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Pictures of Bury St Edmunds

a Historic Market Town in the county of Suffolk

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

About Bury St Edmunds

The body of Edmund, King of East Anglia was brought here for burial 33 years after his murder by the Danes in AD870, it was to be his final resting place. It is also the birthplace of the Magna-Carta, King John's barons met in secret here to honour St.Edmund's day. At the meeting, it is said they swore on the high alter of the abbey church to force the king's signature on the Magna Carter - thus the town lay claim to being the 'Cradle of the Law'.

Bury St.Edmunds is laid out in accordance with the old medieval formula of a square for god and a square for man. The main square is just outside the great abbey and is known as Angel Hill. For almost a thousand years the site of the Church of St.James, Suffolk's Cathedral has been one of pilgrimage. It was the death of King Edmund that led to the building of the Norman Abbey, which eventually became one of the richest monasteries in England. The power of the abbots was absolute, they ruled over the lives of the townspeople, often clashing with them.

The lovely buildings and church we see today, still retains early work with notable alterations of the 18th and 19th-centuries. The most recent alterations include a central lantern tower rising above the high alter to dominate the Suffolk skyline. This was one of the countries Millennium projects, the Thanksgiving service, celebrating the completion of the tower was attended this year by the Prince of Wales and his new wife the Duchess of Cornwall. The cathedral possess a wealth of history, it has magnificent architecture and wonderful treasures that are a constant source of fascination and amazement. It is a serene house of god, that is quite simply overwhelming.

Situated amid the charm of Angel Hill is the elegant Georgian Angel Hotel, a magnificent foliage clad building, dating from around 1452. Charles Dickens is believed to have stayed here, the hotel is mentioned in his Pickwick Papers and the bar is named after Pickwick. Also on Angel Hill, standing next to the Abbey Gateway you can see "The Pillar of Salt" a unique deco-style milestone of 1935 giving directions to London and Norwich and other local towns. The sign is illuminated from within and is now a listed building. The abbey gardens are of note and the nearby church dedicated to St.Mary dates back to the 12th-century. This beautiful church is renowned for its magnificent hammer-beam Angel roof, wonderful wood carving, columns, decorated arches, beautiful stained glass and spectacular monuments. It is the burial place of Mary Tudor, favourite sister of Henry VIII and has the longest aisle of any church in the country.

Bury St.Edmunds has all this and much more. It is a splendid market town with a vibrant atmosphere. Avid shoppers should note the Wednesday and Saturday market days, lovers of historic houses will find Ickworth House at Horringer full of fascination and interest, and nearby for all the family, there is West Stowe Anglo-Saxon Village, a unique reconstruction of an Anglo-Saxon village on the site of an original Anglo-Saxon settlement. There is a number of informative museums, one is dedicated to the famous brewing house, Greene and King, and the historic Georgian Theatre Royal offers superb productions all the year round.

The town has many fine examples of half-timbered houses decorated with raised ornamental plasterwork known as pargetting. This picturesque adornment was first seen in Elizabethan times but slowly went out of fashio after the 17th-century. These properties are famous throughout Suffolk, where some are now listed buildings.

Bury St.Edmunds is an ideal centre for touring all parts of Suffolk. The gleaming waters of the Rivers Lark and Linnet flow into the town, and to the west of Bury lie the beginnings of the glorious Fen country.


Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Bury St Edmunds

St Edmundsbury Cathedral(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)Pictures
Hengrave Hall(3.4 miles, 5.5 km, direction NW)Pictures
West Stow Country Park(5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction NW)Pictures
Lavenham Guildhall(10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction S)Pictures
Knettishall Heath Country Park(11.3 miles, 18.1 km, direction NE)Pictures
Melford Hall(11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction S)Pictures
Clare Castle Country Park(13.2 miles, 21.2 km, direction SW)Pictures
Brandon Country Park(13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction N)Pictures
Gainsborough's House(13.7 miles, 22.0 km, direction S)Pictures
Dedham Vale(14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction S)Pictures
Newmarket Racecourse(15.7 miles, 25.3 km, direction W)Pictures
Bressingham Gardens(16.9 miles, 27.2 km, direction NE)Pictures
Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit(17.7 miles, 28.5 km, direction NE)Pictures
Hedingham Castle(17.9 miles, 28.9 km, direction S)Pictures
Banham Zoo(18.3 miles, 29.5 km, direction NE)Pictures

All attractions in Bury St Edmunds
All attractions in Suffolk
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Bury St Edmunds

Whepstead, in the county of Suffolk (4.3 miles, 6.8 km, direction SW)
This pleasant place is found amidst the rolling countryside of Suffolk and is but a few short miles from lovely Bury St. Edmunds.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Great Livermere, in the county of Suffolk (4.5 miles, 7.3 km, direction N)
It is mostly noted for Ampton Water, home to a wealth of wildlife, and for its ancient church dedicated to St.Peter which has an interesting thatched roof covering its Norman nave.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Woolpit, in the county of Suffolk (7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction E)
Woolpit has a pleasant medieval village centre around which are spread a variety of pretty cottages and attractive houses.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Dalham, in the county of Suffolk (8.9 miles, 14.4 km, direction W)
The village is surrounded by rolling countryside through which there are delightful walks.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Euston, in the county of Suffolk (9.5 miles, 15.2 km, direction N)
Lovely village crammed with glorious timber-frame black and white properties complimenting houses built of brick and flint.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Lavenham, a Picturesque Village in the county of Suffolk (10.2 miles, 16.4 km, direction S)
Wonderful clusters of fine Tudor houses, all gracious in age, offer the visitor a glimpse of just how a prosperous wool town must...
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Mildenhall, in the county of Suffolk (11.2 miles, 18.0 km, direction NW)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Long Melford, in the county of Suffolk (12.0 miles, 19.4 km, direction S)
The picturesque village of Long Melford lies in the heart of the beautiful valley of the Stour River.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Bildeston, a Picturesque Village in the county of Suffolk (12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction SE)
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Newmarket, a Historic Market Town in the county of Suffolk (13.2 miles, 21.3 km, direction W)
You can hardly drive through this handsome town without seeing some reminder that the history of the town
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Great Bradley, in the county of Suffolk (13.8 miles, 22.1 km, direction SW)
This is a spacious, well spread out village occupying a rural landscape between the Suffolk town's of Newmarket and Haverhill.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Sudbury, a Historic Market Town in the county of Suffolk (14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction S)
Sudbury is an ancient market town full of evocative memories. It was the birthplace of Gainsborough one of England's greatest painters.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Kedington, in the county of Suffolk (14.9 miles, 24.0 km, direction SW)
The Stour Valley footpath leads into Kedington which has several eye catching focal points, including a pretty arched bridge spanning the river and a lovely 18th-century watermill.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Roudham, in the county of Norfolk (15.1 miles, 24.3 km, direction NE)
This is a delightful village set in the famous Brecks. It is a lovely place for country lovers, offering miles of attractive country walks.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

Kersey, in the county of Suffolk (15.4 miles, 24.8 km, direction SE)
Quintessentially English village of a style for which Suffolk is renowned. Winding streets full of exquisite properties, some dating back to Tudor times.
Info | Pictures | Hotels

All towns in Suffolk
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Bury St. Edmunds Station(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)
Thurston Station(3.6 miles, 5.7 km, direction E)
Cambridge Airport(23.5 miles, 37.8 km, direction W)
M11 Junction 9(26.4 miles, 42.4 km, direction SW)
M11 Junction 10(26.8 miles, 43.1 km, direction SW)
London Stansted Airport(32.5 miles, 52.2 km, direction SW)
Bury St Edmunds to London(62.7 miles, 100.9 km, direction SW)

Hotels & Accommodation in Bury St Edmunds

Hotel NameApproximate distance from Bury St Edmunds center
Angel Hotel(0.4 miles, 0.6 km)
Ramada Bury St Edmunds(0.6 miles, 1.0 km)
Best Western Priory Hotel(1.2 miles, 1.9 km, direction NW)
The Suffolk Hotel Golf and Leisure club(2.1 miles, 3.4 km, direction NW)
Ravenwood Hall Hotel(2.6 miles, 4.2 km, direction E)
The Grange Hotel(3.5 miles, 5.6 km, direction E)
The White Horse(4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction E)
Six Bells Inn(7.7 miles, 12.4 km, direction NE)
The Glebe Country House Bed And Breakfast(9.9 miles, 16.0 km, direction N)
The Swan(10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction S)
All hotels in Bury St Edmunds

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