A guide to visiting Framlingham, Suffolk
Looking for the perfect peaceful place to stay for your Suffolk holiday? We cannot recommend the beautiful market town of Framlingham enough. With its welcoming atmosphere, historical landmarks, and endless places to eat and drink, this hidden gem is a must-visit.
Where is Framlingham in Suffolk?
Framlingham is in the east of Suffolk, almost exactly halfway down the county. It’s approximately 11.5 miles (18.5km) north of the popular market town of Woodbridge, and approximately 16.5 miles (26.5km) north of the county town of Ipswich. For beach lovers, Framlingham is only 14 miles (22.5km) from Aldeburgh and 14.5 miles (23.5km) from Thorpeness, perfect for a quick drive to the sea.
Why is Framlingham famous?
Framlingham is most famous as the town where global superstar Ed Sheeran grew up. Though born in Halifax, Ed moved with his family as a young boy to Framlingham, where he was then raised. This may have remained an unknown fact, one only his biggest fans knew, but Ed went on to release Castle on the Hill, a song about Framlingham Castle and his home town.
Castle on the Hill became one of Ed Sheeran’s biggest hits, going multi-platinum in the UK, Australia, Canada, and several other countries. The majority of people who heard and enjoyed the song likely looked up the meaning behind the hit and stumbled across lovely Framlingham in their search. Now, the town and castle will forever be linked to the singer-songwriter, thanks to his love letter to Suffolk.
Before Ed Sheeran put it on the musical map, however, Framlingham was famous for being a quintessentially English market town, hugely popular with visitors looking for a tranquil countryside escape. It’s well known as one of the prettiest market towns in Suffolk, in fact, securing its place on the list of must-visit Suffolk spots.
Things to do in Framlingham
Though peaceful and picturesque, there is plenty to do here, whether you’re visiting for the day or staying a while. Here are the top attractions in Framlingham to put on your itinerary:
Framlingham Castle
There is no visiting Framlingham without visiting the castle. As mentioned previously, Framlingham Castle is the castle Ed Sheeran sings about in Castle on the Hill, and you simply can’t miss out on what this gorgeous old structure has to offer. It’s certainly one of the most family-friendly activities in Framlingham, for kids and grown-ups alike.
Framlingham Castle was built in the 12th century, over 800 years ago, by the then Earl of Norfolk, and has been passed through many hands since then. We won’t spill all the interesting bits here, because the castle has its own exhibition in the Workhouse, the only remaining building within the castle walls, where you can learn everything about its past. There are plenty of activities inside for kids, too, including educational games and historic costumes.
When you’re finished learning, don’t forget to walk the wall. 10.5 metres high and 2.3 metres thick, the castle wall offers gorgeous views (and dizzying heights) to those who feel brave enough to discover it. If you start to get peckish, head to the castle’s cafe, where you can enjoy a delicious drink or a freshly made meal, either inside the beautiful space or out on the picnic benches on the castle grounds.
Lanman Museum
Found tucked away inside Framlingham Castle, though not run by English Heritage, the Lanman Museum awaits. This little museum ties in brilliantly with the castle, as it is full of interesting history relating to daily Framlingham life over many centuries. You’ll find household and farm equipment, photographs, paintings, drawings, clothing and uniforms, newspapers, railway artefacts, and so much more.
Framlingham Mere Nature Reserve
This stunning stretch of wetland sits between the iconic Framlingham Castle and the beautiful red-brick buildings of Framlingham College. Providing truly scenic Suffolk views, Framlingham Mere is around 30 acres of countryside with walking paths throughout, guiding you around lakes and through meadows. In summer, cattle graze and flowers bloom, while in winter, it becomes a tranquil, quiet wonderland. You’ll spot plenty of exciting birdlife here too across the seasons, from colourful kingfishers to quirky long-billed snipes.
The Howard Tombs in St Michael’s Church
The Church of St Michael’s may look like a typical church, with its grand bell tower and vast stained glass windows, but inside lies an incredible sight. A collection of Tudor tombs, unfinished but truly captivating, is found in this church, housing some of history’s most important Tudor figures, including the third Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard, and his son, Henry Howard.
There are four carved stone tombs in total, one beautifully decorated in vivid colour, each as fascinating as the last. We highly recommend visiting the church and learning about these unbelievable historic features. You will also have the option of donating to the church’s preservation and maintenance, to ensure future visitors can visit the tombs.
Framlingham Town Trail
Want to explore the town itself? Framlingham is an old town, and as such, has some fantastic stories. The town has put together a walking trail that lets you explore its streets and discover its historical quirks, from the old pump, once the town’s main water source for all residents, to the ducking pond, where several witch trials took place in the 17th century.
Shawsgate Vineyard
There are several guided tours in Framlingham for those who enjoy discovery with educational commentary. You’ll find them at Framlingham Castle, taking you around the unique exhibition space, and in the town centre, showing you the filming sites of the global sensation BBC series Detectorists. However, one of the most popular guided tours lies just outside of Framlingham, at Shawsgate Vineyard.
Around a five-minute drive north of the market town, this gorgeous vineyard produces some truly delicious English wine, and you can book a guided tour of the site. Discover its history, learn about the grapes, wine, and processes, and sample five of their very best wines, accompanied by expert sommelier guidance. This is an excellent afternoon activity for couples and friends, especially when the sun is out, and lasts around one hour and 45 minutes.
The Suffolk Summer Festival
Suffolk’s best festival is held in Framlingham at the beautiful Framlingham College. Every year, thousands flock to the town and attend this incredible family-friendly weekend of live music, entertainment, competitions, food, and drink. Fabulous artists perform to adoring crowds in this gorgeous green setting, offering the perfect day out during your Framlingham trip. For this year’s dates, line-up, and tickets, check out the Summer Fest website.
Places to eat and drink in Framlingham
Framlingham boasts some really excellent spots to eat and drink, with a whole array of cuisines and atmospheres on offer to suit your mood.
Watson and Walpole
It’s imperative that when staying in or visiting Framlingham, you enjoy a meal at Watson and Walpole. This popular Italian restaurant is fine dining in a warm and welcoming environment, with beautifully-cooked dishes made with seasonal ingredients. The wine list is phenomenal, as is to be expected from an Italian eatery, and features almost entirely Italian wines, along with a few of the owners’ other European favourites.
The Station Hotel
Get down to The Station Hotel for some delicious pub grub, made fresh in the kitchens by talented chefs. The menu changes regularly to suit local ingredient availability, and their specials always feature something special from an East Anglian town or village, such as Orford mussels or Gressingham duck. If a meal isn’t what you fancy, then take advantage of their wood-fired pizza oven and treat yourself. They’ve got the usual classics on offer, as well as some unique toppings, such as goat’s cheese and dates or anchovies and capers (when available).
Common Room Café
Despite the ‘café’ in the name, this gem on Framlingham’s high street serves more than just coffee, cake, and sandwiches. Get fantastic home-cooked meals from steak and chips to Eggs Benedict, made using as many local ingredients as possible. The Common Room Café is also fully licensed, so if you fancy a beer with your late lunch, they can do that too. The place is cosy, the menu is affordable, and the food is great; there’s a reason this spot is so popular with locals!
Prince of India
Another local favourite, this Indian restaurant serves up beautiful traditional and fusion dishes prepared by expert chefs. Choose from their extensive menu or select a unique special for something new. The Prince of India team creates a welcoming atmosphere for everyone who enters, ensuring diners have a memorable experience in their restaurant.
The Dancing Goat Cafe
You simply cannot miss a visit to the bright and lively Dancing Goat Cafe. The staff are energetic and friendly, the food is fresh and light, and the drinks are tasty and imaginative. They come up with exciting new creations constantly and offer weekly specials, from coconut chai lattes to homemade raspberry lemonade. The Dancing Goat Cafe can be found right on the edge of the market town square, giving you a fantastic opportunity to do a bit of people watching.
Two Magpies Bakery
If you’ve visited East Anglia before, you’ve likely come across a Two Magpies Bakery. What started as one small cafe in Southwold has now expanded across Suffolk and into Norfolk, thanks to just how much people love their cakes, bread, coffee, and all the other special treats they offer. Stop by and dig into some freshly made lunch, or grab a decadent slice of cake and a takeaway coffee and sit somewhere in town.
Getting to and around Framlingham
Framlingham is a small market town, meaning getting around on foot is easy and recommended. For example, walking from the town square to the castle takes just 4 minutes on average. It really is a peaceful place to stroll around, so we advise doing it on foot or by bike.
If this isn’t an option for you, the town has reliable bus routes and plenty of bus stops, and friendly taxi companies that can get you from A to B with ease.
Driving into Framlingham from afar also couldn’t be easier. Depending on the direction you’re coming from, you’ll typically take one of England’s major A-roads and then navigate along countryside lanes to reach the town.
How to get to Framlingham from London
Many of Framlingham’s visitors reaching the town via public transport are routed through London. It’s simple to get to Framlingham from London via the Greater Anglia train service. Board at London Liverpool Street Rail Station and travel just over one hour to Ipswich Station. From here, you’ll hop off the train and make your way to the town’s bus station. It’s just 15 minutes on foot, but we recommend having a little stroll around Ipswich first; it’s our county town! Catch the 118 bus towards Westerfield, Otley & Framlingham, ride for around 45 minutes, and get off in the town centre.
Where to stay in Framlingham
The Stay in Suffolk team is proud to manage several beautiful holiday homes in and around Framlingham. From large, spacious countryside houses like Curly Tail Barn, to cosy, one-bedroom spots such as The Orchard Annexe, we have numerous options to satisfy your holiday home requirements.
Ready to visit Framlingham for your Suffolk holiday? Get in touch, and we’ll share more recommendations to ensure your trip is a memorable one.
