Ipswich: 5 beautiful villages to visit outside Suffolk town

If you fancy a day out exploring somewhere near Suffolk's county town, here are five villages only a short drive away.

Tuddenham St Martin

A view of Tuddenham St Martin, near Ipswich (Image: Contributed)

Just to the north-east of Ipswich is Tuddenham St Martin, which is home to only a few hundred people.

However, the village has a selection of tea rooms to choose from, the well-known Fountain pub and plenty of spaces to walk alongside the banks of the River Fynn.

Kersey

The Kersey Splash runs through the centre of the village (Image: Newsquest)

This village just outside of Hadleigh is perhaps best known for the 'Kersey Splash', a stream that runs through the main road.

Here you can find the Kersey Mill – a venue set in an outstanding area of Suffolk countryside with lots of rare birds and wildlife – as well as the popular Bell Inn.

Shotley

The coast of Shotley in south Suffolk (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

To the south of Ipswich is Shotley, where people can catch a ferry to Felixstowe and Harwich over the summer months.

If you want to stay in Shotley itself, be sure to check out the Rose and Shipwreck pubs, the marina and the Martello towers.

Claydon

The sun setting in Claydon, north of Ipswich (Image: citizenside.com)

A short drive north of the A14 will take you to Claydon, where you can find a selection of shops, pubs and walks through woodland.

Baylham House Rare Breeds Farm, where a number of exotic animals live, is also a short drive from the village.

Waldringfield

Boats on the water for the Waldringfield Regatta (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)

To the east of Ipswich near Martlesham is Waldringfield, on the banks of the River Deben.

The village is inside the Suffolk Coast & Heaths area of outstanding natural beauty and is home to Waldringfield Sailing Club, where you can learn how to take to the water safely.