| With dozens of independent shops, all the big High Street stores, our cosmopolitan Christmas Fayre and the convenience of our new park and ride, Bury St Edmunds makes Christmas easy this year. There's no need to go further afield - support your local shops and help the environment at the same time by not driving all those miles! Buttermarket, Cornhill and Traverse Here are a lot of your big High Street stores so you should find everything you need and more besides. There’s designer wear and evening bags, outdoor clothing and equipment, fine jewellery, decadent toiletries, delicious chocolates, CDs and DVDs and plenty of toys. Buy a new camcorder to record their faces as they open their presents or a photo album, leather diary and personalised pen set as a special keepsake to remind them. A new mobile is always popular or head back to history with something unusual from the museum. But if you want them to have a healthy new year, why not buy golf clubs or a folding walking stick, or pay for an acupuncture treatment to help them give up smoking - gifts for which they will be grateful for years to come. St John’s Street You’re bound to find a quirky individual gift down here. If you’re looking for something for the lady in your life, there are some interesting contemporary silver rings or bracelets, fine lingerie, sequinned slippers or some off-the-wall pieces of clothing. Flowers are always welcome and definitely chocolate! How about a chocolate teddy or some mouth watering Belgian temptations? There are some great knick-knack shops here too with cute mobile phone holders, aromatic candles and wooden flowers or funky table decorations. Or how about a new cake stand or coffee maker for friends (you can buy your fair trade coffee beans or organic tea here), or for someone who loves pampering, book them a beauty treatment or new hair style so they feel really special for the new year. Then there are electrical gadgets, hiking boots and cycles to keep everyone happy or if you know a man who seems to have everything, how about fishing paraphernalia, football accessories, an emu hat or maybe a Scottish kilt! There’s something here for the kids as well – a skateboard from the hobby shop or traditional toys from the toy shop and even pets can enjoy a new bed or a fort for your hamster. And if you’re throwing a party, come here for your costume and party balloons. It wouldn’t be Christmas without them! Cards and charity gifts Don’t forget the charity shops too – they stock a range of unusual gifts, books and cards – or buy charity cards from the Tourist Information Centre so you know your money is being spent on a worthwhile cause in the true Christmas spirit. Eat, drink and be merry All this shopping makes you hungry so why not stop off at one of our many bars and eateries to recharge your batteries and maybe now’s the time to book a holiday for you to look forward to next year! Christmas dates for your diary Christmas lights switch on - 16 November at 7pm Charity street fair - 23 November from 5.30 to 9pm Christmas Fayre - 1, 2, 3 December Sunday Christmas markets 3, 10, 17 December Buddy Day - 3 December Late night Christmas shopping until 9pm - 16, 23, 30 November, 7, 14, 21 December Santa at Moyse's Hall Museum- 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 December Christmas Fayre road closures From 5pm Wednesday 29 November to 9pm on 3 December Angel Hill- the entire car park area will be closed. 9.30am Thursday 30 November to 9pm on 3 December Angel Hill - from its junction with Northgate Street to its junction with Churchgate Street. No traffic will be allowed along Angel Hill during the times above. Abbeygate Street - from east of its junction with Whiting Street to Angel Hill (cross traffic from High Baxter Street to Hatter Street and Lower Baxter Street to Angel Lane will still be permitted). Chequer Square- the entire car park will be closed. Saturday 2 December from 9am to 6pm Brentgovel Street - from its junction with St Andrew’s Street to its junction with the Cornhill/St John’s Street. St John’s Street - from its junction with Brentgovel Street to its junction with Orchard Street and Church Row. For more information about Christmas events call 01284 764667 | Cornhill Walk, Looms Lane and Brentgovel Street Put your children first, with a new cot mobile or a children’s Father Christmas outfit, or treat them to a fun party costume. Adults will appreciate a nice chunky scarf, a favourite football team shirt or some fancy shoes or even a music box or aromatic oils. Books and films are always popular, but if you don’t know which to choose, why not get a voucher? There are also fair trade gifts from around the world - and don’t forget your fresh meat and poultry. Risbygate Street, St Andrew’s Street, King’s Road and Woolhall Street Now’s the time to start their musical career and encourage them to take up the electric guitar or even the drums! Or how about the ultimate motorbike, a heron decoy for the great outdoors, or a personalised T-shirt or mug painted especially by you. Your pets will love the Christmas dog stocking, new bird box or horse rug, and the kids can enjoy a new dolls’ house or a Christmas teddy. Buy yourself a Christmas wreath here or a new table runner for your lunchtime feast, or treat yourself to a luxury facial, some comfy pyjamas, a relaxing body treatment or a fake tan for the new year. After all this shopping, you know you deserve it! Whiting Street, Hatter Street, Langton Place, High Baxter Street Here are some lovely luxury pieces for someone special. How about a silver ring with precious gemstones, a brocade bag, a beautiful bay tree, some feather decorated shoes, an ice bucket or piece of crystal, or even a relaxing aromatherapy massage or henna tattoo. Buy the man in your life an archery kit with bow and arrows (everyone will have fun trying it out!) or even a model railway. And don’t forget books and cinema tickets always make good all rounders. Guildhall Street and Churchgate Street Buy some party shoes or great wellie boots! Snap up some contemporary art or designer wear or beaded bracelets, and don’t forget your luxury food hamper to make sure you really celebrate this Christmas in style. Abbeygate Street, Angel Hill and Westgate Street This is the place to buy anything from local art, to famous memorabilia, gourmet pies, local beer, stained glass window motifs or chandeliers or even a brewery tour! Then there are perfumes and toiletries, designer fashion and evening wear, exclusive hats and pretty silver hair clasps. Children will love the nativity sets or money boxes … or buy the whole family a bicycle and make 2007 a year to get out and get fit. Christmas park and ride A special Christmas park and ride scheme will be up and running for the Christmas Fayre weekend and on Saturdays during December to take shoppers into town to limit congestion over the Christmas period. Charges will be just £1.50 per car (so if you get four people in your car it will work out even cheaper!) and buses will run every 15 minutes. If you’re travelling to Bury from the east or south, the parking and pick up points will be at Denny’s and Sealey’s car parks on Kempson Way at Moreton Hall. If you are travelling from the west or north, use the park and ride at West Suffolk College, Out Risbygate. Here are the park and ride details: Christmas Fayre Saturday 2 December 10 am to 7pm (last bus 6.30) Sunday 3 December 10 am to 5pm (last bus 4.30) Car park West Suffolk College, drop off/pick up point Honey Hill. Car park Kempson Way (Sealeys and Dennys), drop off/ pick up Honey Hill. Christmas shopping Saturdays (9, 16, and 23 December) 10am to 6pm each Saturday, last bus 5.30 pm. Car park West Suffolk College, drop off/pick up point bus station. Car park Kempson Way (Sealey's and Denny's), drop off/pick up point Angel Hill (near the war memorial where buses usually pull in). Christmas Fayre This year’s Christmas Fayre will take place on Angel Hill on 1, 2 and 3 December. There are also stalls in the Athenaeum and Corn Exchange. Come to experience the Christmas sights, sounds and smells with stalls packed with food and gifts, music, a crafts fair, refreshments and fairground rides. Christmas officially starts here! We wish you a very happy Christmas from St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Bury St Edmunds traders!
For traffic and road closure information call 01284 757328. |
