VISIT BURY
he historic home of the original patron saint of England, Bury St Edmunds has attracted hordes of visitors for the past millennia – never more so than in its medieval heyday, when devotees would flock here to pay respects at the shrine of the saintly figure from whom the town takes its name. Fast-forward through the centuries, and the abbey that was once the richest Benedictine monastery in Europe has long since been dissolved. But its atmospheric ruins, rather like the rest of the town itself, still hold the same undeniable magnetism – even if just as the perfect scenic spot for a picnic. Considered by many as the jewel in Suffolk’s crown, novelist Charles Dickens once described Bury as a ‘handsome town of thriving and cleanly experience’ following a stay at The Angel Hotel. This still rings true today, with the hotel itself – later immortalised by Dickens in The Pickwick Papers – sustaining its position as the place to stay if you’re looking to extend your visit to the town beyond a day trip.
THE JEWEL OF SUFFOLK Once a spiritual hub, Bury now invites exploration of its historic ruins and charming streets
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK JUNE 2024 47
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