Tuesday 8 January 2013

Delve Back in Time This Winter to Visit Some of Suffolk’s Best Museums!

If you are spending your holidays at Windmill Lodges this winter and are fascinated by local history, there are many interesting museums in the Suffolk area. While some are tailored towards the youngest of visitors, there are also museums that are perhaps less interactive and are more suitable for adults and older children.  Whether you would like to discover more about ancient history, transport, agriculture, factories or breweries, there is something for you in Suffolk. Here is our pick of the best museums to visit during your log cabin holidays this winter.

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Suffolk Museums to Visit in Winter with Young Children

If you want to go sightseeing there are plenty of family friendly museums that your little ones will love.

The Museum of East Anglian Life is an open air museum about a half hour drive from Windmill Lodges, right in the centre of Stowmarket. It has 75 acres to run about in and although the buildings and displays are closed during winter, the museum site and nature reserve - including woodland and riverside walking trails, and a variety of rare breeds - is still open Monday until Saturday, 10am-3pm, for a reduced fee.

On the same site as the Museum of East Anglian Life lies Abbotts Hall which is open as usual during winter Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm. Each Saturday in December, from 10am-3pm, younger children can visit Father Christmas in the Parlour. They can also take part in various activities such as making Christmas decorations or crackers. (Please note activities vary so it is best to contact Abbotts Hall in advance to find out what’s on.)

Another fascinating attraction for the young ones is Moyse’s Hall Museum which is right in the centre of Bury St Edmunds, in Market Place. Your children will enjoy dressing up and they can also see the incredible displays such as crime and punishment, witchcraft, and collections from the Bronze Age, Stone Age and Medieval Times. There are also some hands on activities for your tots to enjoy such as puzzles and brass rubbings. Moyse’s Hall Museum is open all year round Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, although the last admission is 4pm. Sunday opening times are 12-4pm.

You can combine a visit to Moyse’s Hall Museum with a day out in Bury St Edmunds or head to the village of West Stow to see a recreated Anglo Saxon village at first hand! Here your little ones can dress up as an Anglo Saxon and experience the sights and sounds of the Anglo Saxon era. The Anglo Saxon village is open daily from 10am-5pm (with last admission 3.30pm in winter). It is recommended you put aside at least three hours to make the most of this fascinating attraction! The drive from Saxtead to West Stow, and also to Bury St Edmunds, takes just over 50 minutes.

Museums to Visit in Winter with Older Children and Adults

Leiston Long Shop Museum has an amazing history as the former factory had purpose-built production lines long before Henry Ford. The museum is about a 20 minute drive from Windmill Lodges and here you can find all sorts of exhibits including products this factory used to make, as well as insights into living and working in the town. The museum is open seven days a week, from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am-4pm on Sundays. (It’s recommended that you double check the winter opening times before you go).

Another museum to visit during your log cabin holidays this winter is Orford Museum. This is free to look round, although there is an entrance fee if you want to combine it with a visit to the castle. Here you can find more about the village of Orford, once a busy market and port. You can also discover the legend of ‘the Merman’, a wild man said to have been captured and kept in the castle until he escaped. The museum is open Saturdays and Sundays over the winter period.

If you enjoy a pint, visit Greene King Museum in Bury St Edmunds or take a tour around the brewery. These tours are not suitable for the under 12’s and those aged 12-18 must be accompanied by an adult. Contact the brewery in advance to book tours and find out about the museum opening times.

About Windmill Lodges

Windmill Lodges offers luxury log cabin holidays with a hot tub in a picturesque location in the heart of rural Suffolk. Our high spec cabins have all the facilities you require to create a sumptuous home from home. And in winter, after a day’s sightseeing, what could be more luxurious than cosying up indoors with underfloor heating, enjoying a long bubble in the hot tub, before relaxing with a DVD on comfy leather sofas in front of a coal effect log fire? And for the ultimate in luxury, Kingfisher Lodges now has an infra-red sauna. Log cabin holidays with Windmill Lodges offers the perfect winter break.

Windmill Lodges in Suffolk - Follow the link here to see our full range of family friendly luxury log cabins.


Related articles:

Visit some of Suffolk’s Most Famous Ancient Buildings and Country Houses While Staying at Windmill Lodges this Autumn

Immerse Yourself in Suffolk’s History - Your Guide to Some of the Historic Villages to Visit

Book yourself a log cabin holiday in Suffolk to look forward to!