Saxmundham

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

Town Sign

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 Station

• 1 Saxmundham Train Station, Station Approach, Saxmundham IP17 1BW. 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). (updated Jun 2017)

By bus

First Buses 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

St. John the Baptist Church

• 1 Saxmundham Museum, 49 High St, Saxmundham IP17 1AJ, ☏ +44 1728 663583, info@saxmundhammuseum.org.uk. Apr-Sep: M-Sa 10AM-1PM. Well worth a visit, as it is very informative and enjoyable for all the family (updated Jun 2017)

Do

• 1 RSPB Minsmere (Nature Reserve), IP17 3BY (OS grid ref: TM473672. 8 miles E of the town), ☏ +44 1728 648281, minsmere@rspb.org.uk. Daily dawn-dusk. Cafe. (updated Jun 2017)

Buy

The town has a variety of independent and chain stores on the High Street and around the central part of the town.

• 1 Weekly Market, Market Place, Saxmundham, ☏ +44 1728 604595, townclerk@saxmundham.suffolk.gov.uk. early morning-mid afternoon. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Waitrose (Supermarket), Church St, Saxmundham IP17 1EP, ☏ +44 1728 603004. M-F 8AM-9PM, Sa 8AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 Tesco Supermarket, 1 Church St, Saxmundham IP17 1EP, ☏ +44 345 671 9532. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 11AM-5PM. ATMs (updated Jun 2017)

Eat

• 1 Cinnamon (Indian Restaurant), 104 High St, Leiston IP16 4BZ, ☏ +44 1728 831962. Daily 5-11PM. (updated Jun 2017)

Drink

• 1 The Golden Key, Priory Lane, Snape, ☏ +44 1728 688510. This is a pub with a landlord willing to go the extra mile. Local beer, and evenings to meet your winemaker. 
• 2 The Old Chequers (Pub & Food), Aldeburgh Rd, Friston IP17 1NP (3 miles SE of Saxmundham), ☏ +44 1728 688039. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 The White Horse (Pub & Food), Bruisyard Rd, Saxmundham IP17 2AF (3 miles W of town), ☏ +44 1728 663497, info@whitehorserendham.co.uk. (updated Jun 2017)

Sleep

Bell Hotel, High Street

• 1 The Bell At Sax' (Hotel & Restaurant), 31 High St, Saxmundham IP17 1AF, ☏ +44 1728 602331, info@thebellatsax.co.uk. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 The Westleton Crown, The Street, Westleton, Saxmundham IP17 3AD, ☏ +44 1728 648777. Friendly hotel in a 12th-century coaching inn, great dining, dog-friendly. B&B double £130. (updated Jul 2020)

Connect

Saxmundham and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Sep 2022, 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• Aldeburgh
• Orford
• Woodbridge
• Ipswich
• Harleston
• Lowestoft
• Beccles and Bungay

Routes through Saxmundham

Ipswich ← Woodbridge ←

SW  NE

→ Southwold → Lowestoft