Saxmundham - town and civil parish in Suffolk, United Kingdom
Saxmundham is in East Anglia. It's a charming working market town catering more for local residents than the tourism industry, but is a good base for exploring the Suffolk coast and inland rural towns and villages.
Understand
It dates back to the Doomsday Book (by which time it already had 3 churches). The town gained its market charter in 1272; the market still operates today.
The nearby RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve was the base for the TV SpringWatch nature series for several years.
Get in
By road
Saxmundham is just off the A12 (which has bypassed the town) and is a 2-hour drive from London.
By train
- Saxmundham Train Station, Station Approach, Saxmundham IP17 1BW , 52.215°, 1.4901°. On the East Suffolk Line (Ipswich to Lowestoft). Station managed by and services operated by Greater Anglia. Hourly services to Lowestoft and Ipswich (every two hours on a Sunday). 2017-06-06
By bus
First Buses (dead link: January 2023) in Norfolk and Suffolk also operate a bus to Ipswich and surrounding towns such as Aldeburgh.
By bicycle
- National Cycle Route 1 (Shetland Islands to Dover) passes 4½ miles NW of the town.
- Regional Cycle Route 41 passes 3 miles W of the town.
- Regional Cycle Route 42 passes 3 miles E of the town.
Get around
Saxmundham is a small town and most places are within walking distance of each other. If you need to there is a bus service that runs around the town and then onto Ipswich.
- J Gull Taxis, Saxmundham, +44 1728 602344.
See
- Saxmundham Museum, 49 High St, Saxmundham IP17 1AJ , 52.2163°, 1.4917°, +44 1728 663583, info@saxmundhammuseum.org.uk. M-Sa 10:00-13:00 from 1st April until 30 Sept. Well worth a visit, as it is very informative and enjoyable for all the family 2017-06-06
Do
- RSPB Minsmere (Nature Reserve), IP17 3BY (OS grid ref: TM473672. 8 miles E of the town), 52.24746°, 1.61705°, +44 1728 648281, minsmere@rspb.org.uk. Daily dawn-dusk. Cafe. 2017-06-06
Buy
The town has a variety of independent and chain stores on the High Street and around the central part of the town.
- Weekly Market, Market Place, Saxmundham, 52.2156°, 1.4920°, +44 1728 604595, townclerk@saxmundham.suffolk.gov.uk. early morning-mid afternoon. 2017-06-06
- Waitrose (Supermarket), Church St, Saxmundham IP17 1EP, 52.2139°, 1.4935°, +44 1728 603004. M-F 08:00-21:00. Sa 08:00-20:00. Su 10:00-16:00. 2017-06-06
- Tesco (Supermarket), 1 Church St, Saxmundham IP17 1EP, 52.2133°, 1.4927°, +44 345 671 9532. M-Sa 08:00-22:00. Su 11:00-17:00. ATMs 2017-06-06
Eat
- Prince of Bengal, 14 High St, Saxmundham IP17 1DD , 52.2144°, 1.4924°, +44 1728 603886. 2017-06-06
- Cinnnamon (Indian Restaurant), 104 High St, Leiston IP16 4BZ, 52.2050°, 1.5778°, +44 1728 831962. Daily 17:00-23:00. 2017-06-06
Drink
- The Golden Key, Priory Lane, Snape, 52.169336°, 1.500553°, +44 1728 688510. This is a pub with a landlord willing to go the extra mile. Local beer, and evenings to meet your winemaker
- The Old Chequers (Pub & Food), Aldeburgh Rd, Friston IP17 1NP (3 miles SE of Saxmundham), 52.18720°, 1.52827°, +44 1728 688039. 2017-06-06
- The White Horse (Pub & Food), Bruisyard Rd, Saxmundham IP17 2AF (3 miles W of town), 52.2290°, 1.4390°, +44 1728 663497, info@whitehorserendham.co.uk. 2017-06-06
Sleep
- The Bell At Sax' (Hotel & Restaurant), 31 High St, Saxmundham IP17 1AF, 52.2148°, 1.4923°, +44 1728 602331, info@thebellatsax.co.uk. 2017-06-06
- The Westleton Crown, The Street, Westleton, Saxmundham IP17 3AD, 52.2650°, 1.5752°, +44 1728 648777. Friendly hotel in a 12th century coaching inn, great dining, dog-friendly. B&B double £130 2020-07-15
Connect
Saxmundham and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Sept 2022, 5G has not reached this area.