CityUsable guide

Stowmarket

Market town in Suffolk, England

Photo: Robert Edwards, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Stowmarket is a small industrial market town in Suffolk.

Sights and activities

From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.

Museum of East Anglian Life
See
A large Beamish-esque open-air museum dedicated to traditional rural Suffolk life.
Hours
Tue-Sat 10AM-4:30PM, Sun 11AM-4:30PM
Price
Adult £8.25, child £4.70, concession £7.30
Details
Church of St. Peter and St. Mary
See
An impressive church that can be spotted from most parts of the town.
Details
Mid-Suffolk Light Railway
See
Heritage railway that runs between Haughley and Laxfield.
Hours
April to the end of September on Sundays and Bank Holidays
Details
John Peel Centre for Creative Arts
See
Arts & Concert Venue
Details
Regal
Do
Cinema, Theatre & Bar
Details
Stowmarket Carnival
Do
Hours
Annual event lasting over a weekend
Details
StowFiesta
Do
Stowmarket Festival
Music & stalls.
Hours
Annual event lasting weekend
Details
Mid-Suffolk Leisure Centre
Do
Swimming pool, climbing wall, creche, fitness gym, indoor bowls,
Hours
Centre: Mon-Fri 6:30AM-10PM, Sat 8AM-6PM, Sun 8AM-9PM (activities have different hours)
Details

Show all 9

Virgin Ballon Flights
Do
Hot Air Balloon Rides over Stowmarket
Hours
Book in advance
Details

Where to eat, drink and stay

Eat4 places

The Oak
Pub & Food
Free Wi-Fi.
Address
43 Ipswich St, Stowmarket IP14 1AH
Phone
+44 1449 612024
Website
gkmeetandeat.co.uk
Magpie
Hours
Pub: Mon noon-11PM, Tue 4-11PM, Wed Thu noon-11PM, Fri Sat noon-11:30PM, Sun noon-10:30PM; food: Mon Wed-Sat noon-2:30PM & 6-8:30PM, Fri Sat noon-11:30PM, Sun noon-5PM
Address
1 Combs Ford, Stowmarket IP14 2AP
Phone
+44 1449 612727
Website
facebook.com
Cracknells
Fish & Chips Take-away
Address
6 Needham Rd, Combs Ford IP14 2AW
Website
facebook.com
Chip Inn
Fish & chips take-away.
Address
5 Combs Ford, Combs Ford IP14 2AP
Phone
+44 1449 677744

Drink5 places

Tall Orders
Cafe
A great independent coffee shop/cafe offering the usual selection of coffee, tea & hot chocolate. Great food too-simple but tasty & made fresh for you. Choose from jacket potatoes, panini, wraps, salads, sandwiches or freshly baked baguettes and specials. Friendly staff and a great atmosphere.
Hours
8:45AM-3:30PM
Address
12 Bury St, Stowmarket IP14 1HA
Phone
+44 1449 770302
Holland & Barrett Coffee Shopreasonable
Only cafe not serving meat of any kind set in old building above health shop; fresh homemade cakes, clean and very pleasant good value for money.
Hours
9:30AM-1:30PM
Price
reasonable
Address
8-10 Market Place, Stowmarket IP14 1DP
Phone
+44 1449 676046
The Willow Tree
Pub & Food
Hours
Mon-Thu 8AM-midnight, Fri Sat 8AM-1AM, Sun 8AM-mdnight
Address
101 Ipswich St, Stowmarket IP14 1BB
Phone
+44 1449 618090
Website
jdwetherspoon.com
The Royal William
Pub
Address
53 Union St East, Stowmarket IP14 1HP
Phone
+44 1449 674553
Website
theroyalwilliam-stowmarket.co.uk
The Queens Head
Pub
Hours
Mon-Wed 3-11:30PM, Thu 3PM-1AM, Fri Sat 11AM-3AM, Sun noon-10:30PM
Address
Station Rd West, Stowmarket IP14 1EF
Phone
+44 1449 612519
Website
facebook.com

Sleep5 places

Verandah House
Address
29 Ipswich Rd, Stowmarket IP14 1BD
Phone
+44 1449 676104
Website
theverandahhouse.co.uk
The Cedarsfrom £64.50 (single/double/twin room only)
Hotel & Restaurant
Wi-Fi.
Price
from £64.50 (single/double/twin room only)
Address
Needham Rd, Stowmarket IP14 2AJ
Phone
+44 1449 612668
Website
cedarshotel.co.uk
Travelodgefrom £45
Wi-Fi (30 min free, £3 for 24 hr).
Price
from £45
Check-in
3PM (noon £10)
Check-out
noon (2PM £10)
Address
A14 Haughley, Stowmarket IP14 3PY
Directions
10 miles W of Stowmarket
Phone
+44 8719 846043 (premium)
Website
travelodge.co.uk
Creeting HouseSingle £45-60; double from £80
B&B
Price
Single £45-60; double from £80
Check-in
4-6PM
Check-out
by 11AM
Address
All Saints Rd, Creeting St Mary IP6 8PR
Directions
4½ miles SE of Stowmarket
Phone
+44 1449 720988
Website
creetinghouse.com
Travelodge Beacon Hillfrom £52
Price
from £52
Check-in
3PM (noon £10)
Check-out
noon (2PM £10)
Address
A14 / A140, Beacon Hill, Needham Market IP6 8LP
Directions
Junction of A140 & A14
Phone
+44 8719 846041 (premium)
Website
travelodge.co.uk

Shop4 places

Bi-Weekly Market
Hours
Thu Sat 8AM-4PM
Address
Market Place & Meadow Centre
Website
http://www.stow-market.org.uk {{dead link|December 2020}}
Farmers Market
Hours
1st Fri of month
Address
Market Place
Website
stow-market.org.uk
Tesco
Supermarket
Petrol & pharmacy (different hours), ATMs, Wi-Fi
Hours
Mon-Sat 6AM-11PM, Sun 10AM-4PM
Address
Cedars Link Rd, Stowmarket IP14 5BE
Phone
+44 345 677 9661
Website
tesco.com
Adsa
Supermarket
Pharmacy, opticians (different hours)
Hours
Mon-Wed 7:30AM-9PM, Thu Fri 7:30AM-10PM, Sat 7:30AM-9PM, Sun 10AM-4PM
Address
Meadow Centre, Wilks Way, Stowmarket, IP14 1DE
Phone
+44 1449 675396
Website
storelocator.asda.com

Getting there and around

Getting there

By rail
By bus
There are regular bus services from Ipswich operated by First Eastern Counties.
By bicycle
The town is on National Cycle Route 51 (Harwich to Oxford, to Ipswich to the SE and to Bury St Edmunds to the W.

Read in the guide

Getting around

Everything in Stowmarket can be reached easily on foot, however various areas in Stowmarket can also be reached using the #87/88 buses including Combs Ford, Chilton Hall, Cedars Park and Stowupland.

Read in the guide

Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

London Stansted Airport

London, Essex · International · STN

Search stays near STN

Search flights

Read before you go to Stowmarket

Articles and travel topics about Stowmarket and United Kingdom.

Travel tips

UK ETA: Who Needs One, Cost and How to Apply (2026 Guide)

Complete 2026 guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Check eligibility, the £20 fee, application steps, and transit rules.

Oct 18, 20267 min read

Travel tips

Tourist Taxes and Access Fees: Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto (2026)

Complete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Travel tips

Cheapest Countries to Fly to from the US and UK (2026)

Find the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Travel tips

London to Paris by Eurostar: Booking and Travel Guide (2026)

A complete guide to taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. Learn about check-in times, border controls, baggage limits, ticket tiers, and booking tips.

Oct 17, 20267 min read

Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandThe town's name comes from the Old English word stōw ("principal place"). A market town (charter granted in 1347), the town still holds bi-weekly markets.

Get inLocated on the A14 approx 18 miles NW of Ipswich and 15 miles E of Bury St Edmunds and at the southerly end of the A140 main road to Norwich (40 miles).

Get aroundEverything in Stowmarket can be reached easily on foot, however various areas in Stowmarket can also be reached using the #87/88 buses including Combs Ford, Chilton Hall, Cedars Park and Stowupland.

DoWalk through the countryside from Combs Ford to Great Finborough and John Peel's grave.

BuyThe town centre is divided into two sections. The area south of the Marketplace along Ipswich Street features various high-street chains including Boots, Superdrug and Argos.

EatStowmarket's food scene is fairly limited, although the only fast-food chain is a Wimpy and the only chain coffee shop is Costa Coffee in the Tesco store on the edge of town.

DrinkThere are a lot of pubs scattered around Stowmarket, most of which open daily and serve good food and beer, including local ales. Stowmarket has a strong drinking culture and most locals will know each other.

ConnectAs of Sep 2022, Stowmarket and its approach roads have 5G from EE, and 4G from O2, Three and Vodafone.

Go next

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Stowmarket" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Stowmarket", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Robert Edwards, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage