Bury Saint Edmunds

Medieval streets wind between half-timbered houses and Georgian terraces in this Suffolk market town that feels properly lived-in rather than touristy. The Abbey Gardens spread across 14 acres where Benedictine monks once ruled one of Europe's most powerful monasteries - now it's where locals walk their dogs and families picnic by the ruins.

Bury's shopping is cracking. The Cornhill and Buttermarket buzz with independent shops, proper cafes, and Greene King's brewery tap. Wednesday and Saturday markets fill the town centre with local produce and vintage finds. The Theatre Royal, one of Britain's last surviving Regency playhouses, puts on everything from touring West End shows to local amateur dramatics.

Suffolk's countryside rolls away in all directions from here. Little Waldingfield and Lavenham sit just south - the latter's wonky timber-framed houses make it one of England's best-preserved medieval wool towns. Each village has its own painted sign telling local stories, from Alpheton to Cockfield, creating a proper treasure hunt through the lanes.

Getting here's straightforward - the A14 runs past the southern edge, and it's 30 minutes from Cambridge by car. The train from London Liverpool Street takes about 90 minutes, though you'll need to change at Ipswich. Bury works as a base because everything's within easy reach: the coast at Southwold is 45 minutes east, Cambridge lies half an hour west.

Staying at one of the holiday parks nearby gives you space to spread out while keeping the town's pubs and restaurants close. Apple Mount Retreat and Lake View Lodges Suffolk offer different styles of accommodation, while Cranfield Retreat provides glamping for those wanting something a bit special. The surrounding villages each have their own character - perfect for afternoon drives through quintessential English countryside.