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A Jewel in the Crown of Suffolk

Surrounded by countryside with 1,000 years of history to explore, Bury St Edmunds is the home of Saint Edmund, the original patron Saint of England.

In Medieval times, The Abbey of St Edmund was one of the richest, largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England and people came from all over Europe to visit St Edmund's Shrine. The Abbey was dissolved in 1539 and Edmund’s final resting place is a great mystery; some believe he is buried somewhere within the Abbey precincts!

Bury St Edmunds is known as Suffolk's foodie town with everything from award-winning fine dining to quality Suffolk home-cooked pub grub each with their own unique atmosphere. For beer lovers, Greene King has been brewing beer in Bury St Edmunds for more than 200 years. Shopping in Bury St Edmunds offers plenty of choice with a great mix of fantastic independents and High Street favourites. There are beautiful outdoor spaces to explore and a plentiful arts scene including theatre, live music, film and art.

Explore Bury St Edmunds

Bury St Edmunds is known for its history, it's beautiful outside spaces, it's great mix of independent & High Street favourite shops and for being Suffolk's Foodie Town with its fantastic eateries. We are a dog friendly town with many places welcoming our four-legged visitors.

Bury St Edmunds TV

Take a look at our latest films to get inspiration for your next trip to Bury St Edmunds and Beyond!

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Bury St Edmunds and Beyond - A Jewel in the Crown of Suffolk

Bury St Edmunds offers visitors 1,000 years of history to explore, award-winning restaurants, fantastic shopping, annual festivals, and stunning parks.

Admire the magnificent St Edmundsbury Cathedral, take a walking tour and discover the legend of St Edmund, and stand among the ruins of the 11th Century Abbey of St Edmund,set in the stunning Abbey Gardens. Visit the final resting place of Mary Tudor, Queen of France and sister of King Henry VIII at St Mary’s Church, and marvel at the Norman Tower, the oldest Norman building in England.

From saints to queens and brewing to Charles Dickens, its impressive historical connections earn Bury St Edmunds its title as 'a jewel in the crown of Suffolk', witnessing intrigue, scandal and greatness in equal measure.

Enjoy the many walking trails and cycling routes in and around the town and enjoy a ghost tour during the autumn and winter months.

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Creating the Pilgrims Sculpture

Suffolk wood carver John Williams creating the beautiful 'Pilgrims' sculpture for the Abbey 1000 celebrations in Bury St Edmunds.

Many residents and visitors saw John carving the sculpture from pine donated by Nowton Park outside opposite the aviary in the Abbey Gardens over six months in 2021.

The sculpture shows a variety of Medieval pilgrims who came through the centuries to visit the shrine of St Edmund in the Abbey, John has created the shape of the sculpture to reflect the contours of the ruins.

Video shared here by kind permission of BBC Radio Suffolk.

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Visit the Ruins of the Abbey

In Medieval times, The Abbey of St Edmund in Bury St Edmunds was one of the richest, largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England. People came from all over England and Europe to visit the Shrine of St Edmund and it became one of the most famous and wealthy pilgrimage locations in England, visited by royalty.

Near the ruins of the Abbey of St Edmunds, nestled in the Abbey Gardens, is ‘Our Liberty’, a lasting memorial to Bury St Edmunds’ link to the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta is widely recognised as one of the most important documents in the world and Bury St Edmunds played a very crucial role in its creation.

The people of Bury St Edmunds have celebrated this link for hundreds of years with the town’s motto ‘Shrine of the King, Cradle of the Law’, which refers to our historic links with King Edmund (the first patron saint of England) and the creation of the Magna Carta.

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Saint Edmund

Bury St Edmunds takes its name from King Edmund, the original Patron Saint of England and King of East Anglia, whose shrine at the Abbey of St Edmund was once one of the most famous and wealthy pilgrimage sites in England.

The brave King Edmund was killed by Danish invaders on 20 November 869 after refusing to denounce his Christianity. In 1020, King Canute had a stone church built for Edmund's body and the first abbots arrived. This was the beginning of the Abbey of St Edmund and it became a site of great pilgrimage as people from all over Europe came to visit St Edmund’s shrine.

The Abbey was dissolved in 1539 and it is a great mystery where St Edmund's remains were moved to. Some say he is buried somewhere in the Abbey precinct!

St Edmund's Day is celebrated around the world every year on November 20th.

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Tour Bury St Edmunds

Secrets, stories and scandals are yours for the asking on the daily official historic walking tour of Bury St Edmunds

This 90-minute walking tour of the historic centre of Bury St Edmunds includes all the great attractions and photo spots! Take in the Abbey Gate, the award-winning Abbey Gardens and the ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund, the statue of St Edmund, the Norman Tower, the magnificent St Edmundsbury Cathedral, St Mary’s Churchyard, and more!

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St Edmundsbury Cathedral

For over 1,000 years, the site of Suffolk ’s Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds has been one of worship and pilgrimage.

The death of Edmund, King of the East Angles, at the hands of the Danes in 869 led to the building of an abbey to house his remains. St James’s Church was built within the precincts of the Abbey, becoming a Cathedral in 1914.

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Discover the Abbey Gardens

The award-winning 14-acre Abbey Gardens is on the site of the former Benedictine Abbey, the Abbey of St Edmund, once one of the richest, largest and most powerful Benedictine monasteries in England. People came from all over England and further afield to visit the Shrine of St Edmund and it became one of the most famous and wealthy pilgrimage locations in England, visited by royalty.

Internationally renowned for its colourful and attractive displays and the heritage of its backdrop make the gardens a very special place to visit and visitors come from all over the world to see it. According to VisitEngland, the Abbey Gardens and ruins in Bury St Edmunds is in the top 5 most visited free attractions in England!

Approximately 20,000 plants are bedded out in the spring for the summer display plus 12,000 plants and 20,000 bulbs in the autumn for the spring display.

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Moyse's Hall Museum

This beautiful medieval museum in the heart of Bury St Edmunds houses rich and eclectic collections and changing exhibitions, and hosts events ranging from themed craft workshops for all the family to historical talks and lectures.

The Museum's ground floor not only features six Terrible Tales by Terry Deary, best-selling author and creator of the hugely popular Horrible Histories books, but also some grisly and gruesome interactive displays for children and adults. Every story links back to an artefact, bringing the museum’s stories to life.

Moyse's Hall Museum is also known as home to a world class collection of exquisite collections of clocks and timepieces including rare items bequeathed by musician and clock collector Frederic Greshom-Parkington and fine art by Sir Peter Lely, Angelica Kauffman, James Tissot, and England's first professional female painter Mary Beale.

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Bury St Edmunds and Beyond - A Jewel in the Crown of Suffolk

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