In rural Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds is a relatively small town that packs a punch.
At a glance…
- Days To Spend: 1
- Get Around: Walk
- Get In and Out: By car, or train
- Pay: With Pounds, likely using a card
- Speak: English
- See: Greene King Brewery, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, Ickworth Estate
- Should you go?: If you live nearby, absolutely
General Impressions
Bury St Edmunds is a genuinely charming town, with a few impressive sights. It’s a genuinely very nice place to visit, the only real problem being accessibility, though even on that front, it’s not too bad
Public Transport
Getting Around
Bury St Edmunds is small and very walkable, with the exception of Ickworth Estate, which is quite a bit out of town. It’s best to drive to it, and trying to take the bus to it is likely more effort than the estate is worth.
Getting In and Out
Bury St Edmunds is decently connected by rail with direction connections to Peterborough, Cambridge, and Ipswich, from which you can take the train to London or elsewhere. The best way to get to Bury St Edmunds however, is to just drive there, as parking is widely available, and having a car is useful to reach Ickworth Estate.
Drink
Bury St Edmunds is home to Greene King’s brewery, one of Britain’s largest beer producers. It’s definitely worth a visit to sample some of their more unique beers in their tasting room, or to do a full-blown brewery tour.
Money
Card is the generally preferred method of payment, though some smaller shops and venues will only accept cash. It’s prudent to carry around at least some Pound Sterling in case you want to patronise such places.
Language
English is the first, and only, language spoken here.
Time
Bury St Edmunds has enough to do for a solid day.
My Favourite Spots
Greene King Brewery
Built of iconic red brick in the 1930s, the Greene King Brewery offers very interesting tours into how the brewery operates, and finishes this off with a tasting of a wide array of different beers.
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
A rather typical English Cathedral on the outside, the inside is well decorated, and has an absolutely amazing ceiling. There’s also an adorable Lego model of the cathedral!
Abbey Ruins
There once was an abbey in Bury St Edmunds, but all that’s left of it now are stone blocks and few ruined buildings, that make a nice spot for some pictures. The gardens are also well worth exploring.
Spots That Might Be Good
Ickworth Estate
When an English nobleman travelled Europe, he became enchanted by Italian and Classical architecture. This served as an inspiration for Ickworth House. It’s large central rotunda makes it unique in comparison to other English country houses. The inside has many painting and decorations, and is furnished as if the family was still living there. The ground are also extensive and quite pretty. It’s a nice place to visit, but difficult to access without a car.
Conclusion
Bury St Edmunds is definitely a great place for a day trip if you either live nearby, or you’re exploring East English cities. No East of England itinerary can be complete without it!
We May Roam 