The lovely ‘unexplored’ market city with greater than 80 independents | UK | News | EUROtoday

Located on the banks of the River Deben, one charming market city in Suffolk is rapidly turning into one of many UK’s most interesting locations to reside. With its historic appeal, thriving impartial scene, beautiful river and its 800-year-old Tide Mill, Woodbridge presents a uncommon mixture of magnificence, small-town character and trendy conveniences.

This 12 months, it was even named by The Sunday Times as the most effective locations to reside and Visit East England has additionally highlighted the market city as one of many area’s ‘unexplored market cities,’ additionally praising its array of impartial retailers, inviting cafés, vigorous pubs, and bustling out of doors markets.

With its wealthy historical past, sturdy group spirit, scenic environment, and over 80 impartial companies, Woodbridge is a hidden gem. From impartial butchers to fishmongers, Woodbridge Greengrocers to the beloved impartial Woodbridge Books, these native retailers assist preserve the city centre vibrant and stuffed with character.

The Moose, positioned on the picturesque Market Hill, is one other impartial store that is to not be missed, promoting homeware and clothes objects you would not discover anyplace else.

The city was additionally named the happiest place to reside in Great Britain for the primary time in 2024 by Rightmove’s Happy at Home Index, due to its thriving excessive road, the sturdy group really feel, its lovely pure surroundings and countryside and entry to important companies like healthcare and faculties.

The common home value is £441,569, whereas the standard month-to-month hire is £1,478, making it a fascinating but accessible vacation spot.

When it involves food and drinks, Woodbridge is house to quite a few impartial companies. The Unruly Pig stands out as a must-visit, persistently recognised among the many UK’s finest.

In 2025, it was named the most effective out of the UK Top 50 Gastropubs in 2022, 2024 and 2025 and ranked twenty eighth within the National Restaurant Awards UK Top 100.

This Sixteenth-century inn, full with a backyard, serves well-crafted Brit-Italian delicacies, and celebrates the best Suffolk produce wherever doable. Its three-course lunch presents distinctive worth at simply £35 per particular person.

Other notable spots embrace Seventeenth-century pub, The Cherry Tree Inn, Two Magpies Bakery on the Thoroughfare, good for espresso and brunch, and The Woodyard, the place diners can get pleasure from scrumptious pizza alongside cocktails and riverside views.

The festive season is the proper time to go to Woodbridge, particularly for the annual Woodbridge Christmas Street Fair in December.

Stalls from native merchants and artisans supply an exquisite number of handmade and specialty items, together with sculptures, candies, muffins, soaps, honey, and far more.

Visitors may also get pleasure from seasonal food and drinks, whereas carol singers fill the streets with festive cheer, creating a really magical ambiance.

The Woodbridge Christmas lights switch-on occasion shall be held over two evenings: Thursday, November 27, on Market Hill and Thoroughfare, and Friday, November 28, at Whisstocks Place and Tide Mill Way. Both occasions will begin at 4pm, with the lights turning on at 6pm, and can function reside music, road performers, meals, and group actions, with Geno Washington acting on the primary evening.