UnLondon in Bury St Edmunds

London is vibrant, bustling, and always on the go—that’s part of its charm! But sometimes, it’s just what you need a break from. If you’re ready to slow things down and recharge, it’s time to embrace the art of UnLondon. Hop on a train and escape to East Anglia for a peaceful weekend getaway. Recently named one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 regions to visit in 2025, it’s the perfect antidote to city life.

Step back in time at The Guildhall and World War II Operations Room

While visiting Bury St Edmunds, make sure you pay a visit to Bury St Edmunds Guildhall, a stunning Grade I listed building dating from the early 1500s. Its striking Tudor architecture houses beautifully preserved interiors, and hidden within is the fascinating World War II Operations Room. Here, local officers once coordinated vital wartime efforts and now, the recreated operations room, complete with original maps and equipment, offers a chance to experience Bury’s role during the war.

Plan a visit at https://burystedmundsguildhall.org.uk/

Have fun with friends at Sneaky Links

For a playful escape from the usual bar scene, Sneaky Links offers adults-only crazy golf with a twist. This playfully vibrant venue combines quirky golf course designs with a well-stocked bar serving fun cocktails and craft beers. You can challenge friends to a round of themed holes featuring everything from pop culture nods to tricky obstacles, it’s a surefire hit for a night of laughs and just a tad of competition!

Plan a visit at https://www.sneaky-links.co.uk/

Find a unique souvenir on the Bury St Edmunds Antiques Trail

If you’ve got an eye for a bargain, you should definitely make time for the Bury Antiques trail. You can even start the trail after arriving at the train station, wandering along the route and popping into several of Bury’s best second-hand establishments as you go. Smoking Monkey Antiques beckons you in with a treasure trove of vintage furniture and collectibles and just nearby, 3 Cats Vintage offers a delightful mix of retro fashion, homeware, and quirky gifts. Finish your trail at Luna House Boutique, a stylish shop featuring pre-loved, vintage and artisan items.

Discover Bury's Fascinating Past with Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides

A great way to uncover all of Bury St Edmunds’ mysteries, history and charm is to join the official daily historic walking tour of Bury St Edmunds. Over 90 minutes, knowledgeable guides lead you past key landmarks including Abbey Gate, Abbey Gardens, and St Edmundsbury Cathedral to dig deeper into the hidden stories of people who called Bury home throughout the years. Along the way, you’ll hear intriguing tales of secrets, scandals, and legends while meandering around the atmospheric streets and slowing down to notice all the details.

Book a tour at https://www.burystedmundstourguides.org/

Visit Bury's Famous Brewery

Greene King Brewery is a cornerstone of Bury St Edmunds' heritage and one of the largest brewers in the UK. Visitors can take guided tours through the historic site to learn about traditional brewing methods alongside modern production. The tours often conclude with tastings of signature ales such as IPA, Abbot Ale, and Old Speckled Hen. The brewery is also home to a beer café with views overlooking parts of the brewing process, adding an immersive layer to the experience and you can pay a visit to the shop to take a selection of your favourites home or as gifts.

Book a tour at https://shop.greeneking.co.uk/pages/brewery-tours

Enjoy Bury St Edmunds' Iconic Abbey Gardens

No visit to Bury St Edmunds is complete without exploring the cathedral and Abbey Gardens. This peaceful green oasis in the town centre sits on the site of the ancient Abbey of St Edmund and is overlooked by the impressive St Edmundsbury Cathedral. The gardens invite visitors to wander through beautifully maintained flowerbeds, rose gardens, and open lawns, with the striking medieval abbey ruins creating a hauntingly atmospheric backdrop, there’s a cute cafe and even an aviary.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral, completed in the early 20th century but built in a Gothic Revival style, boasts soaring spires, intricate stonework, and stunning stained glass windows that tell the story of St Edmund, the town’s patron saint. The cathedral is open to visitors and often hosts concerts and community events.

Peruse the fascinating exhibitions at Moyse's Hall Museum

Moyse’s Hall Museum is perfect for anyone with a taste for the weird and slightly macabre. This curious and fascinating museum is housed in an 800-year-old building on the market square and its permanent displays cover local history, horology, and crime; including a macabre exhibit on the infamous Red Barn Murder of 1827. You’ll find everything from medieval weaponry to Victorian police records, plus quirky temporary exhibitions ranging from taxidermy to art. The building itself is one of the oldest in town, with original features that give it a wonderfully atmospheric feel.

Plan a visit at https://www.moyseshall.org/

Watch a Show at Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal

For a historical theatre experience, book tickets to a show at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, a beautifully restored Regency playhouse that offers a packed programme of performances throughout the year. Built in 1819, it’s the only surviving example of a working Regency theatre in the UK and is now managed by the National Trust.

The intimate horseshoe-shaped auditorium creates a unique connection between audience and stage, perfect for plays, comedy, live music, and family-friendly productions. If you’re not catching a show, the theatre also offers behind-the-scenes tours that give a fascinating glimpse into its 19th-century architecture, original stage machinery, and theatrical past.

Book tickets at https://theatreroyal.org/

Walk to magnificent Ickworth

If you’re ready to stretch your legs and explore one of Suffolk’s grandest estates, follow the 4.5-mile footpath route from Bury St Edmunds to Ickworth, passing through the village of Horringer and out into open countryside.

At the end of your walk lies Ickworth House, Park & Gardens, a remarkable neoclassical mansion set within acres of landscaped parkland. Built in the late 18th century for the eccentric 4th Earl of Bristol (known as the ‘Earl-Bishop’), Ickworth’s central Rotunda is an architectural marvel, with a domed façade inspired by Roman temples and filled with an extensive art collection, including works by Gainsborough and Hogarth.

The estate remained in the Hervey family for generations and now belongs to the National Trust. Wander through the formal gardens, explore ancient woodland trails, or stop for refreshments at the West Wing café before heading back to Bury along the trails, with abundant nature at every turn.

Plan a visit at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/ickworth-estate

Explore Suffolk's Foodie Town

Known as Suffolk's Foodie Town, satisfy your cravings with a wide variety of places to eat and drink, each offering its own distinct ambiance—from award-winning fine dining to hearty, home-cooked Suffolk pub fare.

Whether you're planning a family gathering or a romantic dinner, finding the ideal spot to eat in Bury St Edmunds is a breeze, thanks to the town’s diverse culinary scene. Known as Suffolk’s foodie capital, it's also home to the county’s only Michelin-starred restaurant—making it the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon or evening with friends.

Plan a foodie break at https://visit-burystedmunds.co.uk/category/foodies

Embrace Bury's Cafe Culture

Bury St Edmunds boasts a rich—and delightfully varied—café scene perfect for coffee lovers, cake aficionados, or anyone simply looking to relax. Baileys 2 on Whiting Street consistently tops polls as Suffolk’s favourite café, praised for its welcoming vibe, locally sourced coffee, homemade cakes, and delicious sandwiches made to order.

For something truly distinctive, No 5 Angel Hill, nestled opposite the Abbey Gate with views of Angel Hill and Abbey Gardens, serves artisan Suffolk-roasted coffee and freshly baked cakes in interiors featuring aircraft‑part furniture—ideal for people‑watching or unwinding with a treat. Bay Tree Café, located in the lively St John’s Street “cool quarter”, offers a delicious blend of traditional and modern bites—from soups and toasties to Bakewell tarts—alongside locally roasted coffee in a charming, relaxed setting. Coffee purists should head to Alema Coffee, a cosy, family-run shop on High Baxter Street where beans from the owners’ Ecuadorian plantation are roasted onsite—earning reviews calling it “the best coffee in town”. Finally, for a Mediterranean twist, Café Kottani near the Buttermarket brings Greek flair with authentic espresso, mountain tea, mezze plates, and baklava in a warm, friendly atmosphere.

Enjoy a pint in one of Bury St Edmunds' Historic Pubs

Bury St Edmunds is steeped in history, and its pubs are no exception—offering a warm welcome alongside centuries of stories. The Dog and Partridge, dating back to the 17th century, charms visitors with its timber-framed façade and traditional ales. Just steps away, The Nutshell holds the title of Britain’s smallest pub, measuring just 15ft by 7ft, yet packed with character and quirky memorabilia. For those wanting a true taste of brewing heritage, The Fox Inn and The One Bull both serve locally crafted beers from Greene King, whose historic brewery has operated in the town since 1799.

Many of the town's pubs are not only loved for their drinks but also their cosy interiors, roaring fireplaces, and menus full of hearty Suffolk fare—making them the perfect spots to soak up local flavour in every sense. Want to visit them all? If you've got the stamina, check out the Bury St Edmunds Ale Trail!

Dine at Suffolk's Michelin Starred Restaurant

The gastronomic reputation of Bury St Edmunds as Suffolk’s Foodie Capital is a draw for many visitors, so you’ll want to schedule a taste of the best eateries. Tucked away on a quiet unassuming street, Pea Porridge is a Michelin-starred restaurant known for bold, seasonal cooking with North African and Middle Eastern influences. The ever-changing menu features dishes like muntjac and merguez skewers, Moorish fish soup, and Earl Stonham wagyu beef short rib with soft polenta and truffle. There’s often a tagine to share, or beautifully spiced vegetarian dishes like cauliflower shawarma with saffron tahina. Puddings are just as thoughtful; the burnt Basque cheesecake with poached peach is a favourite.

Book a table at https://peaporridge.co.uk/

Stay in Charles Dickens' Room at The Angel Hotel

A landmark in Bury St Edmunds since the 15th century, The Angel Hotel, at the heart of Bury St Edmunds, has long been a place for travellers to rest, dine, and soak up the local atmosphere. The hotel combines historic features like exposed beams and traditional fireplaces with modern comforts in a classy setting. Its restaurant offers a seasonal menu focusing on locally sourced produce, perfect for a leisurely meal after exploring the town, and some tables even have a view of the Cathedral.

There's an abundance of rooms to choose from, including the room where Charles Dickens stayed in 1835 as a journalist for the Morning Chronicle (staying in what was then room 11) and later in In 1859 and 1861 when he returned to read to a captive audience at the nearby Athenaeum, staying in what is now room 215, AKA the Charles Dickens Suite.

Book a room at https://www.theangel.co.uk/