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.

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Trees in full autumn colour at Ickworth Estate surrounding the Rotunda and Church

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.

Bridge cottage at Flatford in Winter, Suffolk

Place

Flatford

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

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

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.

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

House and buildings

A frosty country walk at Flatford, Suffolk

Coast and Countryside

Couple walking at Flatford in frosty winter landscape

Walks

Visitors enjoying a family trail in Autumn

Family days out

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

Visitors enjoying a drink on the terrace at Ickworth Estate

Places to eat

Enjoy a day out with the family in Suffolk this half-term. From indoor golf, bike rides, Gruesome Graves Tours, geocaching and nature trails, there's lots to keep the whole family entertained.

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February half-term at Ickworth

There's lots to do at Ickworth Estate this half-term, whatever the weather. The popular indoor golf returns to West Wing Gallery, follow and activity trail and explore the house and gardens, pick up an explorer pack and go on an adventure across the estate or hire a bike from the cycle hub and set off on a bike ride.

A young toddler-aged boy is walking around in the High Hall exhibition space wearing the soft, child-friendly version of the Sutton Hoo helmet

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Half-term at Sutton Hoo

Visit the exhibition at dress up like an Anglo-Saxon warrior, follow a trail an explore the estate, burn off steam in the adventure playground or join a family friendly Gruesome Graves tour to discover the secrets of the Royal Burial Ground that are too gruesome for the main tour!

Family having fun in the play area at Dunwich Heath

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February half-term at Dunwich Heath

Pick up a tracker pack and go on a nature adventure at Dunwich Heath. Have a go at geocaching, build a den. follow a trail or pop into Heath Barn for nature inspired crafts

A carpet of white snowdrops with a path and trees seen behind

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Visiting the garden at Ickworth

Visit Ickworth Estate for impressive swathes of snowdrops. Beautiful displays can be seen in the Albana Woodland and Geraldine's Walk as well as out in the wider parkland.

A close up of a group of white snowdrop flowers with a blurred building seen behind on the right

Join a snowdrop tour at Ickworth Estate

Join the volunteers on a walk to discover the very best spot to see snowdrops at Ickworth. Or take a deeper dive into the history of the gardens at Ickworth and the different varities of snowdrops in bloom with one of the expert gardeners.

Get out into nature this winter with these top walks in Suffolk

Exterior view of Rotunda across the North Lawn at Ickworth Estate, Suffolk

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.

View of the burial mounds in early light at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk

Trail

Sutton Hoo woodland walk

Discover the Anglo-Saxon burial site, where a 7th-century ship was uncovered, as well as the woodland wildlife that surrounds the ancient site on the circular Sutton Hoo woodland walk.

Bench with sea view at Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk

Trail

Dunwich Heath orange trail

Follow the orange trail if you want a bit of everything on your walk, from the swathes of heather making up the heath with the rare Dartford Warbler maybe making an appearance, to the statuesque woodland where you might spot a flash of red and black as a Greater Spotted Woodpecker wings by, and the open expanse of the grassland where Stone Curlews and Hares hide amongst the swaying fronds.

View of the rotunda at Ickworth, Suffolk

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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.

Two visitors cycle side by side through a winding path leading through parkland on the Ickworth Estate. They're wrapped up in rain coats and the weather appears hazy.

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.

Seal pup with off-white, slightly bloodied fur and deep black eyes on a ground of beige, brown and grey pebbles.

Press release

First grey seal pup of 2024 is born at Orford Ness

The first grey seal pup of this winter has been born at Orford Ness in Suffolk, marking the fourth consecutive year of successful breeding at the coastal site.

A close up of the rare Neon pictus, a tiny brown and yellow jumping spider

Press release

Orford Ness ‘crawling’ with spiders as survey reveals new record of rare spider species for the wild and remote location

As we approach Halloween, recent surveys by spider experts have revealed that the wild and remote Orford Ness, cared for by the National Trust, is ‘crawling’ with spiders. A total of 55 species of spider have been identified, including 12 believed to be nationally rare or scarce, and a first-time record for the Suffolk coast of the nationally rare Neon pictus, a tiny jumping spider.

Purple heather on Dunwich Heath and Beach, Suffolk

Press release

Dunwich heather back in bloom after remarkable recovery

Dunwich Heath, a rare heathland habitat cared for by the National Trust on the Suffolk coast is showing signs of recovery, with its patchwork of pink and purple heather back in bloom after being severely impacted by extreme heat and drought in 2022.

Tony Robinson and Helen Geake stood outside the gate to Garden Field at Sutton Hoo

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Time Team at Sutton Hoo

Missing pieces of a 6th century Byzantine bucket have been uncovered at Sutton Hoo, during a month-long archaeological excavation by Time Team at the site. Time Team has been documenting this unique investigation as it's unfolded and we look forward to sharing news about the special documentary, which is due out early next year.

Two Brown long-eared bats, Plecotus auritus, hanging upside down

News

Pillbox used in D-Day preparations is given new lease of life as a home for bats

A Second World War pillbox at Dunwich Heath, which was used in preparations for the D-Day landings, has been transformed into a home for roosting bats.

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

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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.

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

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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

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Dog-friendly cottages in Suffolk

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Large holiday cottages and group getaways in Suffolk

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

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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.

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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.

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Ickworth on the World Stage

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Follow one family's unconventional adventures as Ickworth sets sail with the Herveys in 2025.

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An Introduction to Ickworth Tour

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Join the team caring for Ickworth's treasures to discover more about the Hervey family and their collection.

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Paintings Conservation in Action

Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Pop in to Tranmer House to see an expert paintings conservator carrying out conservation work on original portraits of Edith and Robert Pretty.

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Cycle Led Tours

Ickworth Estate, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Explore Ickworth Estate on a Cycle Led Tour.

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Anglo-Saxon costume making

Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Meet our historic costume volunteers as they demonstrate the craft skills of the Anglo-Saxons and how they created clothing and accessories using natural materials.