where he moved to with his family in 1636, inside you can discover interactive displays and try on costumes as you find out all about the battlefields of the English Civil War.

Ely has a great range of quirky independent shops, from crafts to clothing, gifts to gadgets and even a Pagan and alternative gift shop called ‘Positively Magickal’, you’ll spend a good few hours browsing and shopping to your heart’s content.

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Stop by the Ely Grazing Company, offering a range of hot and cold snacks and drinks, or pop by the Market Kitchen Ely, for delicious homemade, seasonal dishes.

Famed for its prestigious university, Cambridge is a welcoming city which offers a blend of historic architecture and vibrant culture. Once home to notable figures such as Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, and Stephen Hawking, there are so many ways to experience the grandeur of the city. No trip to Cambridge would be complete without a punt along the River Cam, there are several different companies who tout for business around King’s Parade or market square. Look out for Scudamores and Cambridge Punt Company to find time and a tour to suit you.

Be sure to visit the Fitzwilliam Museum, housing a vast collection of art and antiquities, it is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sundays from 12pm to 5pm and admission is free. Find out what it’s like to live and study in Cambridge with a tour of the colleges and chapels from Cambridge College Tours - The guides themselves are students studying at the university so are well placed to give you all the details of the academic history, iconic landmarks and scenic beauty of Cambridge.

There are of course a great many independent shops and boutiques in Cambridge, selling clothing, books, cosmetics and souvenirs. There’s a big market on Market Square with great street food options as well as homemade goods, sweets and other interesting items for sale. And, if you enjoy hunting for a bargain, there are a great many charity shops, located mostly on Burleigh street.

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Indulge with a scoop or two from Jack’s Gelato, a simply outstanding ice-cream shop, which usually has a queue stretching down the street. There are two locations: one on Bene’t Street and the other on All Saint’s Passage. Each has a new menu every day and includes flavours such as salted treacle, vanilla brown sugar, dark chocolate and sea salt and apple sorbet.

The village of Snape is synonymous with the Snape Maltings; a collection of Victorian buildings now housing magnificent concert halls, intriguing galleries, and a lovely selection of shops. Set against the backdrop of the River Alde, it's a great destination for walkers, who can take in the River Alde Valley, the marshes, heath and Iken Church. Dotted around the site are a great selection of sculptures, each enhanced or juxtaposed with the natural landscape surrounding it. The Snape Maltings Concert Hall hosts a range of performances throughout the year including installations, readings and of course music, from indie pop and jazz to classical music and operas.

For a meal with a glorious view, the River View Café & Bar offers a seasonal menu from 11:30am to 3:30pm. And if you’re feeling adventurous, river trips depart from the Maltings’ historic quay between March and October, taking passengers on a journey down through the narrows towards Iken.

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Leave time to visit the many independent shops and galleries, including carefully selected homeware, furniture, clothing, ceramics, plants, arts & crafts, Suffolk food & drink, and more.

A designated area of outstanding natural beauty, Dedham Vale is most famous for inspiring the works of painter John Constable. The Flatford area in particular offers walkers the chance to see several views that connect to John Constable's paintings. Flatford Mill, Willy Lott's House, and the site of the Hay Wain painting can be seen from the Flatford and Constable country walk, the Flatford Mill circular walk, and a riverside walk from Dedham.

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Dedham itself is a charming little village, with several shops, an arts and crafts centre housed in an atmospheric converted church and The Essex Rose, a quaint little tea room serving afternoon tea, cakes, scones and sandwiches. Further up Dedham’s main high street you’ll find The Sun Inn, a welcoming and quaint Michelin starred restaurant and pub serving a changing and exquisite menu of simple, local and seasonal food with nods to the cuisine of Italy, Spain and the South of France. They have a cosy bar area, stylish restaurant and sunny garden area.

Holkham in North Norfolk boasts a stunning blend of heritage and natural beauty, with vast wide beaches, pine forest, salt marshes and dunes. Pay a visit to Holkham Hall and Estate; an 18th-century Palladian mansion set within a vast deer park. Amble through the walled garden, take in the vast array of wildlife and challenge yourself on the woodland ropes course, or hire a bike to enjoy the thrill of riding through the grounds with the wind in your hair!

Just a short walk away lies Holkham Beach, a favourite retreat of the British royal family and for good reason. This beach is quite unusual; backed by pretty pines, and with a semicircular basin which at high tides fills to create a narrow lagoon. It’s no surprise that the beach has featured in film and tv, notably Gyneth Paltrow walks across the sands in the closing scenes of Shakespeare in Love.

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After a long day in the fresh air, book a table at The Victoria, located near the estate, the carefully curated menu showcases the very best of locally sourced ingredients, prepared with utmost care. The restaurant has been awarded two AA rosettes and visitors can eat in the orangery which offers magnificent views over the Holkham Nature reserve.

Spanning over 19,000 hectares, Thetford Forest is the UK's largest lowland pine forest. It's a veritable playground for outdoor enthusiasts, offering cycling trails, walking paths, and loads of wildlife to spot on the way. Challenge yourself at Go Ape Thetford with high ropes activities including rope ladders, navigate wobbly bridges and an exhilarating zip wires that send you soaring through the trees. For a unique woodland exploration, you can also hop on a Forest Segway and glide through the beautiful trails on two wheels.

For a more peace and reflective experience, make your way through the forest to Lynford arboretum, noted for its variety of bird life, spring flowers and autumn fungi.

The nearby Elveden Estate is also a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts! Join Explore 4x4 for off-road driving, clay-pigeon shooting and a range of group activities.

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If you want to enjoy a hearty meal, The Elvenden Inn serves a delicious menu using produce from the Elveden Estate, or stop by the Elveden Estate's Courtyard and pay a visit to the farm shop, cafe and home & garden store.

Known as the City of Stories, Norwich is a fascinating city steeped in medieval charm and unexpected delights, perfect for a day of gentle wandering and discovery.

Once the second-largest city in England, its skyline is still graced by the spires of over 30 historic churches, the imposing Norman cathedral, and Norwich Castle, now a fascinating museum perched atop a grassy mound. Meander through the Norwich Lanes, a labyrinth of cobbled streets lined with independent shops, eccentric boutiques and vintage dens, there are antiques aplenty and vintage bargains to be found.

The art nouveau beauty of the Royal Arcade is not to be missed, and alongside the wonderful shops in the arcade you’ll also find Yalm, two floors of some of the best independent chefs and kitchens in the region, conveniently located in a stylish foodhall.

Opposite the arcade is the city’s famous market, one of the oldest and largest outdoor markets in the country. It’s a technicolour hive of artisan coffee, global street food and bric-a-brac, all om a slight incline which makes the visit all the more interesting!

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For those with a taste for the peculiar, don’t miss a peek inside Elm Hill’s crooked bookshops or the quirky Stranger’s Hall Museum; a magnificent Tudor house which was home to mayors and merchants since the 14th Century.