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.

0

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

Place

Ickworth Estate

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

The replica helmet on display in the High Hall at Sutton Hoo

Place

Sutton Hoo

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

View of the Library at Melford Hall, Suffolk

Place

Melford Hall

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

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

Place

Lavenham Guildhall

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

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

Place

Flatford

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

A family on the Smugglers trail at Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk

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.

View across the salt-marsh at Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, Suffolk

Place

Orford Ness

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

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

Place

Theatre Royal

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

A girl and a boy looking at a Christmas tree, covered in lights at Ickworth in Suffolk.

Christmas in Suffolk

House and buildings to visit in Suffolk

A frosty country walk at Flatford, Suffolk

Coast and Countryside in Suffolk

Visitors with dog enjoying an autumnal walk at Sutton Hoo

Walking in Suffolk

Girl sipping a large cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows on the top

Family-friendly places in Suffolk

Close-up view of a brown and white dog, held on a lead, with fallen leaves on the ground, at Clent Hills, Worcestershire

Dog-friendly places in Suffolk

Visitors in winter enjoying a hot drink outside Ickworth, Suffolk

Places to eat in Suffolk

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

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!

A photo of Ickworth Rotunda in the snow with two cartoon snow flocked trees either side and framed by theatre stage curtains

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

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

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

Christmas at Flatford

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

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

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.

Cycling at Wallington, Northumberland in November

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

The exterior of The Round House, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk

Article

Dog-friendly cottages in Suffolk

Article

Large holiday cottages and group getaways in Suffolk

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

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.

See all events

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

Wool Spinning Demonstrations

Lavenham Guildhall, Sudbury, Suffolk

Watch our volunteer spinners in action at Lavenham Guildhall.

Event

A Life Below Stairs Tour

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Hear the stories of the servants who lived and worked at Ickworth as you discover the hustle and bustle that went on below stairs.

Event

Ickworth Voices Tour

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Take a tour into Ickworth's past and hear stories from those that lived and worked at Ickworth in the 1930s.

Event

Dunwich Heath at Dusk

Dunwich Heath and Beach, Dunwich, Suffolk

Come and experience the tranquillity of Dunwich Heath at Dusk...

Event

Discover Medieval Lavenham - Guided Walks

Lavenham Guildhall, Sudbury, Suffolk

Discover the medieval history of Lavenham on an engaging guided walk of the village with one of our knowledgeable volunteer guides.

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

Christmas Crafts

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Get crafty with our Georgian inspired Christmas crafts

Explore an area nearby

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.

Plan a visit