Woodbridge is a town in Suffolk. It is about 8 miles from the coast, on the River Deben and is the location of medieval burial sites and ancient archaeological finds. The town is probably best known for the Sutton Hoo 6th and 7th century burial sites, something many will be visiting the area to see.
Understand
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Archaeological finds show habitation back to 2500-1700 BC. Although the area was under Roman occupation for 300 years, there is little in the way of Roman remains.
The Rendlesham Forest Incident
[edit]In Dec 1980, strange lights were reportedly seen over Rendlesham Forest which were linked with claims of UFO landings. Nearby RAF Woodbridge (used by the USAF at the time) deputy base commander and other base personnel also claim to have seen what they described as a UFO landing.
The reports gained traction and the alleged sightings have been rated as of similar importance to the Roswell Incident (the 1980 "sightings" have become known as 'Britain's Roswell'). The sightings have been attributed to a fireball, Orford Ness Lighthouse and bright stars. Visitors have not been warned to take any special precautions with regard to risks of alien abductions.
Get in
[edit]By road
[edit]The town is on the A12 main road connecting it to Ipswich (9 miles) to the SW and to Lowestoft (40 miles) to the N.
By train
[edit]- 1 Woodbridge Railway Station, Station Rd, Woodbridge IP12 4AU. East Suffolk Line, Ipswich-Lowestoft. Station managed by and services operated by Greater Anglia
By bus
[edit]- First Norfolk & Suffolk[dead link] 63: Ipswich-Melton via Woodbridge.
- First Norfolk & Suffolk[dead link] 64/65 Ipswich-Leiston via Woodbridge.
- First Norfolk & Suffolk[dead link] 65B: Ipswich-Melton via Woodbridge.
- First Norfolk & Suffolk[dead link] 70/70A: Ipswich-Woodbridge
- First Norfolk & Suffolk[dead link] 963: Woodbridge-Framlingham.
- Ipswich Buses 173/174 Old Felixstowe-Woodbridge
By bicycle
[edit]- The town is on National Cycle Route 1 (Shetland Islands to Dover) running through Framlingham, Halesworth, Beccles and Norwich to the N and Ipswich and Colchester to the S.
- The town is on Regional Cycle Route 48 running through Ipswich and on to Hadleigh to the W.
- The town is on Regional Cycle Route 41, running to Felixstowe to the S, then turning N to Orford and beyond, connecting to the National Cycle Network.
Get around
[edit]
Map of Woodbridge (England)
The town is small enough to see on foot.
See
[edit]
- 1 Sutton Hoo. The site of two 6th- and early 7th-century Anglo-Saxon cemeteries.
- 2 Woodbridge Tide Mill. Living museum.
- 3 Buttrum's Windmill, ☏ +44 1473 264755, mark.barnard@suffolk.gov.uk. Several open day through year or by appointment.
- 4 Bawdsey Radar Trust, IP12 3AT (off the B1083, one mile beyond Bawdsey Village; 11 miles S of Woodbridge), ☏ +44 7821 162879 (mobile), info@bawdseyradar.org.uk. Although radar technology early experiments were carried out at the Appleton Laboratories in Datchet, Slough, the technology was developed by scientists at Bawdsey in the time before the outbreak of World War II when the team was moved to Dundee.
- 5 Shingle Street (Shingle Beach) (8 miles SE of Woodbridge). Beautiful, remote and tranquil stretch of coast.
- 6 Suffolk Punch Trust, Woodbridge Walk, Hollesley IP12 3JR (8 miles E of Woodbridge), ☏ +44 1394 411327, info@suffolkpunchtrust.org. Adult £9, child £5, under 5 free. Heritage horse centre.
- 7 Woodbridge Museum, 5a Market Hill, Woodbridge IP12 4LP, ☏ +44 1394 380502, bob.merrett@btinternet.com. Easter-end Oct: Th-Su & bank holidays (daily during school holidays) 10AM-4PM. Adult £1, child 30p.
- 8 493rd Bomb Group Museum, Grove Farm, Clopton IP13 6QS (5½ miles NW of Woodbridge), ☏ +44 7850 078432 (mobile), 493bgdebach@gmail.com. Control Tower Museum last Su in month Apr-Sep 11AM-4PM.
- 9 Parham Airfield Museum, IP13 9AF (9½ miles NE of Woodbridge), ☏ +44 1728 621373, parhamairfield@yahoo.co.uk. Su & Bank Holiday M, from 1st Sunday Apr-last Su October 11AM-5PM; W during Jun-Aug 11AM-4PM. Free.
Do
[edit]- 1 Rendlesham Forest. 1,500-hectare mixed woodland with walking and cycle paths.
- 2 Deben Swimming Pool, Station Rd, Woodbridge IP12 4AU, ☏ +44 1394 384763.
- 3 Model Boat Pond, The Quay, Woodbridge, ☏ +44 1394 420241.
- 4 Area 25, 25 Betts Ave, Martlesham IP5 3RH, ☏ +44 1473 806119, area25skatepark@hotmail.co.uk. M-Th 4-9PM, F 4-10PM, Sa Su 10AM-8PM. Indoor skate park for BMX, scooters, skateboarding and inlining £7/2 hr.
- 5 Easton Farm Park, Easton, Woodbridge IP13 0EQ (9 miles N of Woodbridge), ☏ +44 1728 746475, info@eastonfarmpark.co.uk. Children's activity farm, caravan site, cottages or day visits. £9/person or child.
- 6 [dead link] Beaon Ralley Karts, Beacon Hill Farm, Martlesham IP12 4RP (3 miles SW of Woodbridge), ☏ +44 1394 610066, info@beaconrallykarts.co.uk. £10/10 min for kiddie kart to £105/1 hr for 16+yr kart. Go-karting track.
- 7 Congo Rapids Adventure Golf, Ufford Park Hotel, Yarmouth Rd, Melton IP12 1QW (2½ miles NE of Woodbridge), ☏ +44 1394 382836. Daily 10AM-9PM (last entrance 8PM). No dogs Adult £8, child £5.75.
- 8 Valley Farm Riding School & Riding Holidays, Wickham Market, Woodbridge IP13 0ND, ☏ +44 1728 746916, sarah@valleyfarmonline.co.uk.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Woodbridge Farmers Market, Community Hall, Station Rd, Woodbridge IP12 4AU, woodbridgefarmersmarket@gmail.com. 2nd and 4th Sa of month 9AM-12:30PM.
- 2 Woodbridge Country Market, Community Hall, Station Rd, Woodbridge IP12 4AU. Th 10-11:15AM.
- 3 Woodbridge Thursday Market. Th 8AM-2PM.
- 4 Marlesford Mill Antique Centre, Main Rd, Marlesford IP13 0AG (8 miles NE of Woodbridge), ☏ +44 1728 748076, info@marlesfordmill.co.uk. Daily 10AM-5PM.
- 5 Co-op Supermarket, 3 Hamblin Walk, Woodbridge IP12 1DE, ☏ +44 1394 583020. M-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 10AM-4PM. ATMs
Eat
[edit]- 1 East Coast Diner, 2 Church St Woodbridge IP12 1DH, ☏ +44 1394 389076, woodbridge@eastcoastdiner.co.uk. M-F 4PM-late, Sa Su noon-late.
- 2 The Table, 3 Quay St, Woodbridge IP12 1BX, ☏ +44 1394 382428, thetablewoodbridge@hotmail.co.uk. Brasserie.
- 3 The Royal Bengal, 6 Quay St, Woodbridge IP12 1BX, ☏ +44 1394 387983, theroyalbengal@hotmail.co.uk. Daily 6-11PM. Bangladeshi restaurant.
- 4 [formerly dead link] The Cooks Shed, Yard Café, 14 Gobbitts Yard, Woodbridge IP12 1DD, ☏ +44 1394 446019, lisa@thecooksshed.co.uk. Tu-Sa 9AM-5PM.
- 5 Shapla, 1a Church St, Woodbridge IP12 1DS, ☏ +44 1394 387126. Daily 6-11:30PM. Indian restaurant.
Drink
[edit]- 1 The Tea Hut (Café), River Wall, Woodbridge IP12 4BB, ☏ +44 1394 384538. Daily 9AM-4PM.
- 2 Ye Old Bell & Steelyard (Pub & Food), 103 New St, Woodbridge IP12 1DZ, ☏ +44 1394 382933. M-Th 11AM-3PM & 5-11:30PM, F 11AM-3PM & 5PM-midnight, Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM.
- 3 The Old Mariner (Pub & Food), 26 New St, Woodbridge IP12 1DX, ☏ +44 1394 382679, gemma6anchor@gmail.com.
- 4 The Duke of York (Pub & Food), Ipswich Rd, Woodbridge IP12 4BY, ☏ +44 1394 386347. M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-10:30PM.
- 5 The Cherry Tree Inn (Pub & Food), 73 Cumberland St, Woodbridge IP12 4AG, ☏ +44 1394 384627.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Seckford Hall, ☏ +44 1394 385678. Tudor period house
- 2 The Station Guest House, Station Rd, Woodbridge IP12 4AU, ☏ +44 1394 384831, info@woodbridgestationguesthouse.co.uk.
- 3 [dead link] The Quay House (B&B), 1 Station Rd, Woodbridge IP12 4AU, ☏ +44 1394 388756, bookings@quayhousewoodbridge.co.uk. Check-in: 4-7PM. Min 2 night stays. Free Wi-Fi Single occupancy £85/night; double occupancy £95/night.
- 4 Grove House Hotel (Hotel & Restaurant), 39 Grove Rd, Woodbridge IP12 4LG, ☏ +44 1394 382202, reception@grovehousehotel.ltd.uk.
- 5 Sutton Hoo Hideaway (B&B), Mulligan House, Sutton Rd, Bromeswell, Woodbridge IP12 3DL, ☏ +44 1394 380045.
- 6 The Crown at Woodbridge, The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1AD, ☏ +44 1394 384242. Comfy, small hotel in 16th-century coaching inn, good dining. B&B double £100.
Connect
[edit]Woodbridge and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Sep 2022, 5G has not reached town.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Woodbridge |
| London ← Ipswich ← | SW  NE |
→ Saxmundham → Lowestoft |