Framlingham Castle is the perfect day trip if you are in the Suffolk area. Not only is the castle great for a family day out, but the historic market town of Framlingham is great for exploring.
Framlingham Castle is not a complete castle, but a shell of what used to be a powerful fortress. The 12th-century walls and the workhouse from the 1600s are the only last remains.
Mary Tudor has a strong connection with the castle and of course, Ed Sheeran’s hometown is Framlingham… yep, that’s right, Framlingham Castle is the Castle on the Hill *eeeeeek*. The castle even makes an appearance in the song’s music video!
*This post may contain affiliate links and I get a commission for the purchase made through the link at no extra cost to you. These are services and items I use and recommend myself.
And while it might not seem like there is much to do here, I promise, you will really enjoy your day at Framlingham Castle.
Day Trip to Framlingham Castle – Ed Sheeran’s Castle on the Hill
Mary Tudor and Framlingham Castle
The most famous resident of Framlingham Castle is Mary Tudor. Within the castle walls, she was proclaimed Queen of England in 1553.
Edward VI, Mary’s younger brother, was a dying king. He was a firm supporter of his father’s creation of the Church of England and disagreed with Mary’s strong Catholic background. Edward removed Mary (and Elizabeth – he really didn’t like his sisters) from the line of succession and added Lady Jane Grey.
When Edward died, Lady Jane Grey took the crown, with many in favor of a Protestant queen.
With much chatter about plots to capture her, Mary fled to Framlingham Castle, a fortified fortress she inherited from Thomas Howard.
She regrouped, gathered her Catholic supporters at Framlingham, and made a plan to take back what was rightfully hers. Unsurprisingly, Mary had a lot of support and within 9 days was accepted as the next queen.
And as for Lady Jane Grey? She was found guilty of treason, thrown in the tower, and executed a few months later.
How to Get to Framlingham Castle
Did you know you can take a day trip from London to Framlingham?
It’s going to take a little effort on your part, but it’s 100% possible.
By Train: The closest train station to Framlingham is Wickham Market. If you are coming from London, then take the train from Liverpool Street to Ipswich and change trains to Wickham Market.
I use Trainline.com for all my trains around the UK (and Europe). You can store your tickets in the app, add them to your virtual wallet or keep them in your e-mail… it also shows you the cheapest and fastest routes when you are trying to decide what train to take!
Once at the station, you can either take a taxi (definitely recommend pre-booking) or book a spot on the Katch bus using the app!
If you take a taxi, the journey from the station will be about 15 minutes, if you opt for the Katch bus, then it’s about 30 minutes.
By Car: Driving is the easiest way to get to Framlingham, especially if you are doing a weekend break in Suffolk or exploring more of East Anglia.
It will take you about 2 hr 30 min from London via the A12. Use the postcode IP13 9BP for the castle parking lot.
Exploring the Castle
Walk the Wall
The towering walls dominate the hillside overlooking the town and at 10.5 meters high with 13 towers, the walls are the highlight of the castle.
Luckily you can climb to the top and walk the complete circuit around the castle walls, enjoying the views of Framlington and the stunning countryside of Suffolk.
The climb to the top is very easy, only a small portion of the stairs are the classic narrow spiral stairs, and the rest are normal stairs through a small exhibit in the workhouse.
Just note that there is very little shade up top and the circuit is one-way, so once you are up there, you are stuck walking around it, possibly in the full sun.
The Workhouse
The only building that still exists inside the castle walls is the workhouse. The small house (known as the Red House) connected to the workhouse was built in 1664 and the stone workhouse was in 1729.
You cannot tour the Red House, but the workhouse is a small exhibition and cafe where you can enjoy a scone and tea when you are finished touring the castle.
The workhouse was built to provide work for the poor of Framlingham either spinning or weaving. It’s a rare example of a surviving building of this type.
The exhibition inside the workhouse is the perfect quick rundown of the history of the castle including the period when the castle was owned by the Howards and then passed over to Mary Tudor.
It’s not really in-depth, but you can grab a free audio guide that will give you more information.
The Mere
The mere is the small, shallow lake that sits right below the castle.
It might look small today, but the ancient lake was five times the size it is now. Meaning it was a valuable resource for fresh fish and poultry.
A dovecote housed the pigeons and geese, and traces of medieval fisheries have been found.
You get a great view of the castle from the other side of the mere and it’s an easy and peaceful walk that anyone can enjoy.
Is Framlingham Castle worth visiting?
I think it is!
If you are a Tudor fan (I’m a MASSIVE Tudor fan… no shame), then this castle is absolutely worth visiting. Who knows what would’ve happened if Mary didn’t have Framlingham to retreat to and protect her while she was running from the protestants who wanted to capture her.
If you want a great day out with the family? Come on down to Framlingham Castle… there’s plenty of space for the kids to run around and plenty of picnic tables dotted around the inner walls of the castle to have some lunch.
Would you go to Framlingham Castle? Are you planning a trip? Let me know in the comments below!
- Follow me on Instagram for more travel adventures! (I even have a reel about Framlingham Castle)
- Follow me on Threads because it’s NEW!
- Follow me on Twitter to get my latest thoughts
- Like me on Facebook because it will be fun! *Promise*
Save this Perfect Day Out at Framlingham Castle for later on Pinterest
Leave a Comment