Sudbury (Suffolk)

Sudbury is a small but historic market town in Suffolk in the region of East Anglia in England. Get in Sudbury has a small rail station linking via a branch line to the main Norwich to London Liverpool Street line at Marks Tey. Even though trains are scheduled to run hourly, seven days a week, it is common for trains to be cancelled without notice. At other times there is a replacement bus service which takes three times as long on a good day. Get around Due to Sudbury's small and compact nature, it is no problem at all to cover the town from edge to edge on foot. However, the recently renovated Tesco store and commercial park are situated off the Sudbury bypass, a fair walk from the town centre and best reached by car. See The house of painter Thomas Gainsborough is located in the aptly named Gainsborough Street at the bottom of Market Hill. The idyllic water meadows around the river Stour can be found just outside of the town centre. There are many paths and perfect picnic settings to take advantage of on summer evenings. Buried beneath the locally famous Mill Hotel there is a mummified cat which can be viewed upon request. There is a small infogram located by St Peter's Church in the town centre marking the fact that Sudbury was mentioned in the original novel "101 Dalmations" and is well worth a look for fans of English literature. Do Despite the lack of many common amenities such as a cinema or shopping centre, there is still much to enjoy in the small market town. Belle Vue park has a variety of activities that can be enjoyed by those of all ages. Facilities include a miniature golf course, a childrens adventure trail, a playpark, rollerskating park, tennis courts, animal enclosures and a large picnic area. Many pubs can be found in the area including those which specialise in locally brewed ales. There are a wide range of paths and cycle routes in the area for the more adventurous visitors and maps can be purchased from the tourist information centre. The town hosts a farmer's market every Thursday and Saturday. Buy The town centre has taken a turn for the worse in recent years, with many shops being forced to close due to the current economic climate. There are still some modest outlets for local goods but most shops tend to be part of major chains. The main shops in the town are a pair of W.H.Smith's, an Iceland, a discount shop called Thing Me Bobs and a 99p store which forced a pound shop across the road out of business. Eat In addition to the chain restaurants in the town such as Prezzo, Ask, Café Nero and Wetherspoon's, there are some independent eateries. For a delicious and well priced lunch (or even afternoon snack), Niche in Gainsborough Street offer a great selection of freshly prepared hot and cold sandwiches in addition to a great drinks menu. There are two local pizza restaurants in the town centre which provide a fantastic alternative to the recently opened and vastly overpriced Domino's takeaway. Also within the town centre there are a multitude of Chinese and Indian takeaways and restaurants as well as kebab shops for late night munchies. Further out of town there is also a McDonald's and a KFC, although these are best avoided, especially at night time as these areas attract an unpleasant crowd of youths. Drink The two main bars in Sudbury are both unfortunately chain pubs. However, there are many other pubs that offer a better atmosphere and a friendlier crowd at a slightly increased price. There are several small breweries in the area and sampling the delicious local beers is a must for any ale enthusiast. Sleep Sudbury is host to a wide range of hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns and even a caravan park! As the town is a quiet area there shouldn't be much problem finding somewhere to stay for the night. Get out