A focus on towns

Bury St Edmunds has two major arts venues. Originally opened in 1819, Theatre Royal, is the only surviving example of a Regency theatre in the country. The second, the Apex, is by contrast a modern concert hall which is fast gaining a reputation for its superb acoustics, mix of music, comedy and dance on the programme.

This vibrant town has a wide range of independent shops mixed with household names. There’s a twiceweekly market (Wednesday and Saturday) and the town hosts an annual Christmas Fayre.

Ghost Walks take place every Friday evening from October to March. Both the famous Greene King Brewery and Theatre Royal, which are also located close to the town centre, offer tours.

Originating in the 11th century, and rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries, St Edmundsbury Cathedral was finally finished this millennium with the addition of a tower, new cloisters, and chapels. The close by Abbey Gardens, are a mix of formal floral displays and intimate garden ‘rooms’.

Just outside Bury St Edmunds, this lovely Italianate building has a distinctive rotunda and a lively past, with more than its fair share of scandal and intriguing residents. It is now owned by the National Trust with the east wing, a luxury hotel. There are acres of parkland and gardens to wander through.

This charming cinema offers visitors a different cinema experience with squishy and spacious seats. The films are a mix of arthouse, independent and mainstream with a friendly on-site cafe and restaurant.

Newmarket is the home of horseracing and was once the sporting playground for royalty. It is now home to over 3000 horses and boasts two racecourses. Between racecourses they host two of the five British Classic Races plus countless race days and the July Festival, one of the most glamorous events in the racing calendar.

The best way to find out more about the history of the town and horse racing is to go on a Discover Newmarket tour. On the tour you will go behind the scenes of some of racing’s sacred and cultural institutions; the Jockey Club Rooms, Tattersalls – the world’s oldest auction house, trainers’ yards, The National Stud and the famed gallops.

National Horse Racing Museum, Palace House

Another of Newmarket’s top attractions is the National Horse Racing Museum and flagship home of the Retraining of Racehorses charity. This venue sits in the remains of King Charles II palace and offers a variety of exciting exhibitions throughout the year and is home to the fantastic on-site restaurant, The Tack Room.

“ B E S T C I T Y E S C A P E E V E R ” W W W . B A C H E L O R S L O D G E . C O . U K

Picture Books For All Images used courtesy of W.S. Cowell

21 October 2022 – 8 January 2023.

Come along and visit our free exhibition, Picture Books For All. Founded in 1818, W.S. Cowell were general printers that re-invented themselves as progressive art printers during the late 1930s and 1940s. They worked with leading illustrators and artists including Kathleen Hale, Eric Ravilious, Edward Ardizzone and Pablo Picasso. The exhibition charts the international importance of W.S. Cowell through a visually rich selection of books, prints, original artwork and journals. Free admission to exhibition. Curator tour ticket: £5/£4 concessions. Booking required.

@suffolkarchives www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/whatson

Thursday 15 December, 7pm - 10pm Create custom printed wrapping paper and make your own Christmas wreath. £5 per person. Booking required. 18+.

Saturday 17 December, 2pm – 4pm Bury St Edmunds Join us for some fun, family-friendly Christmas crafts inspired by our collections.£2 per child. Booking required.

Wed 21 Dec 2022, 10.30am - 12.30pm Lowestoft Come and enjoy some free family festive crafts. Ho Ho Ho! Booking required.

Christchurch Mansion

Just a one-hour train ride from London, Ipswich is the perfect place to stay and explore the rest of Suffolk where you can wander the shores of the Suffolk coast, explore the Shotley Peninsula or take a day trip to Bury St Edmunds or one of the charming Wool Towns.

With over 1,000 years of maritime and agricultural history, Ipswich is full of historic sites to see and a plethora of myths, tales and stories to tell. Visit the grand Tudor house of Christchurch Mansion and the Wolsey Art Gallery and discover the UK’s most significant collection of Constable and Gainsborough paintings and drawings outside of London. Ipswich waterfront is being redeveloped and is now one of the go to places in the town with many independent bars, cafes and restaurants, along with the nearby ‘Saints’ shopping area, a collection of independent shops in the historic part of the town selling a range of individual and craft items.

Whether you’re into drama, musicals, dance, comedy, art or music; there’s always a something cultural to experience in Ipswich. The New Wolsey Theatre houses exciting drama and comedy from their in-house theatre company. This year’s Christmas Rock n’ Roll panto Goldilocks and the Three Bears is sure to be a hit with everyone that sees it. Meanwhile, the Regent Theatre is the venue of big-name comedians, singers and touring shows. Modern art and design exhibitions at Ipswich Art Gallery bring popular and contemporary exhibitions to the town.