Enjoy Christmas in Bury St Edmunds with even more places to park

13 Nov 2023

With a feast of festive fun about to begin in Bury St Edmunds, people will have even more choice on where to park thanks to West Suffolk Council and Greene King.

And this year, they will be able to arrive in style with EcoCarriers BSE running a weekend pedicab service to and from the town centre.

This Thursday (16 November) sees the Christmas lights switch on by Our Bury St Edmunds get the festivities underway with a free event for all the family to enjoy.

And it will be swiftly followed with St Edmundsbury Cathedral’s Christmas Market, the Theatre Royal’s pantomime Snow White featuring the voice of Dame Judi Dench as the magic mirror, a winter beer festival and a Christmas Little Makers Market all underway next weekend, with much more to follow.

With plenty of activities including ice skating at arc shopping centre and a magical performance of Peter and the Wolf Live in the Abbey Gardens, Greene King and West Suffolk Council are making extra parking available at weekends.

Greene King is making 200 spaces at its car park off Cullum Road available for parking every weekend from 25 and 26 November through to and including Christmas Eve. The car park, which will be open from 8am to 5pm, is approximately 10-15 minutes’ walk from the town centre.

Jo Kreckler, external communications director at Greene King said: “Christmas is a vital time of year for our high streets and it’s important we welcome festive shoppers to our lovely town. Each Christmas we are pleased to be able to open up our car park for shoppers, without any cost, and we’ll be doing the same again in 2023. It is a time when community and festive spirit shine through and we work together to help everyone, businesses, residents and visitors, have a Merry Christmas in Bury.”

Town centre visitors can also park and walk from West Suffolk Council’s car park in Olding Road, behind the council offices in Western Way. The car park, which is 10-15 minutes’ walk from the town centre, is available every weekend throughout the year and provides another 300 spaces. 

Both the Olding Road and Greene King car parks are available in addition to the town centre car parks to ensure there’s enough spaces in place to meet demand during the weekends up to Christmas, when the town is at its busiest. There’s no charge to use the Greene King or Olding Road car parks.

This year will also see EcoCarriers BSE providing a weekend service, offering environmentally friendly pedicab rides to and from the Greene King and Olding Road car parks to the town centre. The service will be free, but donations are welcome.

Libby Ranzetta, one of the founders of the award-winning social enterprise, said: “We are delighted to welcome visitors to our beautiful town and to support Christmas in Bury St Edmunds. EcoCarriers BSE already supports a range of town centre businesses throughout the year with deliveries, and we have recently launched our Shop&Drop same-day shopping delivery service for residents. We all know how important and busy a time of year Christmas is for our town centre and so we are pleased to be able to offer this festive service.”

Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, Cabinet Member for Growth at West Suffolk Council, said: “The lights switch on this week marks the start of host of Christmas activities in the town designed to bring festive cheer to local communities and boost the tills of shops, restaurants, cafes and other town centre businesses this time of year.

“So, it is great to have the support of one of the town’s biggest employers, Greene King, once again, for what we recognise is such an important time of year for many town centre businesses. This will ensure that there’s enough spaces for people to park, even when the town is at its busiest, helping us meet demand during this festive season.

“And having enjoyed a trip in the EcoCarriers pedicab to the West Suffolk Business Awards, I am absolutely delighted to hear that EcoCarriers BSE will be offering a service from both the Greene King and Olding Road car parks into the town centre. This will be especially welcome by visitors who are less mobile and so a huge thank you to EcoCarriers BSE for its support.”

To discover all that is going on in Bury and the surrounding area from November please visit Bury St Edmunds and Beyond - Christmas in Bury St Edmunds and beyond

For more on town centre parking in Bury St Edmunds visit Bury St Edmunds car parks

There’s plenty to enjoy in the town centre in the run up to Christmas including:

• The Bury St Edmunds Christmas Lights Event on 16 November from 3pm including a switch on in the arc at 4pm.
• Where’s Santa’s Hat? – Theatre Royal's Christmas Cabin is returning and this year, and the audience finds Älva and Santa back again in Santa’s living room, but the house is in disarray. The Boxing Day Hide and Seek World Championships are looming and although cosy, darling and Christmassy, things are a bit awry. To make things worse, Santa has lost his hat and can’t deliver his presents without the help of Älva, a Mouse and the children in the audience. Theatre Royal’s interactive, festive performance, perfect for two to seven-year-olds and their grown-ups. Thursday 17 November to Sunday 24 December. Tickets just £6 and special offer of £4 Fridays (excluding Friday 22 December).
• The Christmas Escape Room on at The Evidence Room in Risbygate Street until Christmas Eve.
• Booze and Brushes Christmas Workshop paint classes at The Apex until 22 December.
• Crafts and gifts at The Apex until 2 December.
• Christmas Little Makers Market 23 November to 26 November at the Unitarian Meeting House in Churchgate Street.
• St Edmundsbury Cathedral’s Christmas Market from 23 November to 25 November
• Winter beer Festival at the Constitutional Club in Guildhall Street from 24 November to 26 November.
• Snow White - Upon the death of her father, Princess Snow White has inherited the throne of Buryland - however, her wicked stepmother, Lady Lucretia, declares that Snow White is too young to lead and insists on serving as Queen until her niece turns 21. But rumours abound. Lucretia plans on staying Queen. Snow White fears for her life. All hope seems lost…until one day, deep in the woods of Bradfield, Snow White makes some surprising new friends who will protect her no matter the cost. Theatre Royal’s popular annual pantomime Friday 24 November to Sunday 14 January. Featuring Dame Judi Dench as the voice of the Magic Mirror. Tickets from £12. Family Saver Performances - Thursday 30 November at 7pm, Sunday 10 December at 6pm and Wednesday 10 January at 7pm where under 21 tickets are all £12.
• Festive afternoon tea at The Angel, 1 December to 31 December.
• Seasonal market on 3 December.
• Carols from Cambridge Annual Carol Concert at St Mary’s Church on 5 December.
• Peter and the Wolf Live – Enjoy a screening of the Oscar winning film accompanied by live music from the Orpheus Sinfonia, all under cover in an auditorium within the Abbey Gardens. Running from 7 December to 10 December.
• Christmas Ball at The Apex from 8 December to 16 December
• Christmas with the Cathedral Choir – 9 December.
• Snow Much Fun – Meet the Snow Queen, her sister, and their frosty friend between 11am and 3pm on 10 December in the arc shopping centre.
• The Lock In Christmas Carol – a gig, dance and panto combined at The Apex on 12 December.
• Bury St Edmunds family Christmas ice rink - from 14 December to 3 January in the arc shopping centre.
• G4 Christmas – a performance at St Edmundsbury Cathedral on 16 December.
• A Very Merry Scavenger Hunt - Join cheeky elves for a scavenger hunt around the arc Shopping Centre on 17 December between 11am and 3pm.
• Tenebrae at Christmas - award winning choir five a festive performance at the Apex on 18 December.
• A Swinging Christmas – jazz and swing Christmas show at The Apex on 19 December.
• The Big Christmas Showcase – Suffolk singer Steven Yallop performing at The Apex on 20 December.
• The Snowman Live in Concert on 22 December at St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
• Kids and Canvas Christmas Special – Christmas themed painting fun at The Apex on 22 December.

More details on these and other activities in the local area can be found at Bury St Edmunds and Beyond - Christmas in Bury St Edmunds and beyond

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