West Suffolk

West Suffolk is a local government district in the county of Suffolk, created in April 2019 by the merger of Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury. The area includes Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Haverhill, Mildenhall, Brandon, Clare and Lakenheath. Bury St Edmunds sits on the River Lark and contains the abbey ruins and St Edmundsbury Cathedral. Newmarket is a national centre for horse racing, with training grounds, the Rowley Mile course and the National Stud. Towns act as service centres for surrounding villages and farms.

The district covers stretches of Breckland heath, arable farmland and plantation forest, with sandy soils used by training stables and forestry operations. RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall contribute to the local economy alongside agriculture, racing and brewing; Greene King’s brewery remains in Bury St Edmunds. A network of market towns and lanes reflects medieval street patterns and long-standing market traditions, while local transport links serve residents and businesses across the district.