Things to do in East Anglia, England: The Best History Museums

The Suffolk Regiment Museum tells the story of the regiment from its foundation in 1685 to amalgamation with the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1959. The history covers the regular, militia, volunteer and war-time battalions as well as the experience of individual soldiers and is told through medals, uniforms, photographs, weapons, equipment and personal memorabilia. The museum is open every Wednesday from 9:30am to 3:30pm, and the first Sunday of every month from 9:30am - 3:30pm.

DUE TO THE CURRENT SITUATION WE ARE SORRY BUT WE WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Please check the website for further information. The 390th Bomb Group Memorial Air Museum and the Museum of the British Resistance Organisation are housed in the original war time control tower, associated quanset (nissan) huts, and include the Percy Kindred Library and cafe. Situated on open fields the museum is signposted from the A12 North of Woodbridge after passing through Little Glemham. We are open on Sundays and Bank Holiday Monday’s from the first Sunday in April to last Sunday in October and also on Wednesdays during June, July and August. FREE Kids activites:- Ink Stamper Trail, Lego Table, Activity Sheet FREE parking, FREE Admission DONATIONS GRATEFULLY RECEIVED

Covid-19 Update: To protect our community and volunteers during the current pandemic, we will be remaining closed for the time being. We'll be reviewing this over the year, and in line with government advice. We have big plans for 2021, and look forward to sharing them with you when we can. Please check here, our facebook page, or our website for updates. We will reassess this later in the year and hope to reopen as soon as we can. The Museum is housed inside Broad House, a grade 2 listed building dating from 1685, in the grounds of Nicholas Everitt Park. Lowestoft Museum collects, preserves and displays objects relating to the history of the area and its people, and promotes awareness and interest in our rich heritage.

Built as a Norman Royal Palace and once a prison, Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery is packed with treasures, including fabulous fine art, archaeology, and natural history. During 2020 and 2021 construction work will be underway on the exciting Norwich Castle: Royal Palace Reborn project to transform the Castle’s Norman Keep. During these works some areas of the Castle are not accessible and this includes the main Castle Keep.

TEMPORARILY CLOSED - Gainsborough’s House explores the life and art of Thomas Gainsborough. One of the greatest artists of his age, he is renowned throughout the world for his portrait and landscape paintings. The house, ‘a most excellent Brickt Mansion,’ was bought by John Gainsborough, the artist’s father, in May 1722. Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) was born in Sudbury and was baptized there at the Independent Meeting-House in Friars Street on 14 May 1727. He lived here until around 1740 when, as a young teenager, he was sent to London to pursue a career as an artist. He returned to Sudbury in the spring of 1749 until 1752 when he painted his celebrated Mr and Mrs Andrews. He never lost the influence of his native town and county. ‘Nature was his teacher, and the woods of Suffolk his academy,’ noted an obituary after his death in 1788.

The museum started out as an aviation enthusiasts group for members of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company way back in 1977. The membership was later opened up to non employees and a temporary site was secured on the 17/35 runway at Norwich Airport. In early 1982, museum exhibits included Avro Anson (TX228), Westland Whirlwind (XP355), Sea Vixen (XP919) and a Dassault Mystere IV (121). 1983 saw the arrival of our Vulcan bomber which flew in to the airport after its retirement from service. By 1985 the museum had moved to its present site and an air fair held to help raise funds to expand the museum. At this time the Anson had gone (having been damaged beyond economical repair during gales) but Vampire (XD373) had arrived. 1986 saw another air fair on 14th September that saw attendance figures break the 20,000 barrier and another arrival, T-33 (16718). Over the next few years, services were laid, the main exhibition hall erected and the arrival of more aircraft.

Situated near Aldeburgh, in the beautiful coastal region of Suffolk, The Long Shop Museum tells the story of more than 200 years of the town's life and work. In the museum you will find a staggering collection of objects, ranging from full-size steam engines (the Richard Garrett & Sons engineering business made many hundreds of steam engines here) to touching mementos of the lives of the working people of the town.

Stand in the evocative workhouse settings, face to face with projections of staff and inmates and listen to first hand stories, often tragic, sometimes inspirational, from the people who once walked these whitewashed corridors. Visit Land Girl and Lumber Jills, old village shops, re-created cottage garden, orchard and traditional farm with rare breed livestock. Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse makes a superb setting for themed event days, family fun activities, school holiday fun and courses in traditional crafts.