Best historic places to visit in Norfolk and Suffolk

The Anglo-Saxons came to the region from Germany and northern Holland in the 5th century, after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Today, the best place to discover their story is at Sutton Hoo on the River Deben near Woodbridge - England's Valley of the Kings.

The site, only discovered in 1939, was one of the biggest archaeological finds in British history – a ship burial of Anglo-Saxon King of East Anglia Raedwald complete with artefacts including gold and silver, a helmet and sword.

Visit today and see a 90-foot-long skeleton of the buried ship, an Anglo-Saxon museum, get a bird’s eye of the burial mounds from the viewing tower, discover more about the treasure find at Tranmer House and enjoy a forest walk with lovely views over the River Deben and Woodbridge, a lovely waterside market town not to miss.

The story is told in the Netflix film The Dig, starring Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan.

Bury St Edmunds is named for Anglo-Saxon King Edmund, England’s first patron saint, who was martyred by the Vikings for his Christian faith. Bury St Edmunds has the remains of the 11th century abbey and cathedral and an intriguing architectural history up to Georgian times, including the country’s last remaining working Regency Theatre, run by the National Trust. Book yourself on a tour to get the full story of the town’s history.

The Anglo-Saxon reign came to end with the Norman invasion in 1066. The Normans didn’t colonise England but put in place a new military-led authority that used castles to keep the people in their place.

Norwich was the regional capital of the Normans and it was here they built a magnificent castle, affectionately known here as the ‘Box on the Hill’. After a £28m refurbishment recreated its original floors, with great halls and lavish royal apartments restored to their 1121 layout, the castle is now the most accessible-friendly castle in Europe, with all levels up to the battlements open to all. Don't leave the city without visiting the Norman Cathedral.

Also worth a visit is Norman Framlingham Castle and take a battlement tour. If you liked the TV series The Detectorist then take a tour – it was filmed here.  

Head to Orford to see the compact castle built by Norman Henry II. Get refreshments at Pump Street and then take a booked ferry trip to Orford Ness Nature Reserve, run by the National Trust and with a fascinating Cold War history.

Suffolk had its moment in the spotlight with the medieval wool trade when it became one of the most prosperous counties in England. Its legacy are the picturesque Wool Towns, unspoilt settlements of higgledy-piggledy half-timbered houses and magnificent churches.

The advent of the Industrial Revolution took the textile trade north and Suffolk became a rural backwater. But the Wool Towns remained.

Lavenham is the most complete Wool Town. Visit for the Crooked House, Guildhall and Little Hall. Dine and stay at The Swan.

The fifth and final invasion of Norfolk and Suffolk was The Friendly Invasion of the United States’ Air Force in 1942. Their three years here, spread across more than thirty airbases that dwarfed local villages, brought many new things for the local natives, including chewing gum, jazz, nylons, swing music, donuts and, even, racial segregation.