​Top ‘Must Dos’ in Bury St Edmunds

Indulge your appetite with a huge number of places to eat and drink each with their own unique atmosphere with everything from award-winning fine dining to quality Suffolk home-cooked pub grub.

Whether it’s a family get together or a romantic meal, finding the perfect place to eat in Bury St Edmunds is easy as there are so many choices to tempt your taste buds. You can easily while away an afternoon or evening with friends in Suffolk's foodie capital, which is home to the county's only Michelin-starred restaurant. For beer lovers, Bury St Edmund is the home of Greene King which has been brewing beer in the town for more than 200 years.

The annual Bury St Edmunds Food and Drink Festival in August is a veritable feast of delicious dishes try and buy together with demonstrations by chefs and the town has its own Ale Trail and Food and Drink Tours. Bury St Edmunds’ markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the Buttermarket and Cornhill area and the town's monthly farmers markets are a fantastic opportunity to sample the county’s marvellous local produce and food stalls.

Find out more in our Foodie Guide.

Discover Bury St Edmunds’ incredible heritage, elegant architecture, open spaces and a wealth of entertainment with our pick of the town’s top attractions.

The beautiful Abbey Gardens in the heart of Bury St Edmunds are a place to unwind and relax. Take a stroll around the impressive formal flower beds and pristine lawns. Take in the herb garden, sensory garden, water garden and enjoy the 400 rose bushes in the pretty Appleby Rose Garden, which pays tribute to US servicemen and women in Suffolk.

The play area, aviary, river and open spaces are favourites with families, as is the popular ice cream kiosk.

The commanding 14^thcentury Great Gate at the entrance to the Abbey Gardens conjures up Bury St Edmunds’ illustrious history. The ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund, once one of the richest and largest monasteries in Europe, can be found within the Abbey Gardens, giving visitors another tantalising glimpse of Bury's past.

With spectacular views of the town from the Tower Tour and its spectacular vaulted ceiling, a visit to St Edmundsbury Cathedral is a ‘must do’ when visiting Bury St Edmunds.

Known as the Parish Church of St James until the 20^th century, building began in the late 11^th century on the orders of Abbot Anselm, when he was unable to make the pilgrimage to the shrine of St James in Compostela, Spain. St Edmundsbury Cathedral – or The Cathedral Church of St James as it is formally entitled – received its cathedral status in 1914 with the creation of the diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. It is the only Cathedral in Suffolk.

An ongoing work through the centuries, St Edmundsbury Cathedral was the only unfinished Anglican cathedral in England until 2010, when the final phases were completed through a millennium project. The Millennium Tower, a resplendent 150-foot Gothic structure, opened in 2005 and a stunning vaulted ceiling was signed off five years later. Book the Tower Tour for a closer look and to take in the impressive views from the roof.

Discover 1,000 years of history, from monks and martyrs to Saxon kings and Tudor queens, from talking wolves and Magna Carta to Georgian chic and Mr Pickwick – you’ll find them all in Bury St Edmunds.

Let the Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides show you the history of Bury St Edmunds in a 90-minute walking tour. daily scheduled tours are offered from spring through to autumn, departing from the information point on Angel Hill. Led by cheerful local history lovers, the tours explore the Abbey Ruins and the town. Groups can also choose from a ‘Speciality Menu’, which includes their ‘Crime and Punishment’ tour, the ‘Inns and Alehouses’ tour and a fascinating ‘Changing Face of Bury’ tour.

Experience what it was like to go to the theatre in pre-Victorian times at Britain’s last surviving Regency playhouse, the Grade 1 listed Theatre Royal, the country’s third oldest theatre.

The varied programme of drama, dance, music and comedy provides entertainment throughout the year in a charming and intimate setting – and the annual pantomime always attracts a full house.

Built in 1819, the theatre runs under the auspices of the National Trust. There are tour and explore sessions from February to November.

Brand new exciting acts come to this superb venue in the heart of the town with a diverse range of artists performing everything from classical music to pop, rock, jazz, blues, world, country and folk.

Praised for its architectural design and amazing acoustics, The Apex also plays host dance companies, comedians and speakers who regularly grace the stage, while dance and yoga classes take place in the studios. The café, meanwhile, provides a popular resting spot for shoppers in the surrounding arc shopping centre.

This beautiful medieval Moyse's Hall Museum in the heart of Bury St Edmunds houses rich and eclectic collections and changing exhibitions, and hosts events ranging from themed craft workshops for all the family to historical talks and lectures.

The museum offers a fascinating view into the past with collections that document the foundation of the early town - from the creation and dissolution of the Abbey of St Edmund to fascinating insights into local superstitions and witchcraft.

Horrible Histories creator Terry Deary has helped Moyse’s Hall Museum bring Bury St Edmunds’ gruesome history to life for children. The Museum's Crime and Punishment Gallery not only features six Terrible Tales by Terry Deary, best-selling author and creator of the hugely popular Horrible Histories books,

Find exhibits on The Red Barn Murder, The Battle of Fornham, Mary Tudor Queen of France (who is buried in the town), a world class collection of exquisite collections of clocks and timepieces, and fine art by Sir Peter Lely, Angelica Kauffman, James Tissot, and England's first professional female painter Mary Beale.

Beer lovers will enjoy this fantastic ‘behind the scenes’ Greene King brewery tour followed by a tasting session in their popular Beer Café

Greene King has been brewing beer in Bury St Edmunds since 1799, when 19-year-old Benjamin Greene founded Greene’s Brewery. Greene King now runs over 3,000 pubs and bars across the country but the company still brews its beer using traditional methods. Tours run daily.

While away a day exploring the 200 stores that line the picturesque medieval streets, and elegant Georgian squares.

From clothes to kitchenware, shopping in Bury St Edmunds offers something for everyone - all within an easy walking distance in beautiful surroundings.

As well as favourite High Street brands, Bury St Edmunds has a host of independent and individual shops that you won't find anywhere else.

All this plus the modern open street-scape arc Shopping Centre with its futuristic curved flagship store.

Join Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides as you venture out on a dark winter’s night, to chill you with tales of ghostly apparitions, foul murders, witchcraft and spooky sights and sounds....

Dare to walk through the haunted churchyard and hear of the dastardly deeds committed there....

Not for the faint-hearted!

Every Halloween and then every Friday from October November to March!

Discover the final resting place of Mary Tudor, Queen of France and sister of King Henry VIII after whom the Mary Rose was named, and the renowned magnificent hammer-beam Angel roof at St Mary's Church, a hidden treasure.

St Mary’s claims to be one of the largest parish churches in England, and has the second longest aisle and the largest west window. It contains a wealth of 15th century woodcarving and outstanding examples of stained glass including the Mary Tudor Window, presented by Queen Victoria in memory of Princess Mary Tudor, Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk.

Shoppers will love the Bury St Edmunds Market which is as old as the Abbey, and remain one of the most successful traditional street markets in the UK.

On Saturdays and Wednesdays, there are around 80 stalls selling fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, freshly baked bread, flowers, clothes, jewellery, hardware, fabric, pet food and other speciality items. There’s also a great choice of street food, including Thai, Caribbean, hog roasts, and crêpes.

Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides take you through the heart of Bury St Edmunds - Suffolk’s Foodie Capital - as they offer you a taste of the town and explore our food and drink history on this 2½ hour walking tour.

You’ll pass iconic landmarks including The Angel Hotel, the Abbey Gate, The Nutshell pub, The Corn Exchange and more.

Along the way, enjoy bite-sized samples of delicious food and drink and meet the proud people behind these independent businesses.

If you love history, enjoy food, and like to explore, our tours offer a fun experience.

A trip to Bury St Edmunds would not be complete without a drink in The Nutshell, one of Britain’s smallest pubs.

Measuring just 15ft by 7ft and with room for up to 20 people standing up (although it may be a squeeze), pints have been pulled in The Nutshell for 150 years. Despite its lack of space, there is still lots to see in this Victorian tavern: the walls are plastered with old photos, banknotes and memorabilia and a mummified black cat, found bricked up in the chimney, hangs suspended from the ceiling.

Located in the original control tower and surrounding wartime buildings, Rougham Control Tower Aviation Museum is an award-winning museum dedicated to preserving the memory of all who served with the 8th United States Army Air Force (USAAF) at RAF Bury St Edmunds during World War II. The site offers a powerful and authentic glimpse into the past, honoring the bravery and sacrifice of thousands of American airmen and women. Known during WWII as Station 468, RAF Bury St Edmunds was home to around 3,000 American personnel who played a crucial role in the Allied victory. Home to the 94th Bomb Group, they flew the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses on strategic bombing missions.

Learn about the lives of the men and women who served here and how they played a vital role in the story of the Mighty Eighth, soon to be portrayed in the Apple TV+ series Masters of the Air, starring Austin Butler. This major production brought global attention to the remarkable efforts of the USAAF during the war, and the museum offers a personal, up-close look at the real people behind the drama.

A visit to Rougham Control Tower is like taking a journey back to the 1940s. The museum is filled with original artefacts, maps, photographs, aircraft relics, and memorabilia. Knowledgeable volunteer guides offer friendly and informative tours, and visitors can also relax in the charming Vintage Tea Room, which serves homemade cakes and refreshments in a nostalgic wartime setting.

Come and explore this vital chapter in history and uncover more in our Masters of the Air guide.