Living in Bury St Edmunds – East of England’s Best Town
6th April 2023

Living in Bury St Edmunds – East of England’s Best Town

Bury St Edmunds, located in the county of Suffolk, England, is a picturesque town with a rich history.

The town has emerged as a particularly popular area to live in thanks to a variety of factors.

From its stunning architecture to its quaint streets lined with independent shops and cafes, living in Bury St Edmunds offers a unique blend of countryside charm and urban convenience.

Whether you’re a history buff, foodie, or nature lover, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this charming market town.

In this blog, we will take a closer look at what makes Bury St Edmunds such a special place to call home.

Our comprehensive guide will review all aspects of living in Bury St Edmunds.

Best Places to Live

Bury St Edmund Street
Town Houses. Image credit: Depositphotos

There are many fantastic suburban neighbourhoods in Bury St Edmunds that are ideal for housing families.

Within Bury St Edmunds and the neighbouring villages and towns, there are some absolutely lovely settings with some magnificent scenery, picturesque villages, and distinctive local shops.

Bury St. Edmunds is the best option for you if you want to feel more metropolitan.

Those who choose to stay in the town have great access to all the amenities you would expect to find in a large city.

It is a terrific location because of the abundance of high-end boutiques, various neighbourhood eateries and bars, and excellent transportation options.

Living in the town does not, however, restrict your access to the nearby countryside and coast.

Homeowners may still easily reach Suffolk’s breathtaking countryside.

Many nearby settlements in Bury St Edmunds are perfect for people who prefer a more rural setting.

The quaint community of Woolpit, which is halfway between Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, provides residents with a peaceful place to live.

The Bull Inn and The Swan Inn, two neighbourhood pubs, contribute to the village’s laid-back atmosphere while also serving up delicious food and beverages.

Another popular choice for nearby rural areas is Hinderclay.

The town is in the beautiful Suffolk countryside and is about 14 miles from Bury St Edmunds.

Hinderclay lacks neighbourhood bars, but its breathtaking location more than makes up for it.

With extremely easy access to Bury St Edmunds, it is an ideal location for those seeking a slower pace of life.

Be sure to check our article highlighting even more great rural locations in Suffolk.

House Prices

English Cottages
English Cottages. Image credit: Depositphotos

Bury St Edmunds represents one of the more expensive regions of Suffolk.

This is to be expected with a town that offers as much as Bury St Edmunds.

Despite the town’s higher prices, it still represents extremely good value when compared to other major cities across the UK.

Costs will undoubtedly vary from region to region, but there is certainly a property for everyone in and around the town.

The average price for a property in April 2023 stands at £343,594..

House prices in Bury St Edmunds represent great value when compared to the average cost of a property in London which is currently £734,764..

Another deciding factor in cost will be property type.

If you are seeking a terraced home, the average price is £323,470.

The average cost of a semi-detached property is £319,738, flats cost an average of £186,487and a more expensive detached property will set you back an average of £498,413.

Bury St Edmunds offers buyers a wide range of different property types at an extremely competitive value.

Renting

Renting is another great option if you are considering living Bury St Edmunds.

Whether you are saving to buy your own property or simply want to see what the area is like, renting in Bury St Edmunds is a great option.

The average rent for a property in Burt St Edmunds is £1,548pcm.

If you are considering renting a one-bed property, you can expect to pay an average of £967pcm.

Renting a two-bed property is understandably more expensive with an average cost of £1,359pcm, with three-bed properties sitting at £1,467 pcm.

Renting is certainly a good option if you want to sample what living in Bury St Edmunds is like.

Living Costs (Food/Groceries/Eating Out)

£5 Note
£5 Note. Image credit: Unsplash

Bury St Edmunds offers residents a wide range of different dining options.

Whilst the cost of everyday items tends to be the same across the UK, understanding the local costs of living can go a long way to understanding if you want to move to an area.

With a wide range of different eateries, prices will vary from place to place.

As a general summary, these are the costs you can expect to pay for various types of food when moving to Bury St Edmunds:

  • 1 meal at a cheaper restaurant-£15.00
  • 3-course meal for 2 people at restaurant-£ 60.00
  • 1 combo takeaway meal-£6.00
  • cappuccino or latte-£2.68
  • 1 litre of milk-£0.85
  • a loaf of bread-£0.66
  • 1kg chicken-£3.25

Statistics from Numbeo.

There are of course various popular websites and apps to help choose between the huge array of takeaways and restaurants including Just Eat, Deliveroo and TripAdvisor.

Why not cook for yourself?

Bury St Edmunds offers residents all the regular UK supermarket brands, making a cooking a homemade meal a great option.

Transport Links

Bury St Edmund is situated in a particularly good location.

The town provides great links to the East Coast, other towns and cities in the East as well as the rest of the UK.

If you are thinking of living in Bury St Edmunds, it is useful to understand all these great transport links.

Train Links

Bury St Edmunds Train Station
Bury St Edmunds Train Station. Image credit: Wikipedia

The central train station in Bury St Edmunds is within easy walking distance of the town centre.

There are also several smaller stations dotted around the region for easy access to the entire town.

From the central station, you can choose from a selection of trains that take you to all of the major cities and towns in the region.

By train, Ipswich is only 40 minute commute, with Cambridge and Colchester taking around 85 minutes.

The average journey time between Bury St Edmunds and London is 2 hours 25 minutes, with the fastest train taking just 1 hour 32 minutes!

An average weekday sees 92 trains travelling from Bury St Edmunds to London, meaning there are numerous options should you happen to miss your train.

Travelling by Car

A great network of local roads makes Bury St Edmunds extremely accessible by car.

The local A14 will give locals great access to Ipswich, Cambridge and Colchester all of which are within an hours drive.

Moving to Bury St Edmunds also means easy access to the capital.

Taking the A14 and the M11, residents are able to arrive in London in just shy of 2 hours!

This quick travel into the city makes Bury St Edmunds a great spot for those who may still need to commute to the capital.

Shopping

Bury St Edmunds Shopping
Bury St Edmunds Shopping. Image credit: Depositphotos

Relocating to Bury St Edmunds allows locals to enjoy a spot of retail therapy.

The town is home to over 200 shops, boasting a blend of well-known high-street names and unique boutiques.

Shopping in Bury St Edmunds is a truly unique experience.

Many of the stores sit in the historic market towns winding streets and stunning squares, creating a truly unique atmosphere to shop.

From clothes shops to homeware, shopping in the town provides something for all and all of this is in easy walking distance of the centre.

Alongside the well-established High Street brands, Bury St Edmunds has a multitude of independent shops that you won’t find anywhere else.

Things to Do

Craft Beer
Craft Beer. Image credit: Depositphotos

Moving to Bury St Edmunds will undoubtedly keep you entertained.

There are so many different things to do and places to discover in the town because of its rich history and enthusiasm for everything new.

A tour of the Greene King Brewery is one of the fantastic options for things to do in Bury St Edmunds.

Here, you may enjoy tasting some of their best beers and learning about the brewing process!

If you live in Bury St Edmunds, you’ll have plenty of time to check out the neighbourhood market.

This is more than simply a shopping trip!

The market, which is open every Wednesday and Saturday, offers a wide variety of foods and beverages, so be sure to stop by and take in the ambience.

See the venerable Saint Edmundsbury Cathedral, Abbey Gardens, and take in a performance at the majestic Theatre Royal, among other notable attractions.

All year long, there are several events, fairs, and activities to enjoy.

Visit Bury St Edmunds, where even more suggestions for thrilling entertainment in the town are often updated, to stay current on everything going on.

Leisure and Entertainment

Bury St Edmunds plays host to a variety of great leisure and entertainment activities all year round.

The town is home to a multitude of fantastic eateries!

Top picks for dining out include Maison Bleue Restaurant, Francela Restaurant and The Tavern on St John’s.

Check out TripAdvisor’s top restaurants for more ideas, or have a stroll around the town and find a hidden gem, there are heaps to find!

If you fancy a night out, The Apex offers locals several pubs, bars and clubs.

If you are in the area, be sure to ay a visit to the Nutshell pub.

The Nutshell holds the title of the UK’s smallest pub, measuring in at a mere 15 feet by 7 feet!

The pub is proud of this title and is a popular location for tourists and locals alike.

Providing a range of local ales, a visit to The Nutshell is a great experience.

Additionally, the area extends some fantastic live shows, music and is also home to the popular art gallery.

Bury St Edmunds is also home to two cinemas.

Abbeygate Cinema is certainly the standout cinema experience in the town.

Offering customers a theatre-style location from which to enjoy the big screen.

If you are a movie buff be sure to check it out.

If you fancy something a little different, Escape Rooms Suffolk is the perfect activity.

Here 6 players can attempt to solve 75 puzzles in the allotted 60 minutes.

The quicker you escape, the higher you place on the leader board!

This is a great location for some family fun, birthdays or even team building.

Taxes

Irrespective of where you live within the UK, all residents contribute to the same tax system.

Value-added tax, often called VAT, is a 20% tax added to various goods and services.

This is always added to the cost of the product, so no need to worry!

Another essential tax to consider is council tax.

The price of your council tax will hinge on the area you live as well as the size of your property.

To find out how much you have to pay, visit the West Suffolk Council Website.

A final tax to take into account if you decide to buy a flat or house in Bury St Edmunds is stamp duty.

There is not a tax on the first £125,000 of your home value, but the rate raises up to 12% over £1.5 million.

Schools and Education

School Concept

There are many schools for residents in Bury St Edmunds.

In addition to 15 secondary schools and 12 higher education facilities, the town has around 45 primary schools.

About 30 schools in Bury St Edmunds were given a “Good” rating by Ofsted, while 6 achieved the coveted “Outstanding” rating.

Those looking to further their education have access to a wide range of courses at the nearby West Suffolk College.

Almost 40 courses covering a wide range are offered by the institution in collaboration with the University of Suffolk.

It is clear that Bury St Edmunds offers a variety of educational options for learners of all ages.

If you’re considering relocating with your family to the neighbourhood, there is absolutely no reason to be concerned.

Closest Airport

Whilst having a local airport is certainly not a necessity, they can be handy when you wish to travel long distances or overseas.

Although Bury St Edmunds does not have its own local airport, residents are certainly well catered for.

London Stanstead airport is a little under an hour drive from the town, with the journey taking just over 2 hours via train.

This means that jetting to your sunny holiday or visiting family overseas is made relatively simple.

London Stanstead flies to most major cities within the UK and provides travellers with a wide range of destinations abroad.

Head to the Stanstead airport to find out if your ideal location is accounted for.

Ready to Start Living in Bury St Edmunds?

Goodmove truck

Are you thinking of moving to Bury St Edmunds?

Whether you want to explore the marvellous local shops, the range of quaint eateries or enjoy the local market, the town has something for everyone.

And, with the range of fantastic locations and a variety of different properties, there is certainly a home for you!

GoodMove will make your move to Bury St Edmunds an effortless and stress-free process.

We take great pride in ensuring everything runs smoothly and seamlessly, helping you to settle in your new home right away.

As such, in addition to our competitively priced house removals package, we can also offer additional services such as temporary or long-term storage facilities should you need them.

GoodMove cover all areas of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex and our friendly estimators can call around at a time convenient to you and strategically plan your move to perfection.

During these unique times, GoodMove is also offering a new video survey service.

Using our new technology, we can gather all the information required to assist with your move, from the comfort of your home!

Video surveys will help you save valuable time and preserve the best safety levels.

To find out more about how we could get your dream move to Bury St Edmunds or any other location underway do not hesitate to call us on the number listed above.

Alternatively, fill out a quick quote form or click on our live bot in the bottom right and a member of our customer services team will be in touch shortly.

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