This is a largely rural county, England's most easterly, with the town of Lowestoft at the easternmost point. Lowestoft is, or was, a fishing port with the autumn herring migration being most important. Nowadays Lowestoft, along with neighbouring Southwold, is trying to be a seaside holiday resort. Lowestoft is in the north-east of the county but in the south-east corner is another, more successful port - Felixstowe. This is the largest container port in the UK and one of the largest in Europe.
The small, seaside town of Aldeburgh was also once a port but the few remaining fishing boats are now generally drawn up onto the shingle beach and the town is better known for its annual music festival, founded in 1948 by the composer Benjamin Britten, the singer Peter Pears and the librettist Eric Crozier.
Suffolk shares with its southerly neighbour Essex the Stour Valley and Dedham Vale - Constable country.
Lavenham, which insists upon calling itself a village, has been described as the most complete medieval town in England where mansions of wealthy merchants mingle with simple cottages, some of which mix crooked timber beams with sprightly pink-painted infill.
The older buildings are centred around the market place, with its 16th century Guildhall and still earlier market cross. The market cross was the scene of bear-baiting contests during the late medieval and Tudor periods. This photo by Charles Rawding captures the essence of the village most excellently.
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