It might not have appealed to one outspoken former footballer, but for Andrew Day the many charms of Woodbridge – from cosy pubs to winding alleys and a lazy quayside – are clear to see Here’s how to spend time in and around the town While walking up Seckford Street, passing a market stall selling freshly baked bread outside the handsome Flemish-looking Shire Hall, I reflect that this must have been the fifth occasion today I had asked myself: “What the hell is Roy Keane’s problem?” You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone with a bad word to say about Woodbridge. That is, unless you bump into the former Manchester United captain, who, when he was Ipswich Town manager, claimed it was a nice town – but only for “a holiday weekend in summer I’d never say this to the fiery Irishman’s face: Roy Woodbridge is one of the best towns in Britain and the distinct Suffolk-ness of the place – it has a marvellous three-storey tide mill and probably in better nick now than when it was built in 1793 But it’s the small things that make a big difference here: taking a stroll along the River Deben stacked with jolly flower pots as smoke dances up from their chimneys You’ll hear the gentle lap of the tide and find seagulls scavenging on someone’s discarded fish and chips I am not alone in holding a soft spot for Woodbridge. Even before the market town topped Rightmove’s list of “the happiest places to live in the UK” for the first time – knocking Richmond upon Thames off the top spot – locals knew they lived somewhere special Read more: Want a foodie holiday in the UK? Our guide to butchery courses, pasta making, whisky tasting and more During my visits I’ve learnt that there’s more to Woodbridge than its lazy riverfront the town’s main pedestrianised shopping street while an enjoyable day would involve fuelling up on Belgian waffles and a strong coffee at breakfast spot Honey + Harvey Impeccably tasteful homeware stores have opened up: Scandi-inspired Vanil – founded by former creative director Amanda Leeson – and Pascale which offers a curated selection of ceramics and glassware which sells international fashion brands alongside clothes designed in Suffolk Woodbridge has a few high-end boutiques dotted around its lovely old square; you can pick up Vivienne Westwood at Fanny & Frank while the town’s twentysomethings and thirtysomethings – many who’ve left London in search of cosmopolitan living near the coast – shop at Uniform Research Read more: The best hotels in Penzance, Cornwall head downhill to The Anchor pub for an English staple like Gressingham duck breast or slow roast Dingley Dell pork – it’s always packed There are other excellent drinking holes in town including The Red Lion in prime position on The Thoroughfare the Old Mariner with its grassy pub garden Many travel to the capital from Manningtree (about a 30-minute drive) as the station tends to be quieter than Ipswich there’s beautiful countryside waiting: only 10 minutes away lies Sutton Hoo – an Anglo-Saxon royal burial site better known since featuring in the 2021 film The Dig is currently being crafted by volunteers on Woodbridge’s quayside Read more: What Rishi Sunak can expect on the Coast to Coast walk – as he bids to make it ‘UK’s greatest national trail’ Rendlesham Forest makes for a pleasant afternoon escape (a 20-minute drive) Home to a stretch of coniferous woodland – and the UK’s most infamous UFO sightings in 1980 – there’s dizzying beauty and immense old silence everywhere you turn With excellent food (British with an Italian tinge) it’s a lovely laid-back gastropub and pretty good value Very handy before or after a visit to Sutton Hoo or Rendlesham Forest the town feels like the last outpost of normality before you hit the A-list Suffolk coastal towns with second-home buyers and six-figure beach huts Woodbridge has all the charm of Aldeburgh or Southwold I love to walk the hidden alleys and poke about the shops but I always seem to end up down at the quayside I pick up cooked-to-order cod and chips at the Cumberland Fish Bar Listening to wading birds calling from the mudflats and can’t help but ask myself for the sixth occasion today: “Seriously Read more: Barry Island travel guide – where to eat, drink, walk and stay in the home of Gavin and Stacey Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/in_travel/in_uk/image/gallery_mpu_sb","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"iStock-178954637.jpg","description":"\"View of Woodbridge, Suffolk from east bank of River Deben.\"","caption":"Down by the river: The flowing water of the Deben gives Woodbridge a beautiful backdrop Down by the river: The flowing water of the Deben gives Woodbridge a beautiful backdrop I travelled to ‘the happiest place in the UK’ to find out","description":"It might not have appealed to one outspoken former footballer the 58-year-old has also stood strong during a cancer battle whilst sharing valuable insights for fellow PGA Members What has your journey in the industry looked like so far I really got into it when I was 14 and played all my amateur golf at Royston Golf Club I left school and went to work in the civil service I qualified as a PGA Pro four years later and got my first head pro job in 1990 at Fornham Park in Suffolk – a Japanese-owned club I stayed there for four years and then moved to a new 27-hole course then moved back to Royston as the head pro in 1998 and took over managing there in 2004 How easy was the transition from the dual role at Royston to becoming GM at Woodbridge I had two thorough interviews and wrote out business plans and all sorts for them I ensconced myself in an office just to understand how the club was run and this is where we’ve got to look at to shape the future’ It was a good thing to get my teeth into." "The most important thing was bringing the courses up to scratch because they weren’t in good shape I remember playing Woodbridge in the early 1990s and felt it was much better than it was when I came in 2014 One of my first jobs was to do second interviews for a new head greenkeeper ‘What do you think of these four candidates?’ I gave candid reviews of each one and just said What does your relationship with Paul look like When he’d been on board for only about two months walked all 27 holes and mapped out everything we thought needed to happen It takes a long time but the transition has to be quite smooth so that you’re still operational That’s crucial to making sure that the customer experience is still good and moved bunkers on every hole of the golf course We did the main course in 2019 over a six-week period where we closed nine holes for three weeks and nine holes for another Then we did the nine-hole course a couple of years later so that members always had 18 holes to play on." What areas of the job have you found most difficult at Woodbridge Getting members and staff to appreciate that change is good A lot of members’ clubs have long-term members who like it and want it just the way it was you just have to say that the club has evolved over a period of time We’re not in the old clubhouse; we’re in a clubhouse that’s 60 years old how much importance do you place on continued professional development (CPD) and higher PGA Excel designations "With recruitment and retention of staff at the forefront of my position, it is essential to try and have the ‘best in the business’. PGA Professionals now have opportunities to further their expertise through PGA Learn and PGA Excel we always look for those that have higher designations and a dedication to CPD We conduct an annual review with our PGA head professional and aligning the two parties to aid success." What advice would you give to PGA Members that are thinking about becoming a golf club manager Understand what’s happening within the club Understand what the members’ needs are – not just in retail or coaching Ask the manager or secretary how the back office works You might be running your own business as a sole trader or limited company I got diagnosed with aggressive bladder cancer I had the tumour removed and then elected to have the removal of my bladder I had a 12-hour operation and then 11 days in hospital followed by a fairly lengthy road to recovery because COVID hit then "I was grateful to the club and the members for the support I received I got a great reception when I came back in August 2020 and I’ve been clear now for nearly five years Your health is the most important thing to you." PGA HeadquartersCentenary HouseThe BelfrySutton ColdfieldWest MidlandsB76 9PT ®PGA is a registered trademark of The Professional Golfers’ Association LimitedPGA Golf Management Ltd is a subsidiary of The Professional Golfers’ Association LimitedPGA.info is the official web site of The PGA © 2025 The project involved the installation of disabled toilets and a shower for rough sleepers at the church and charity on New Street to better serve the community Other changes included the extension of the kitchen in preparation for a hearty meal on Christmas Day Major Alan Hill leads The Salvation Army in Woodbridge.  He said: “I want to thank all those at St John’s Church Hall in the town where The Salvation Army has been based while the works were completed The improvements we have made will allow us to continue supporting those in need in a welcoming and modern environment while also creating a comfortable and inclusive space for our congregation and community programs It will let us move forward with new ventures offering a breakfast on Sundays and introducing an afternoon church service.” The service included a dedication of the refurbished areas and a time of reflection on the mission and impact of The Salvation Army in Woodbridge Guests were also able to tour the updated facilities With Christmas just a couple of months away Major Hill added: “The Salvation Army will be hosting a concert on 22 December and a Christmas Day Meal We work in the community with local councils to support people going through tough times and will be offering a vote of thanks on the day for all the donations received and our wonderful volunteers and drivers.” If you would like to attend the Christmas Day Meal call into The Salvation Army at New Street Help change vulnerable people's lives for good Copyright © The Salvation Army 2025 The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity in England (214779) Scotland (SC009359) and the Republic of Ireland (CHY6399) The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters Already have an account? 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Log in here By submitting this form, you agree to our Privacy Policy or sign up for a new account to continue reading We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content Please purchase a subscription to continue reading Your current subscription does not provide access to this content Mostly cloudy with scattered thunderstorms mainly before midnight has died as a result of a two-car crash Thursday May 1 that closed down Dale Boulevard for several hours A 32-year-old Woodbridge woman has died as a result of a two-car crash Thursday night in Dale City that closed Dale Boulevard for several hours May 1 when a 2008 Honda Civic attempted to turn left from Dale Boulevard toward Barksdale Street and collided with a 2020 Honda Civic heading west on Dale Boulevard according to Master Police Officer Renee Carr had to be extricated from the car and was transported to an area hospital was treated at an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries a 23-year-old Woodbridge,remained at the scene and was not injured Speed appears to be a factor for the 2020 Honda Crash investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed this crash to contact policeat 703-792-6500 Stay up-to-date on the best stories about life in Prince William County with The JAM - Your News In Just A Minute newsletter Digital and Print Subscription memberships available The future of Prince William Times now depends on community support Your donation will help us continue to improve our journalism through in-depth local news coverage and expanded reader engagement Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: WOODBRIDGE – The state is going to court to force a township company and its owner to comply with court orders dating to 2018 for illegal dumping and pay nearly $200,000 in penalties LLC and its owner William Spector have paid only $50,000 of the penalties According to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the company dumped unauthorized fill and illegal solid waste on the property at Pennval Road and Berry Street which contains freshwater wetlands freshwater wetlands transition areas and waterfront development areas On April 29 the DEP filed a motion in Middlesex County Superior Court against Spector-Woodbridge for allegedly failing to comply with court orders from 2018 which required the company to complete the removal of the illegally dumped fill and solid waste The work had been scheduled to be completed by Jan A second order in 2021 required the company to retain a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) to oversee the removal of contaminated fill material from the site and to complete the remediation of the property within 38 months and pay a $97,500 penalty More: Middlesex manufacturer will fight $240K NJ fine over air pollution, odor Court documents state little progress has been made toward removing the contaminated fill material and remediating the site more illegal solid waste has been dumped on the property "The threat to public health and safety and to the environment has not changed despite the (court orders)," court documents say Only $35,000 of the $100,000 penalty and $15,000 of the $97,500 penalty have been paid with the remaining balance overdue The DEP is seeking an order directing the company to "immediately take all steps necessary to comply with their outstanding obligations" under the consent orders and impose more monetary penalties for the continued failure to comply The DEP said the court may also want to consider other sanctions such as appointment of a receiver DEP investigators witnessed several loads of fill being deposited at the site during a June 17 DEP site inspections from 2005 and 2009 indicated the size of the fill area had grown Court papers indicated that over the years the fill included bricks in addition to box trailers and roll off containers filled with scrap tires and other waste debris Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime please subscribe or activate your digital account today Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates Several disturbing messages found by a family member led to the arrest of a 20-year-old Northern Virginia man who allegedly raped a minor in Woodbridge Nicolas Alejandro Ponce was arrested over the weekend after officers launched an investigation into a reported sexual assault that occurred the previous weekend in the 13900 block of Mattapony Drive the Prince William County Police Department announced The investigation revealed that Ponce arranged transportation for the child to come to Woodbridge Investigators said that Ponce was familiar with the child and a family member recently discovered messages between the two before contacting the police Ponce was arrested and charged with rape and aggravated sexual battery Bond information was unavailable for Ponce on Monday afternoon Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group The Sunday TimesIf your ideal country life involves being within reassuring reach of a loaf of artisan sourdough a supper club and a Mongolian cashmere rollneck then Woodbridge could well be the place for you This town on the River Deben has winning mix of architecture (colourful medieval and handsome Georgian) is on the cusp of an area of outstanding natural beauty and boasts history in spades Just outside the town is the Anglo Saxon burial site Sutton Hoo one of British archaeology’s most important discoveries — and subject of The Dig the book turned Netflix film — and Sir Francis Drake had his fighting ships built here Woodbridge has a tasty foodie scene and an active with house prices rising higher than an organic loaf the return to office-based working has slowed the rush — 90 minutes is arguably too long for a daily commute — and Woodbridge has charmed us all over again.Maddie Donnelly and her husband moved to Woodbridge from a village near Bury St Edmunds three years ago and it’s more multicultural than many other parts of Suffolk with interesting people from different backgrounds,” says Maddie who works in marketing and has two daughters “There are fantastic classes popping up all the time from baby groups to art and yoga classes and sound baths.” Shire Hall in the historic market town; Woodbridge offers a range of period architecture including colourful medieval and handsome GeorgianALAMY/GETTY IMAGESYou can practise actual bathing in the Deben Leisure Centre and go wild swimming five miles away at the section of the Deben in Waldringfield This was granted bathing water status in 2023 after the Save the Deben campaign; the Environment Agency must test the water regularly during the May to September swim season There are plenty of other water sports — the Deben Yacht and Deben Canoe clubs are your first port of call — plus everything from rugby to reformer Pilates and tennis (Woodbridge Tennis Club now offers pickleball) or a yomp up Kyson Hill or through Rendlesham Forest (eyes peeled for UFOs!) • The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2025 revealed The independent Riverside cinema is delightfully retro — think gold-braided curtains and velvet seats — and has a revamped restaurant while the Seckford Theatre is in the grounds of Woodbridge School There’s an active arts society and the community space Woodbridge Riverside Trust hosts a range of events The Mind Body Spirit Festival returns in April with the Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music scheduled for late summer a café on the banks of the Deben; Woodbridge has a rich range of independent shops including antique dealersALAMYWhat are the best shops and restaurants in Woodbridge?A handful of pandemic casualties aside Woodbridge still has a thriving independent scene the independent Woodbridge Books on the Thoroughfare and a weekly food and produce market next to the Flemish-looking Shire Hall you can pick up handcrafted homewares at the Merchant’s Table Browse for treasures at Woodbridge Antiques or at Marlesford Mill Refuel with coffee and brunch at Two Magpies Bakery or Honey + Harvey (the latter has puppaccinos for four-legged friends) voted one of the best gastropubs in the UK lives up to the hype and has a lunch menu offering three courses for £35 Locals love the Anchor pub; head to the Woodyard for pizza cocktails and river views; and pick up award-winning sourdough at the Acre micro-bakery it bakes small batches of loaves over wood collected from its farm; order online and collect Where can I travel to?Ipswich is 20 minutes by car while the atmospheric beach at Shingle Street and the trendy village of Orford are a similar drive in the opposite direction; by bike reaches Ipswich in 16 minutes; change here and it’s about an hour to London Liverpool Street There are plans for Woodbridge to go Dutch — the Active Travel scheme previously known as the mini-Holland scheme is aiming to improve pedestrian safety and provide better infrastructure to make it easier to walk • Discover more of the best places to live in the east of England Good — a strong signal from the four main network providers Seventy per cent of the town has full fibre over the CityFibre network via a range of retailers or the smaller altnet Trooli Kyson Primary and Woodbridge Primary are rated by Ofsted as good which also has been awarded an Inclusion Quality Mark Independent options Woodbridge School (prep fees start at £17,802 a year; full boarding from £42,048) and Framlingham College (prep fees from £11,049 a year; full boarding from £27,843) go from ages four to 18; both feature in the Sunday Times Parent Power guide Where is the best area to live?Georgian properties on the likes of Brook Cumberland and Seckford streets have plenty of period charm; prices start at about £350,000 for a two-bedroom cottage Dukes Park has detached houses with large gardens from £1.5 million commands ultimate bragging rights and requires the biggest budgets Many buildings are listed and the historic core is a conservation area; given its proximity to an estuary flooding is a possibility in riverside areas Average property price: £455,300Source: Halifax using Land Registry data