_Unusual attractions in Suffolk

Yes, Suffolk has fabulous coast and countryside, and superb pubs and restaurants serving local fayre, but you want something a little more out of the norm, don’t you? Read on…

Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park

It’s a farm, but Jimmy’s is also an award-winning wildlife park, rare breeds farm, and it has Europe’s largest polar bear reserve in a 16 acre tundra setting with a pack of Arctic Wolves. Yes, really!

And you’ll know Jimmy of course, one of the best-known farmers in the UK and a regular on TV sharing his passions for farming and wildlife… and cooking with Jamie Oliver.

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

A contemporary performance venue housed in a historic Regency theatre. Designed by William Wilkins, it is considered to be one of the cultural sector’s crown jewels and is the only theatre in the National Trust’s portfolio.

The theatre was used as a filming location for the 2019 Armando Iannucci movie ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’, based on the novel by Charles Dickens who spent much time in Bury S Edmunds and stayed at The Angel.

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary

Experience a different variety of wildlife at the amazing Suffolk Owl Sanctuary. This nature centre is dedicated to the protection of owls and other birds of prey and has a fantastic array of activities and experiences on offer. Flying displays, feeding sessions, and animal talks happen almost daily, plus there’s a discovery centre, indoor and outdoor play areas, a woodland walk, and a picnic area to enjoy your lunch.

The sanctuary is home to red squirrels, meerkats, ferrets, porcupines, armadillos, birds of prey, and many owls, giving you so much to discover and explore during your visit. It holds some rather exciting events, too, so make sure to check their website to see what’s happening.

Little Hall, Lavenham

This gem of an attraction is a fine 14th century timber-framed historic house sitting proudly in the main square of one of the most picturesque villages in the country. Little Hall mirrors the changing fortunes of Lavenham during the wool trade and now acts as a shrine to the artistic Gayer-Anderson twin brothers, who shared a common interest as collectors of fine art and unusual artefacts from around the world. Wander through the seven rooms and discover unusual treasures, including exotic Persian panels in the study and an upstairs chamber with its striking crown-post.

While you're here, don't miss the magnificent Guildhall, Crooked House and The Swan.

National Horse Racing Museum

We all know that Newmarket is the home of British horse racing – the sport of kings. But did you know the town now boasts a magnificent new visitor attraction which celebrates the town’s equine history? The National Horse Racing Museum brings to life centuries of history through interactive galleries; a chance to meet celebrated retired racehorses in the Rothschild Yard (who love a pat and a cuddle!); watch daily demonstrations of retired horses in the Peter O’Sullevan Arena and spot some of the finest sporting art in the world (Stubbs and Munnings are just two of the ‘greats’).

If you’re with the little ones, they will simply love to ‘have a go’ on the racehorse simulator – and who knows, you may have a jockey in the making! Family trails are available from reception, so you can make the most of your visit.

While you're here, make sure you take a tour.

Flatford Wildlife Garden

In the historic hamlet of Flatford, on the River Stour, is Flatford Wildlife Garden – a wildlife nature reserve where John Constable used to paint. In this little oasis of calm and tranquillity sits a wildflower meadow and orchard designed to nurture wildlife. Whether you are seeking inspiration or having a family day out, the location is hard to beat – well, Constable thought so! Watch out for family-friendly activities during the school holidays in the heart of Constable Country.

The Museum of Food

Containing over 40,000 items on a 75 acre site, Stowmarket’s Museum of Food is the only one of its kind in the country and is one of the grandest open-air museums in Suffolk, consisting of 15 historic buildings, miles of woodland and riverside nature trails and rare breed animals.

The Tide Mill Living Museum

The Tide Mill experience is a unique ‘living’ museum and one of the last surviving working tide mills in the country, located in Woodbridge on the stunning River Deben (a tide mill has been on the site for over 800 years). This iconic, historic building is spread over three floors incorporating CGI imagery, interactive models and audio stations, brought to life by the technical know-how of the millers.

Royal Observer Corps Control Centre

Discover the fascinating history of Bury St Edmunds Guildhall, dating back nearly 800 years, in the historic town of Bury St Edmunds. Take a journey through time as live re-enactors guide you around the oldest continuously-used civic building in Britain – see the banqueting hall, the Tudor kitchen, the court room and the World War Two Royal Observer Corps Control Centre – the only surviving room of its kind in the country.

Bawdsey Radar

Bawdsey Radar Transmitter Block is the world’s first, sharing the global story of radar in a new and fascinating museum. Through interactive galleries, it details the origins of radar and how it impacts our daily lives, as well as telling the story of how men and women who worked in top secret developed radar technology that helped win the Battle of Britain in 1940.

Camel Park Oasis

You don’t need to head to the Saharan desert to visit camels, you can find them in Suffolk’s green and luscious countryside.

The Camel Park Oasis near Halesworth allows you to ride on these even-toed ungulates. There’s also llamas, alpacas, donkeys, wallabies, goats, horses, ring-tailed lemurs and meerkats to pet too.

Camel Park Oasis also has pedal go-karts, crazy golf, two outdoor play areas, an indoor play area, a giant jumping pillow, a mini maze, a land train ride and a museum.

Suffolk Escape Room

The Suffolk Escape Room is based on a glamping site in Saxmundham on the Suffolk coast. The theme encapsulates the local mystery of UFO sightings at Rendlesham. The mystery: you are a band of determined UFO hunters who have hacked a security base where rumours circulate of unexplained activity. Is this a secret military installation disguised as an abandoned farm complex or are mysterious forces at work? Could this be Britain’s Area 51? A perfect group adventure suitable for ages 10+.