Free Family Days Out!

There lots to explore and enjoy in the Abbey Gardens; start in the aviary which is home to a variety of birds including canaries, budgies, teal ducks, bengalis, zebra finches and diamond doves then head to the playground to let the children let off some steam. Find a spot on the grass and enjoy a picnic before enjoying a round of crazy golf!

There's a wildlife feeding area where you can spot birds and squirrels, then pay a visit to the cafe for teas, coffees and ice creams to complete your day.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral launched an ambitious project to recreate the Cathedral out of LEGO bricks and it is now complete!

It's taken 10 Years and 200,000 Bricks. The first brick was laid on 28 May 2016, the 100,000th brick in July 2022 and the final brick in May 2026.

Since the launch in May 2016, thousands of visitors from near and far have donated to place bricks - see the Lego St Edmundsbury Cathedral in the South West corner of St Edmundsbury Cathedral.

Entry to the Cathedral is free but donations gratefully received.

Dating back to 1279, Bury St Edmunds Guildhall is the oldest continuously-used civic building in Britain and proudly boasts a World War Two Royal Observer Corps Control Centre – the only surviving room of its kind in the country. Discover the interactive displays and collections which take you on a journey through time and history and visit The Court Room, the Banqueting Hall, the Royal Observer Corps WWII Operations Room, the Tudor Kitchen, courtyards and fabulous open gardens. 

Through each room The Guildhall explores 700 years of local history and tells the story of the people who lived it, live re-enactors will also appear on special occasions!

Bury St Edmunds Guildhall is open open on select days - check their website for more details.

With almost 200 acres of landscaped Suffolk countryside you can spend a whole day and still not see everything at Nowton Park!

Take a walk through the arboretum which is home to trees from around the world and look out for the panda which was carved and placed in the China region. Near the centre of the North America region, you will also find a 35.4 ft totem pole!

Find a spot to enjoy a picnic or pay a visit to the Grounds Café at Nowton Park for sandwiches, meals, hot and cold drinks and ice creams. Afterwards, get lost in the maze in the shape of a stylised oak tree and search for the centre of the maze, which marked by a fastigiate oak.

There are two ponds in Nowton Park - the meadow pond which is rich in aquatic life and is a draw for grass snakes as a place to bask, hunt and swim, and the school pond which is home to moorhens, mallards and the occasional grey heron which feeds on the introduced mirror and crucian carp. There's also a large play area and football pitches where little ones can let off steam!

Award-winning Rougham Control Tower Aviation Museum is dedicated to preserving the memory of all who served with the 8th USAAF at RAF Bury St Edmunds during WWII, housed in the original control tower and other period buildings.

Uncover the history of the men and women who served here and how they fit into the story of The Mighty Eighth told in the 9-part Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air, starring Austin Butler.

Bury St Edmunds was home for thousands of American airmen and women during WWII and a visit to Rougham Control Tower Aviation Museum is like taking a trip back in time.

Full of artefacts, maps, photo's, aircraft relics and memorabilia. Friendly guided tours and a welcoming Vintage Tea Room with home made cakes and refreshments.

RAF Bury St Edmunds, now Rougham Airfield and known in WWII by the USAAF as Station 468, not only welcomed 3,000 GIs during WWII but the Glenn Miller Orchestra, legendary comedian Bob Hope and Hollywood movie star Clark Gable, who all visited to entertain the troops.

It was home for the 94th Bomb Group (and for a shorter time the 322nd and 47th Bomb Groups) of the USAAF 8th Airforce, whose contribution to the Allies’ strategic bombing offensive helped turn the tide of war against the Nazis and free occupied Europe. The 94th Bomb Group flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign and served chiefly as a strategic bombardment organization throughout the war.

Open from Easter weekend to October every Sunday 10am to 4pm with additional special events.

Free entry but donations gratefully received.

Surrounding West Stow Anglo Saxon Village, West Stow Country Park includes 125 acres of unspoilt countryside, trails, heath and woodland walks including the Beowulf and Grendel Trail and adventure playground.

The trail is inspired by the ancient saga of Beowulf and Grendel and takes you on a journey through parts of the unique Breckland landscape including, heathland - where you will meet the sleeping dragon - woodlands and lake settings. There are six large themed carved sculptures that capture not only capture the story but fire your imagination about life in the region 1,500 years ago.

For wildlife enthusiasts there are two bird hides and a bird feeding area as well as a lake and the River Lark with all the life that this attracts. 

Long Melford Country Park is the perfect place for families to explore with small lakes, wooded areas, and viewing points beside the River Stour.

The Country Park is a great starting location for walks and bike rides as it is located close by to the Valley Walk pathway which takes you just a few miles, along a traffic free scenic route, into the nearby town of Sudbury.

There's a car park and toilets and plenty of green space and picnic benches - perfect for a day enjoying the great outdoors!

Clare Castle Country Park is a beautiful 32.6-acre park which contains the remains of a 13th Century stone castle keep set upon its 70ft high motte overlooking the town, as well as its inner and outer baileys - it’s a beautiful spot for recreation and picnics with Roman, Saxon, Norman connections. Inside the castle, located in the original 1865 bookings hall of Clare Railway Station, is Platform One, an atmospheric café in the heart of the park.

The park is home to a range of circular walks, suitable for all abilities, plus a play area; surrounded by grass with has benches and tables ideal for family picnics. The Platform One Cafe is nearby, selling take away drinks and food and during the summer months, an ice cream van visits the main car park.

Did you know? The wonky buildings in the village of Lavenham were the inspiration for Godric's Hollow, the birthplace of Harry Potter! In fact, you can spot Lavenham in The Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Outdoor photo opportunities include The Crooked House - and said to be the inspiration for popular nursery rhyme There was a Crooked Man and The Harry Potter House, De Vere House. De Vere House appeared as parts of Godric’s Hollow in the Harry Potter film Deathly Hallows Part One (and in the PSP, Gameboy and Xbox games of the film) also being used in two of the official Christmas Cards produced by Warner Bros. In the filming of Harry Potter, different parts of De Vere House were cut and paste to make up the whole of Godric’s Hollow. Filmed during the summer, the special effects team added winter snow (even pasting a Christmas tree into De Vere House's front bay window together with the sound of Christmas carols in the background).

Lavenham is also home to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, England's most famous lullabies, written by resident Jane Taylor. It’s formal title is The Star, and it’s thought to have been inspired by the Taylor family’s time at Shilling Old Grange in Shilling Street, Lavenham. Jane and her siblings were educated at home by their parents, and Jane, having been taught astronomy, would stare at the night sky from the window of the room she shared with her sister Ann. Jane went on to write numerous books and poems, mostly featuring ordinary children in rural settings but sadly died when she was only 40.

Children and teens will love exploring the winding streets, followed by a stop at The Parlour, a delightful ice cream parlour which serves a delicious selection of ice creams, milkshakes and sundaes. Then if the kids want to run off all that sugar head to the Lavenham Woodland walk which starts near to Lavenham Guildhall - An easy circular walk that's great for families. Spot wildlife in the Lavenham Woodland community project, walk a section of the old Lavenham to Long Melford railway line, and marvel at the parish church with its towering spire. Will you spot some of the 24 varieties of butterfly seen in the area?