Halesworth guide

Halesworth has a great cafe culture with many different places to stop for a drink and something to eat. Many have outdoor seating on the Thoroughfare to sit and watch the world go by and cosy indoor spaces for those cooler days, whilst you enjoy freshly made light meals and home baked treats. And if you want to pick up food to take on a picnic or eat at home, then visit one of the town’s delis, bakers, greengrocers or butcher.

Restaurants make good use of the wonderful local produce from locally reared Blythburgh pork to organically grown vegetables: there’s the Boarding House Dining Rooms on the Marketplace, Cleone's Italian Restaurant at The Angel, Edwards on the Thoroughfare serving traditional home-cooked food and The Ancient House Bistro which has a delightful small courtyard.

There’s something to suit all tastes and pockets with traditional pub food at one of the town’s pubs and a wide choice of take away options too.

The semi-pedestrianised Thoroughfare and large traditional Market Place make it easy to wander through the town centre popping into the mainly independently owned shops.

Halesworth businesses pride themselves on their customer service, offering a bright welcome and friendly advice. You can find most things in the heart of the town from shoes, clothing and accessories through to jewellery, gifts and home accessories. We have a wonderful bookshop and well stocked pet shop. Halesworth has also developed a strong reputation for antiques and vintage items for those looking for unique pre-loved items.

Like many of the Suffolk towns, Halesworth has it own weekly outdoor market held in the traditional Market Place. There are other produce, plants and brocante markets taking place at different town venues during the year too. 

Antiques enthusiasts are well served here; stop by Blackdog Antiques and watch out for the Halesworth Antiques Street Market which usually takes place in the late summer.

Just to the east of the town centre is the largest Millennium Green in the country – 50 acres of wildlife-friendly grazing marsh and flood plain with footpaths, an all-weather track, great views, a hide and a community orchard.

Work is currently underway to revive the old Halesworth to Southwold railway track and associated buildings along with the New Reach waterway, used to bring wherries into the town in days gone by. Events are run throughout the year including fascinating talks and walks and the annual Winter Lights Festival in February. 

The Millennium Green abuts Halesworth Town Park which is home to a children’s playground including equipment for disabled children. 

The Park has latterly been transformed by the hard work of the volunteer group Halesworth in Bloom. They have added colour to all parts of the town, gaining gold awards four years in a row and Best Small Town in East Anglia. The Hooker Trail (leaflet available from the VIPs) highlights the connection with Halesworth of the Hookers, father and son, who were the first two directors of Kew Gardens.  Owners of town gardens host a regular Open Gardens Day showcasing their displays.

The optimum way to explore the timeless landscape is via walking and/or cycling. The gentle slopes of the countryside provide many interesting trails including circular walks suitable for all ages and abilities and linear routes following local railway lines.

The town itself is on National Cycle Route 1, part of which crosses the Millennium Green on a traffic free all-weather path.

There are fine examples of 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th century buildings in the town, many of which are occasionally open to the public. On a biannual basis, Halesworth participates in the national Heritage Open Days Scheme, with events taking place across the town. 

Following the Halesworth Town Trail is a useful way to catch other elements of architectural interest, a leaflet is available from the Visitor Information Points, as are several other leaflets about the town and the Blyth Valley. 

Halesworth is fast becoming a centre for the arts. The Cut Arts Centre is a multi-purpose centre holding events throughout the year; including dance, drama, weekly cinema film, live screenings and exhibitions plus it has a dance studio and a café bar. 

Now in its fourth year, The Cut is home to the INK Festival which champions new work from emerging and established playwrights, with a host of events including plays, radio plays, films and children's workshops. Pre COVID, the centre hosted the Centre hosted the Halesworth Arts Festival every October and the Tessa Fuchs Chamber Series every spring which will hopefully be repeated. 

Peruse the works of local and national artists including contemporary paintings and sculpture to ceramics and textiles at The Art Gallery, located in ancient Alms Houses (near to St Mary's Church). The exhibitions run between April and December.

Check The Cut's website for ongoing programme based on COVID guidelines from summer 2021 onwards.

The Halesworth and District Museum (which has been runner-up in the Suffolk Museum of the Year Awards and was winner in 2017 of the “Object of the Year” award) is housed at the railway station. The displays take you through 10,000 years of local history; from the earliest Bronze Age settlers in the Blyth Valley to the busy hub of malting, brewing and agriculture which Halesworth was well-known for in Victorian times, and on through the 20th century. *

Financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, to honour the Maltings heritage of the town, a Malt ‘Experience’ and ‘Trail’ was launched in 2017. The 'experience' is located at The New Cut Arts Centre, where the trail starts.

Halesworth was the base for a famous USAAF Fighter Squadron and Bomber Group during WW2. Explore the extensive memorabilia of the air war at The Halesworth (Holton) Airfield Memorial Museum which is usually open Bank Holiday and Sunday afternoons between April and October. Please check for their website for ongoing programme based on COVID guidelines from summer 2021 onwards.

The Blyth Valley is truly magical - perfect for exploring at any time of year. From its source 17 miles inland near the village of Laxfield (which has an excellent small museum), the gentle River Blyth meanders through delightful villages, past Heveningham Hall and quintessential Suffolk countryside before merging with the sea at Southwold and Walberswick.

You can find out more about this beautiful area, what there is to do and see here by visiting www.blythvalleyexperience.co.uk and the Halesworth and the Blyth Valley Page.