| The small town
of Leiston lies out in the Suffolk countryside on the Suffolk
Heritage Coast, close to the popular seaside town of Aldeburgh and
the unique coastal village of Thorpeness.
Leiston is
the largest of the Heritage Coast towns with a population of some
5,000. It has a wide range of amenities which include a variety of
shops, a market (on Fridays), a library and a modern Leisure
Centre with swimming pool and associated facilities.
Originally
an industrial town, Leiston was populated by the establishment of
the steam and agricultural machinery works of Richard Garrett, and
the fascinating Long Shop Museum reflects this heritage. Other
attractions include the oldest operational cinema in Suffolk, the
parish church's medieval tower and unusual 13th C. hexagonal font,
and the nearby romantic ruins of 14th C. St Mary's Abbey -probably
the most impressive monastic monument left in Suffolk.
While it
remains a seaside resort on its own, Leiston is very close to the
popular beaches of Walberswick, Southwold and Aldeburgh -
Suffolk's Fulham-on-Sea! Aldeburgh has a particular charm that has
attracted visitors from all over the world with its designer shops
and restaurants and pebbly beach and annual Aldeburgh Music
Festival at nearby Snape Maltings |
