Ed Sheeran on the Suffolk coast, photographed by Annie Leibovitz
_Walk in Ed Sheeran’s footsteps in Suffolk
Discover the locations where the Suffolk singer-songwriter filmed videos and played shows
He described himself in a Disney+ documentary as ‘speccy, ginger hair, really short, English, from the countryside, who stutters and beatboxes’. Maybe. But he’s also Ed Sheeran, and he’s always making paeans to his native Suffolk, particularly on album Subtract.
Record sales in excess of 150 million copies, multiple Grammy and Brit awards, the highest-grossing tour of all time, collaborations with, amongst others, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Stormzy and Justin Beiber, but his home county is where the heart is for the pop star.
Ed Sheeran performing at Portman Road, home of his beloved Ipswich Town FC
In fact, has anyone done more than the famous singer-songwriter with his worldwide audience to help put Suffolk on the map.
And it’s been his inspiration, with landscapes and locations from Suffolk featuring large in his work, not least ‘Castle on the Hill’, his ‘love letter to Suffolk’ which recounted his teenage years in Framlingham, home of the iconic English Heritage 12th century fortification.
And Ed went all out to inspire visitors to Suffolk, with his album, Subtract, which has 14 music videos all filmed in his home county, including…
Southwold Pier
The sombre, monochrome video for Borderline features Southwold Pier. Just imagine what it’s like on a bright, sunny day with the amusements, attractions and refreshment kiosks all in flow. Colourblind was also filmed in the town.
Oh, and you can’t miss Tim Hunkin’s marvellous and extremely eccentric Under The Pier Show.
The films are sombre and monochrome but just imagine what it’s like on a bright, sunny day with the amusements, attractions and refreshment kiosks all in flow.
While you’re in Southwold, why not take a distillery or brewery tour with Adnams… or head up the iconic red and white-striped lighthouse. Stay at The Swan.
Ed also shot videos at Walberswick Ferry Pier and Southwold Denes Beach.
Pin Mill
Life Goes On was filmed at Pin Mill, Chelmondiston, on the Shotley Peninsula by the Orwell Estuary.
Walk in Ed’s footsteps by taking a country walk and then popping into The Butt & Oyster for refreshments.
North Denes Lowestoft Beach
Filmed close to the groynes and dunes near the Gunton Warren Nature Reserve, the rugged coastline here suits the melancholic mood of Salt Water and Boat. There’s a useful car park here and you can pop into The Sparrows Nest Café for refreshments.
If you’re interested in nature reserves don’t miss Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Carlton Marshes, 1000 acres of wildness that are the southern gateway to the Broads National Park. Endorsed by Sir David Attenborough, a £4m investment from the National Lottery Heritage Fund helped start the remarkable transformation into a new home for myriad wildlife.
Lowestoft has a lovely Promenade to take a stroll along, with lots of amusements, pier, activities and places to eat.
Woodbridge
End of Youth was filmed at a school in Woodbridge and sees Ed singing in the playground, while a group of kids ran around him playing.
Riverside Woodbridge is a picture perfect market town with main Thoroughfare of local independent and artisan shops, restaurants and cafes, mixed in with High Street names. The Crown in the Thoroughfare is the place to stay, have a meal or just a drink.
On the river Deben is the picturesque Tide Mill Museum and not far from the town is National Trust Anglo-Saxon burial site Sutton Hoo, focus of the hit Netflix movie The Dig starring Ralph Fiennes and Carrey Mulligan. Also nearby is the family-friendly Easton Farm Park.
Other places where you can walk in Ed Sheeran’s footsteps…
Snape Maltings
Ed played a special concert at Snape Maltings for the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend 2021.
Snape is the home of the annual Aldeburgh Music Festival and the fabulous Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival and is worth a visit any time of the year for lovely walks by the River Alde and a range of eateries and shops selling local produce.
Framlingham
Framlingham is Ed’s home town and it’s been his inspiration, not least ‘Castle on the Hill’, his ‘love letter to Suffolk’, which recounted his teenage years in the town, home of the iconic English Heritage 12th century fortification which is well worth a visit, if just for the walk around the battlements. Now who’s the king of the castle?
The video for Castle on the Hill was filmed around Framlingham, at Boyton Marshes, Mildenhall Stadium and Felixstowe.
Find Thomas Mills High School in Framlingham and you’ll see where Ed met his wife Cherry Seaborn.
Ipswich
Ed Sheeran performing in Ipswich town centre
Ed performed an impromptu gig in Ipswich in October 2022 on the footsteps of the town hall on the Cornhill for the four-part Disney+ documentary The Sum Of It All.
Of course, the other place to see Ed Sheeran is at Portman Road, home of his beloved Ipswich Town Football Club, and where Ed’s dad John took him to see an Elton John concert in June 2004.
A few more...
Ed’s got his own pub, The Lancaster Lock, at his Suffolk home, but he’s also been seen with Cherry at The King’s Head pub, Laxfield, also known as The Low House, and also at Bellota Restaurant in Bury St Edmunds.
Ed also appeared in hit film Yesterday, which featured many Suffolk locations, albeit not his scenes.
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