Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and cost nearly £40 one-way.
Anglian Buses
(
&
01502/711109;
www.anglianbus.
co.uk) run from Halesworth to Southwold, and
First Eastern Counties Buses
(
&
08456/020121;
www.firstgroup.com) run from Saxmundham to Aldeburgh.
The Lowestoft train also stops at Woodbridge.
If you're driving from London take the M25 to the A12 and follow signs to any of
the towns mentioned above, which are just off the A12.
VISITOR INFORMATION
There are
Tourist Information Centres
at 152
High St., Aldeburgh (
&
01728/453637
), at 69 High Street, Southwold (
&
01502/
724729
), and at Station Buildings, Woodbridge (
&
01394/382240
). For more
information on all these towns go to www.visit-suffolk.co.uk.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Aldeburgh was the home of composer Benjamin Britten
(1913-76), best known for the opera
Peter Grimes.
Many of his compositions were
first performed at the
Aldeburgh Festival
(
&
01728/687110;
www.aldeburgh.
co.uk), which he founded in 1948 with Peter Pears. The 2-week festival every June
features internationally known performers.
Exploring the Area
In Southwold,
The Sailor's Reading Room
on East Cliff (
&
01502/724729
) is
worth looking in, and the lovely little
Southwold Museum,
on Victoria Street
(
&
01502/726097;
www.southwoldmuseum.org) is extremely interesting. You
might also want to check out the
Dunwich Museum
(
&
01728/648796;
www.
dunwichmuseum.org.uk) to learn about Dunwich's history.
This coastline, from Felixstowe to north of Southwold is an Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty, but inland there's also
Woodbridge
to explore, a market town on the
River Deben with riverside walks, antiques, and local produce shops. From Wood-
bridge you can also explore Framlingham Castle and Sutton Hoo (see below).
Aldeburgh Museum
MUSEUM Housed in the Moot Hall is a timber-framed
meeting house dating from the 16th century, and it's still where the town council
meets today. It doubles as a fascinating little museum with old maps, prints, and
Anglo-Saxon burial urns, as well as other items of historical interest.
Moot Hall, Market Cross Place, Aldeburgh.
&
01728/453637.
www.aldeburghmuseum.org.uk. Admis-
sion £1 adults, free for children. June-Aug daily noon-5pm; Apr-May and Sept-Oct daily 2:30-5pm.
Closed Nov-Mar.
Framlingham Castle
CASTLE Unusually attractive, this is one of the few 12th-
century castles still standing in East Anglia. Henry VIII's eldest daughter, Mary Tudor,
took refuge here before succeeding her brother to the throne in 1553. There's a big
grassy area to sit on inside.
9 Church St., Framlingham.
&
01728/724033.
www.english-heritage.org.uk. Admission £6.30 adults,
£3.80 children 5-15, £16 family ticket. Apr-Oct daily 10:30am-5pm; Nov-Mar Sat-Sun 11am-4pm.
RSPB Minsmere
NATURE RESERVE Avocets, marsh harriers, and booming bit-
terns are regularly spotted on this bird reserve, along with visiting geese, ducks,
swans, and wading birds. The reserve starts among the trees and visitor center, and
comes all the way down to the beach. There are lovely walks, any time of the year.
Westleton (on the coast several miles south of Southwold).
&
01728/648281.
www.rspb.org.uk.
Admission £5 adults, £1.50 children 5-15. Daily 9am-5pm (to 4pm Nov-Jan).
Snape Maltings
ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX This is where the acclaimed
Aldeburgh Festival
is held, in a concert hall among historic buildings. But the barns
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