Elveden Brewery

The brewery sits on the edge of Elveden, a quiet corner of Suffolk where the Norfolk border blurs into farmland. What draws people here is straightforward - proper craft beer made on site, and the chance to see how it's actually done rather than just drinking the end result.

The operation isn't massive, which is part of its charm. You get a real sense of the place rather than being herded through an industrial facility. The tour takes you through the brewing process, and if you time it right, you'll catch something actually happening in the tanks rather than just looking at stainless steel vessels.

This appeals most to serious beer enthusiasts and anyone bored stiff by supermarket lagers. If your family includes determined non-drinkers, the gift shop will feel thin on the ground - it's not set up as a theme-park experience. The tasting room is where the visit earns its keep, mind you. You're sampling beers made metres away.

Bury Saint Edmunds sits five miles west, so Elveden works well as a morning stop before heading into town for lunch. Both Kings Forest Caravan and West Stow Pods are within easy reach - neither requires more than ten minutes' drive. If you're based at either park and fancy breaking up a quiet week with something that involves tasting good beer and understanding what goes into it, this is worth a visit. Just ring ahead first - opening hours aren't reliable information online, and you'll want to confirm they're running tours that day.