Bury St Edmunds is a historic jewel in Suffolk’s crown that over the millennia it has seen tragedy, drama and greatness in equal measure. As such Bury St Edmunds’ architecture reads like a 3D map of the past, and among the old, you’ll find the new: independent , eateries, art galleries and more.
Bury St Edmunds’ most famous landmarks are its impressive abbey ruins and their adjoining gardens. Once a great monastery, the abbey was built around a shrine to Saint Edmund, which for centuries was a point of pilgrimage for peasants, kings, and everyone in between.
Other historical sites include St Edmundsbury Cathedral, the only cathedral in Suffolk, and The Angel Hotel, a Georgian coaching inn frequented by Charles Dickens on his trips to Bury St Edmunds. Apparently, his favourite four-poster is still in use today!
Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal is a must-visit for theatre lovers and history buffs, being the only surviving Regency playhouse in Britain. Once inside its hallowed walls, you can experience what going to the theatre was like in pre-Victorian times.
Bury St Edmunds is also a great place for beer drinkers; just a stone’s throw from Bury St Edmunds Abbey is the Greene King Brewery, where you can discover the secrets of the brewing process on a guided tour. There’s also the Old Cannon microbrewery to visit, and plenty of pubs, including The Nutshell, which at 15ft by 7ft is officially the smallest pub in Britain!
Foodies and shoppers will also find their fill in Bury in St Edmunds, from the twice-weekly market to the boutique shops, cosy restaurants and enticing delis found in the town centre. Frankly, there’s so much to see, do, eat and drink in Bury St Edmunds, you’ll need more than one visit to fit it all in!
