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Regularly voted one of the best places to live in the UK, the historic market town of Woodbridge is a jewel in the crown of the Suffolk coast.

Maritime heritage

Set on the banks of the River Deben, in the Middle Ages Woodbridge became a centre for boatbuilding, rope making and sail making – with a good supply of oak trees from the heavy clay land around nearby Framlingham. Most ships were commissioned for London merchants, although both Edward III and Sir Francis Drake are understood to have had fighting ships built in the town.

Today, Woodbridge retains many links to its maritime past – with several working boatyards, an annual regatta and riverside fair.

Rich history

If you’ve ever visited Woodbridge then there’s a very good chance you will have seen the town’s historic tide mill. Dating back to 1170, it was one of the first of its kind in the country and operated for more than 800 years.

Although forced to close in 1957, it has since been restored and reopened to the public – making it one of only two fully working tide mills operating in the UK today.

Work, rest and play

At the heart of Woodbridge lies its Thoroughfare and Market Hill – a thriving town centre with a mix of national and independent retailers that features everything from boutique tailors and clothing stores to craft supplies and kitchenware. There’s even a violin shop.

Frequent markets are also held on the Market Hill close to the beautiful Shire Hall, giving local producers an opportunity to showcase their wares.

Food lovers are spoilt for choice, with a fine variety of delis, cafés, pubs and restaurants. The Angel on Market Hill boasts the largest gin collection in East Anglia, while other popular pubs and eateries include The Crown, The Table, Woodyard pizzeria, The Anchor and The Wild Strawberry Café. The Unruly Pig in nearby Bromeswell has won many accolades and is often named as one of the best gastro pubs in the UK.

The town also has The Riverside cinema and restaurant and Seckford Theatre, alongside rowing, yacht, golf, football, rugby, tennis and bowls clubs.

Out and about

Beyond Woodbridge there is plenty of opportunity to explore the surrounding Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB (now rebranded a National Landscape) – with popular destinations such as Orford, Aldeburgh and Southwold on the doorstep.

On the opposite bank of the River Deben lies the National Trust’s Sutton Hoo visitor centre – widely regarded as the site of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. Retold in Netflix film The Dig, during the late 1930s archaeologist Basil Brown unearthed a 6th century Anglo Saxon burial ship with a wealth of artefacts and treasures. The most iconic of these, the Sutton Hoo helmet, now resides in the British Museum – although replicas are on display in Woodbridge Museum.

Long lasting appeal for home buyers

With an abundance of character and charm, alongside some highly regarded schools, an appealing lifestyle and a fine selection of property that spans the Tudor, Georgian, Regency and Victorian periods, Woodbridge has long been a popular destination for those wanting a better work/life balance. The town’s proximity to Ipswich – offering direct rail services into London Liverpool Street in a little over an hour – also makes it very accessible.

Homes close to the town centre are in greatest demand and will often command a higher price than those a little further out. However, typically, for a well-presented two-bedroom town house you can expect to pay upwards of £400,000, while a period three-bedroom property with a garden starts from around £500,000. A four or five-bedroom family home in good condition in the most popular areas will be upwards of £900,000, while properties overlooking the water with a short walk along the river into town will be in excess of £1.25m.