Out & About
A stay at The Old Rectory can be as active as you want it to be-perfect for a relaxing break or for exploring East Anglia’s nature and heritage.
If you are looking to recharge your batteries, our high quality comfortably furnished cottages in tranquil surroundings mean you can do as little or as much as you want.
Explore our interactive map or view some of the activities that might tempt you out below.
TW Gaze have regular auctions every Tuesday & Friday selling antiques, furniture, bric brac.They also hold a number of specialist auctions during the year
Based in Diss
Gaze's general auctions are held every Tuesday & Saturday, and are supplemented by specialist specific sales dedicated to jewellery, antiques, toys, architectural ,books & automobilia etc
https://www.twgaze.co.uk
TW Gaze Diss Auction Rooms, Roydon Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4LN
Tel: 01379 650 306
A 15th Century Pub in the centre of Bungay
A great restaurant operating from a historic building
In 1814 Colmans started milling and making Mustard at Stoke Mill
Now it is a bustling, relaxed restaurant serving dishes for their sophisticated flavours and presented beautifully. The warm atmosphere enhances the whole experience
Open Wednesday to Saturday for Lunch and Dinner
Sunday Lunch Only
A country pub with a reputation for good well priced food
Now that the Flixton village pub is closed (and up for sale), the nearest pub to The Old Rectory is The Black Swan at Homersfield.
Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner
With the slogan "Fantastic Food, Prepared with Passion", Earsham Street Cafe is a very popular cafe/ restaurant in the centre of Bungay. It's attractive covered rear courtyard welcomes well behaved dogs. The cafe also offers a good range of dishes suitable for guests with vegan, gluten & dairy free diets.
At Earsham Street Café you are sure of a friendly welcome, quality meals and delicious cakes, scones and teas.
Nestling in the centre of historic Bungay, Earsham Street Café is a 17th century building bursting with character.
They are open 10am – 4.30pm (last orders at 4pm) Monday - Saturday. Cakes, scones and wide selection of drinks are served all day.
They are also licensed with a good choice of wines & beers. Lunch is served from noon – 3pm. Breakfast & lighter options are served 10am – noon and they are able to cater for vegan, gluten & dairy free diets.
Started in 1996, St. Peter’s Brewery has the distinction of being one of England’s original craft breweries, and operates in former traditional agricultural buildings alongside the moated St. Peter’s Hall. A full range of beers including non-alcohol is offered.
St. Peter’s Brewery is one of England’s original craft breweries, founded in 1996 in former traditional agricultural buildings alongside the moated St. Peter’s Hall.
The location, in the village of St. Peter South Elmham, near Bungay, is ideal for the excellent water quality used in the brewing process – all beers brewed at St. Peter’s Brewery use water filtered through chalk deep beneath the brewery, obtained from their own deep bore-hole.
Keg, Cask conditioned or bottled in their iconic oval shaped 500ml bottles, alongside their range of ‘traditional’ ales, such as Organic Best Bitter and Golden Ale, they also produce some more unusual beers, such as Honey Porter , Plum Porter and Ruby Red that replicate the traditional pre-nineteenth century practice of adding honey and fruit to create special seasonal brews. They have also developed a Without® brand of true 0.0% alcohol free beers.
The garden spans 32 acres, containing many garden rooms to discover and explore
An exotic garden in an exposed prairie landscape by the North Norfolk coast
A beautiful, 32 acre modern garden containing many garden rooms with herbaceous borders, gravel gardens, sub-tropical gardens, a box parterre, sunken rose garden, Mediterranean garden, Desert Wash and a large woodland garden — there really is so much to explore. One of their great joys is to see the pleasure that the garden can bring to many of the visitors and that everybody seems to find some part of it that is special to them.
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse offers visitors the opportunity to uncover the history of rural life in East Anglia
Located in the heart of Norfolk, Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse is the place to discover the history of rural life in East Anglia.- it also houses a traditional working farm and a collection of art and artefacts
Among the displays is a recreated 1930s village complete with shops, cottage, pub and a school room,
There is also a heritage farm with rare breed animals and a Victorian Workhouse which is now a museum, all set across 50 acres of woodland, orchards, gardens and a community tree nursery.
A historic, medieval landmark that towers over Norwich
Since 1096, the Cathedral has been a place of worship,a historic treasure and an iconic landmark towering over the City. There is much to see on a visit, so here are a few of the highlights:-
- The grave of Edith Cavell the first world war heroine who was executed in 1915 and is celebrated for nursing troops from both sides without discrimination
- Budge the Cathedral Cat who has made his home in Cathedral having wandered in back in 2018
- Visitors in May and June may get the opportunity to see the newly born Peregrine Falcons
- A unique font which is used for baptisms, formed from 2 copper bowls used to manufacture chocolate, gifted to the Cathedral when the Rowntree Mackintosh factory closed in 1994
- The medieval roof bosses
Browse the 200 odd stalls in one of the oldest open-air markets in the country
Describing itself "as where street food meets vintage fashion, fresh produce and local flair", this iconic market has something for everyone and is a must-visit if you are in Norwich.
It's rich history, dates back to a Royal Charter granted in 1341. The outdoor market consists around 200 stalls
Norwich Market is an outdoor market consisting of around 200 stalls ( and is open Monday to Saturday
Situated in the heart of Norwich on Gentleman’s Walk, Norwich Market is open Monday to Saturday and is one of the largest and oldest open-air markets in the country
The market offers a fantastic range of goods and services - clothes, jewellery,flowers , key cutting, toys and shoe mending and much more.
There are plenty of food stalls as well-both to eat at the market or to take home- fish and chips, ice cream, sandwiches, meat and fish, artisan bread and fruit and vegetables to name a few
TW Gaze have regular auctions every Tuesday & Friday selling antiques, furniture, bric brac.They also hold a number of specialist auctions during the year
Based in Diss
Gaze's general auctions are held every Tuesday & Saturday, and are supplemented by specialist specific sales dedicated to jewellery, antiques, toys, architectural ,books & automobilia etc
https://www.twgaze.co.uk
TW Gaze Diss Auction Rooms, Roydon Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4LN
Tel: 01379 650 306
This is a picture of Bridge Street
Earsham Street is an example of what can be achieved when a group of individually owned shops are brought together to offer a complete package of what the discerning shopper is looking for
A Sweet For you is the "go to" place to visit in Bungay. It's range of traditional sweets, unique selection of greeting cards, puppets, toys and range of Lego sets makes it easy to buy a present or treat yourself whatever your budget
"A must visit" destination in Bungay with something for every taste. Started as a traditional sweet shop based in Earsham Street (once the premises of Percy Trott, the "Demon Barber") it has spread it's wings and as well as offering over 100 jars of sweets, it also offers sweets for wedding favours, party bags, wedding tables which they can personalise to your own requirements.
But, it's not just sweets that they offer - they have lots of other great things to tempt you - a unique selection of greetings cards, they also stock puppets from The Puppet Company - which come in all shapes and sizes and include finger puppets, glove puppets and full-body puppets – so there’s something suitable for all ages.
They also stock a carefully chosen group of high quality toys-including Fairtrade wooden toys from Lanka Kade, Train sets and wooden toys made by Bigjig.
But perhaps the most popular of all, is the range of Lego they offer.Whether you’re looking for a birthday, Christmas or just a gift, or a treat for yourself, LEGO sets are sure to bring a smile to the face of experienced builders and newcomers alike - a purchase that will allow creativity, imagination and most of all fun.
As well as stocking simple bricks, LEGO has paired with some of the world’s best brands to produce a range of sensational sets such as LEGO Star Wars, DC, Marvel, Harry Potter & Minecraft which they sell. Add to this their own creations like LEGO Classic, LEGO Creator & LEGO City, it is little wonder that LEGO has been named “toy of the century” twice. So irrespective of whether you are buying for a beginner or an experienced builder, the extensive range on offer makes A Sweet For You the place to visit to purchase your favourite!
This early medieval fort built following the Norman Conquest was built in 1165 by a feudal Lord Hugh Bigod
Built in 1165,by the feudal lord Hugh Bigod, this Grade 1 building is currently closed to the public whilst extensive remedial work is undertaken
The Gardens and Steam Museum offer something of interest to all- gardens, trains and a wealth of other exhibits
Visitors are guaranteed a full day out at the Gardens and museum.
The 17 acre garden was created out of farmland and is home to over 800 species and varieties of plants. Displayed in a series of linked beds,,which offer a great deal of inspiration.
The narrow gauge rail at Bressingham offers a great way to explore the gardens and grounds-There are some 3 miles of track and 4 different routes to explored
What else is there to enjoy? How about the fairground gallopers? These brightly decorated Victorian horses revolve around to nostalgic music which can be heard right around the site
And, to finish what about a visit to the "Dad's Army" exhibition with where you can wander along the reconstruction of the main street in Walmington on Sea
The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum is a museum collection of aircraft and aviation-related artefacts, located near the former RAF Bungay airfield in Flixton
Late in 1972, a few local enthusiasts met and decided that steps should be taken to record something of the history of aviation in the Eastern counties, and preserve aircraft and artefacts. A society was formed early the following year and activities commenced; a Nissen hut behind the Flixton post office soon became the base. In May 1976, the (now) museum was officially opened by the late Wing Commander Ken Wallis who went on to become President.
