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Suffolk

Discover the best things to do in Suffolk, in East Anglia, from its much-loved coastline to its historic houses and medieval wool towns. Constable Country is also still very much as landscape artist, John Constable, painted it.

Places to visit

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Top places to visit in Suffolk

A view of Ickworth rotunda with trees full of autumn colour in the foreground
Place
Place

Ickworth Estate 

Ickworth with its classical Rotunda forms the centrepiece of this estate, which is Suffolk's very own little Italy.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Partially open today
The replica helmet on display in the High Hall at Sutton Hoo
Place
Place

Sutton Hoo 

Home to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time, an awe-inspiring Anglo-Saxon royal ship burial.

Woodbridge, Suffolk

Partially open today
View of the Library at Melford Hall, Suffolk
Place
Place

Melford Hall 

An eclectic home, with stories of naval history and links to Beatrix Potter, set in picturesque gardens.

Sudbury, Suffolk

Closed now
The half-timbered exterior of Lavenham Guildhall, in Lavenham village, Suffolk
Place
Place

Lavenham Guildhall 

At the heart of village life, Lavenham Guildhall is one of the most spectacular timber framed buildings of medieval England.

Sudbury, Suffolk

Closed now
Cream-painted Willy Lott's House stands next to the river Stour at Flatford, Suffolk, reflecting in the water along with mature trees
Place
Place

Flatford 

Walk into a masterpiece. This charming hamlet was the inspiration for some of John Constable's most famous paintings.

East Bergholt, Suffolk

Partially open today
A family on the Smugglers trail at Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk
Place
Place

Dunwich Heath 

Tucked away on the Suffolk coast, Dunwich Heath and beach offers you peace and quiet and a true sense of being at one with nature.

Dunwich, Suffolk

Partially open today
View across the salt-marsh at Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, Suffolk
Place
Place

Orford Ness 

Uncover some of Britain's top secret military history when you visit this internationally important nature reserve on the Suffolk coast.

Orford, Suffolk

Closed now
View towards the stage and safety curtain at the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Place
Place

Theatre Royal 

The Theatre Royal is one of Britain's most significant theatre buildings and the only surviving Regency playhouse in the country.

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Spotlight events

Ickworth's rotunda lit in pink with bushes either side of the path leading up to it lit in green
Article
Article

Ickworth's Light Nights 

Join us 10 - 26 November for an evening wander around Ickworth’s gardens as they are transformed by colour and light. Tickets now on sale!

Plan your Christmas in Suffolk

A photo of Christmas trees flocked with fake snow with a table in front with snow covered greenery and flickering candles
Article
Article

Christmas at Ickworth 

Christmas is returning to Ickworth Estate from 2 December with a Georgian Staged Splendour.

A young girl hanging a label on a twig Christmas tree in the High Hall at Sutton Hoo
Article
Article

Yule at Sutton Hoo 

Visit Sutton Hoo this November and December and discover what Christmas was like centuries ago.

Coastguard Cottages at Dunwich Heath, with frost-covered heathland in the foreground
Article
Article

Christmas at Dunwich Heath 

Enjoy a Christmas with a difference at Dunwich Heath and Beach, where you can get back to nature and explore a very special habitat on the Suffolk coast.

A gold heart and red stocking Christmas decoration in the branches of a Christmas tree
Article
Article

Christmas at Flatford 

We'll be celebrating the festive season at Flatford this year with decorations, winter treats and Christmas crafts.

Top winter walks in Suffolk

Blow away the winter blues with one of these top winter walks in Suffolk

View of the River Deben from Sutton Hoo, Suffolk
Trail
Trail

River View walk at Sutton Hoo (green walk) 

Explore the estate surrounding the Anglo-Saxon royal burial site at Sutton Hoo on the circular River View Walk, which runs through woodland and offers views across the River Deben.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 0.8 (km: 1.28)
Coastguard Cottages at Dunwich Heath, with frost-covered heathland in the foreground
Trail
Trail

Dunwich Heath orange trail 

Follow the orange trail which takes in a mix of heathland, woodland and grassland with views out to sea. Look out for winter migrants like hen harriers, merlins, fieldfare and red wings who come to Dunwich for our ‘warmer’ winter weather.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 3 (km: 4.8)
A carpet of white snowdrops with a path and trees seen behind
Trail
Trail

Ickworth Estate | Albana Walk 

A short circular walk through some of the woodlands around Ickworth. If you have the energy when you walk along the Trim Trail try your hand on various fitness objects, ranging from pole climbing to ladder walks and leap frog.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 1.9 (km: 3.04)
A frosty winter sunrise over Willy Lott's House, Flatford, Suffolk
Trail
Trail

Flatford and Constable country walk 

Explore the Stour Valley and Dedham Vale, captured on canvas by artist John Constable, on this relaxing walk with short and long options.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 4 (km: 6.4) to miles: 7 (km: 11.2)

Gardens to visit

The South Front of Ickworth House, Suffolk, showing the central rotunda, curved corridors and the gravel path in the garden. It was built by the Earl of Bristol in 1795
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Article

Visiting the garden at Ickworth 

Ickworth's garden was the first of its kind in the UK. Designed for privacy, space and freedom, it's a distillation of the gardens of classical Italy given an individual English touch.

Outdoor activities in Suffolk

Cycling at Wallington, Northumberland in November
Activity
Activity

Cycling at Ickworth Estate 

Find out more about cycling at Ickworth, including the cycle hire hub available in the car park. Pack a picnic and start your adventure.

Latest news and projects

Two robots that resemble dogs sitting down in the sunshine outside one of the concrete pagodas at Orford Ness.
News
News

Robotic ‘dogs’ carry out pioneering surveys at Orford Ness 

Robotic 'dogs' and drones have been used in new pioneering surveys of two former Cold War testing labs on Orford Ness.

The wooden frame of the replica Anglo-Saxon ship in a boatyard in Woodbridge, Suffolk
News
News

Joinery apprentices help build full-size replica of famous Sutton Hoo ship  

Three of our joinery apprentices are honing their heritage craft skills in a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ project. They'll be working on building a full-size replica of the famous Anglo-Saxon ship unearthed at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk.

Carey Mulligan as Edith Pretty and Ralph Fiennes as Basil Brown
Article
Article

Digging the dirt at Sutton Hoo: The true story behind The Dig 

The Dig is a film by Netflix, released in 2021, based on the novel of the same title by John Preston. But do you know the true story of the excavation of the Great Ship Burial at Sutton Hoo? Read on to discover more.

Dunwich Heath with a view of the Sizewell B nuclear power station
Article
Article

Our response to Sizewell C 

Learn about our involvement in the consultation process and why we think the plans threaten this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for visitors, wildlife and the environment.

Get involved

A volunteer room guide speaking with visitors at Melford Hall, Suffolk

Volunteering in Suffolk 

Making new friends, working in amazing places, and knowing that you're helping a cause you care about – just three great reasons to volunteer with the National Trust in Suffolk.

A ranger and volunteer working on the heathland at Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk
Article
Article

Supporter groups in Suffolk 

Find out what you could gain by joining a National Trust supporter group in Suffolk. Volunteer at local properties, attend talks and socialise with likeminded individuals.

Places to stay

Landscapes beautiful enough to inspire a great artist and a coastline worthy of an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ status; our holiday cottages in Suffolk and along the Suffolk coast offer an inspiring place to stay.

Sustainable travel in Suffolk

Family on a bike ride in autumnal woods, looking at a map
Article
Article

Sustainable travel in Suffolk 

There are a number of sustainable options for travelling to and from the places in our care in Suffolk, whether you’re looking to travel by train, bus, bike or foot. Here’s a little more information that can help you plan your visit.

Upcoming events

Event

Christmas at Ickworth 

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Join us as we transport Ickworth back to the Georgians for a lavish experience at the theatre. Step into the Rotunda and revel in the glorious indulgence of the Christmas festivities that await you.

Event summary

on
11 Dec 2023 to 2 Jan 2024
at
09:00 to 17:00
+ 20 other dates or times
Event

Christmas Crafts 

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Get crafty with our Georgian inspired Christmas crafts

Event summary

on
11 Dec 2023 to 2 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 15:00
+ 20 other dates or times
Event

Georgian Christmas Family Trail 

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Take part in our Georgian Christmas trail and help reunite the lost birds back to the menagerie.

Event summary

on
11 Dec 2023 to 2 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 20 other dates or times
Event

Staged Splendour at Ickworth this Christmas 

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Join us this December for a Staged Splendour.

Event summary

on
11 Dec 2023 to 2 Jan 2024
at
11:00 to 15:00
+ 20 other dates or times
Event

Group Led Cycle Tour of Ickworth Estate 

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Explore more of the estate this Winter on a cycle led tour, on Thursdays and Fridays throughout November and December.

Event summary

on
14 Dec to 22 Dec 2023
at
10:30 to 12:00
+ 7 other dates or times
Event

Wool Spinning Demonstrations 

Lavenham Guildhall, Sudbury, Suffolk

Watch our volunteer spinners in action at Lavenham Guildhall.

Event summary

on
14 Dec 2023 to 8 Feb 2024
at
11:00 to 15:00
+ 8 other dates or times
Event

Yule at Sutton Hoo 

Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Discover what the festive period meant to the Anglo-Saxons living 1500 years ago and find out where many of our traditions came from as we celebrate Yule.

Event summary

on
16 Dec 2023 to 7 Jan 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 11 other dates or times
Event

Gruesome Graves 

Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Take our free family tour to discover gruesome stories we've had to leave out of our 'normal' tours ...

Event summary

on
16 Dec to 29 Dec 2023
at
13:00 to 14:00
+ 2 other dates or times
Visitors at the Christmas market at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Where will you visit next?

Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.