Bury St Edmunds - the Heart of Suffolk

Bury St Edmunds is a prosperous and historic market town serving a large rural area in the heart of East Anglia, a region which is expanding rapidly due to the influx of new technology around Cambridge and connections with the Continent through ferries ports on the east coast.

However, the town, which has population of about 35,000, has maintained its historic shape and character whilst still providing up to the minute facilities. It is bypassed by the A14 dual carriageway which has allowed it to remain relatively quiet in comparison to many other towns.

Bury is a town to walk in with many beautiful buildings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. A central feature of the town is the Abbey gardens and ruins which are pleasant place to stroll at any time of year. Although only a small part of the famous abbey remains today, it is sufficient to remind you of its former splendour as one of the finest churches in the country. It was here on 20 November 1215 that the barons "swore at St Edmund's alter that they would obtain from king John the ratification of the Magna Carta". Other buildings of interest include Moyse's Hall Museum, a Norman building built in 1140, the Nutshell, a pub which is reputed to be the smallest in England, and the Theatre Royal (built in 1819) which is one of the finest Regency theatres in the country.

Bury has a wide variety of shops - both of the usual `High Street’ names and small speciality shops selling furniture, crafts, clothes, fine food and wines.  The large twice weekly market (Wednesday and Saturday) sells local produce, plants, clothes and Norfolk fish. Bury has a wide range of good restaurants including Chinese, Greek, Indian, English, a number of pubs catering to different tastes, two night clubs and a cinema.

Leisure activities are numerous: walking, fishing, cycling, bird watching and horse riding are offered by the countryside close by. But Bury itself has much to offer: ten-pin bowling and rolling skating are available and more recently the town has been inundated with new restaurants. It also has a cinema and a theatre which is host to numerous touring companies. The three golf courses, tennis and squash clubs and the sports centre in Bury, all provide opportunities for sporting interests.

From Bury it is easy to reach the Suffolk Coast, Norfolk Broads, the Fenlands, Cambridge and Ipswich by car. London is also easily accessed by train through Bury station, which provides links to the Intercity network as well as local networks, or via the A14 which provides easy access to the M1, M11 and A1.

Bury St Edmunds is a pleasant place to live and work, with a range of accommodation to buy or rent, both in the town and surrounding villages. Bury people are proud of their town and are proud too of their reputation for warmth and friendliness.

Local information on the Internet:  

St Edmundsbury Borough Council

Bury St Edmunds Information Online

The Bury Press Press (local newspaper)

Visit Suffolk

Suffolk County Council

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and Suffolk Network

Suffolk Search

Suffolk Heritage Coast

Ipswich Borough Council

Suffolk Web (business directory)

Bury St Edmunds - A Brief History