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Diwali Festival, Ipswich

_Heart of Suffolk

Countryside + Market towns

The Heart of Suffolk

The Heart of Suffolk has a gentle pace of life, with characterful market towns of antique shops and boutiques, charming rural pubs, quaint, quiet villages of thatched cottages and farms coloured Suffolk Pink. In county town Ipswich relax on the waterfront with its clanking halyards and soft swish of the River Orwell before exploring ancient mercantile streets. This is a great area for leisurely exploring, with destinations that reward curiosity. Food and drink are part of the pull too, from farmers’ markets, farm shops and cafés to vineyards and producers worth seeking out. Don’t miss Stowmarket’s Food Museum. The Heart of Suffolk is a place to build a slow, relaxing itinerary with multiple stops across a rural patchwork of rolling countryside punctuated by destinations that will make you feel you’ve stepped back to a gentler time.

960 640 Eye parish church St Peter and St Paul church and centre
Plan your stay in The Heart of Suffolk

All your questions about The Heart of Suffolk answered, plus advice on how to plan your trip and things to do.

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Map of Visit East of England

Stories & Inspirations From The Heart of Suffolk

1920 900 Bury St Edmunds The Personal History of David Copperfield 1 JPEG

Posted: 12th Mar 2026

The East of England features strongly in The Personal History of David Copperfield, the Armando…

1920 900 Bury St Edmunds The Personal History of David Copperfield 1 JPEG
Arts + Culture

Where to see David Copperfield film locations in East Anglia

Posted: 12th Mar 2026

The East of England features strongly in The Personal History of David Copperfield, the Armando…

1920 900 Cotmans Storm on a Yarmouth beach
Arts + Culture

Where to see great art in East Anglia

Posted: 11th Mar 2026

You don’t have to travel to London to see great art – there are fabulous galleries and exhibitions…

1920 900 Salhouse couple
Wellness + Health

Why East Anglia is a 'must see' Lonely Planet location

Posted: 10th Mar 2026

It’s no surprise to us that Lonely Planet chose East Anglia, made up of Suffolk and Norfolk, as one…

Top Attractions in Heart of Suffolk

001 the suffolk owl sanctuary

A wonderful experience with an outdoor flying arena featuring frequent demonstrations of birds of…

001 the suffolk owl sanctuary
Attractions

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary

A wonderful experience with an outdoor flying arena featuring frequent demonstrations of birds of…

001 Cycle Breaks
Attractions

Cycle Breaks

Discover the very best of Suffolk on two wheels with this immersive, self-guided cycling adventure…

001 Cycle Breaks
Attractions

Cycle Breaks

Discover the very best of Suffolk on two wheels with this immersive, self-guided cycling adventure…

001 Ipswich Town Football Club Stadium Tours Suffolk

Go behind the scenes at Portman Road Stadium, see areas usually off limits to the public and get…

001 Ipswich Town Football Club Stadium Tours Suffolk
Attractions

Ipswich Town Football Club Stadium Tours

Go behind the scenes at Portman Road Stadium, see areas usually off limits to the public and get…

003 anglia indoor karting

If you've got a budding Button or Hamilton in your family, then a trip to Anglia Indoor Kart Racing…

003 anglia indoor karting
Attractions

Anglia Indoor Karting

If you've got a budding Button or Hamilton in your family, then a trip to Anglia Indoor Kart Racing…

Featured Events In The Heart of Suffolk

007 fullers mill gardens

Date: 1st Sept - 2nd Sept 2026

Join renowned botanical artist Reinhild Raistrick Society of Botanical Artists Fellow for a relaxed…

007 fullers mill gardens
Arts + Crafts

Late Summer Daisies Watercolour Course

Date: 1st Sept - 2nd Sept 2026

Illuminated garden trial

Date: 12th Nov - 12th Dec 2026

Tickets for this year's Illuminated Garden Trail on sale in July.

Illuminated garden trial
Gardens

Illuminated Garden Trail

Date: 12th Nov - 12th Dec 2026

Jimmys farm christmas fayre

Date: 13th Nov - 15th Nov 2026

Our Christmas Fayre returns on Friday 13th, Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th November 2026!

Jimmys farm christmas fayre
Christmas

Christmas Fayre

Date: 13th Nov - 15th Nov 2026

Thetford Forest Trophy

Date: 17th Oct - 17th Oct 2026

Back for round two following its success back in October. Glorious Gravel as part of their series…

Thetford Forest Trophy
Sports & Adventure

Thetford Forest Trophy (Gravel Race)

Date: 17th Oct - 17th Oct 2026

Featured Businesses In The Heart of Suffolk

Fen Farm Dairy Bungay Suffolk
Attractions

Fen Farm Dairy

Our mission is simple To make the finest dairy products possible. To nourish land, animals and…

Fen Farm Dairy Bungay Suffolk
Attractions

Fen Farm Dairy

Our mission is simple To make the finest dairy products possible. To nourish land, animals and…

001 snaptrip suffolk
Accommodation

Snaptrip Suffolk

Home to the largest collection of self-catering accommodation in Suffolk and the UK, Snaptrip is a…

001 snaptrip suffolk
Accommodation

Snaptrip Suffolk

Home to the largest collection of self-catering accommodation in Suffolk and the UK, Snaptrip is a…

001 food museum stowmarket
Attractions

Food Museum

The Food Museum connects people with where our food comes from, past, present and future.

001 food museum stowmarket
Attractions

Food Museum

The Food Museum connects people with where our food comes from, past, present and future.

001 ickworth house and gardens

An Italianate Palace in the heart of Suffolk. With over 1800 acres of parkland, gardens and brand…

001 ickworth house and gardens
Attractions

Ickworth Estate – National Trust

An Italianate Palace in the heart of Suffolk. With over 1800 acres of parkland, gardens and brand…

Featured Itineraries In The Heart of Suffolk

960 640 Framlingham market 5
Itineraries

3 nights in the Heart of Suffolk

Avg Duration: 3 nights

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