A Greater Anglia “Real Ale Rail Trail” is just the ticket

Published on: Wednesday, 20 July 2022
Last updated: Monday, 4 September 2023

  • Days Out

Look out of a Greater Anglia train window on a summer’s day and you’ll likely gaze upon miles of gently rolling fields of golden barley typical of the East Anglian countryside.

It’s no surprise therefore, that you will find a many quality real ale brewers in the region – think Adnams, Greene King, Humpty Dumpty, Wibblers and Woodforde’s to name just a few.

What’s more, many of them are easily accessible by train, meaning you are free to sample the wares during your visit without having to worry about the car.

With an Anglia Plus ticket, a whole day exploring costs less than the price of a three course meal.

The beauty of this ticket is that you can hop on and off the train as many times as you like so you can visit more than one destination in a day. It covers all stations in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Cambridgeshire.

Leave the car behind and hop aboard our spacious and comfortable brand-new trains – which all feature dedicated cycle spaces, good accessibility, free wifi and toilets on board.

Here’s our county-by-county guide to the best places on the Greater Anglia network to discover an ale trail, sip a pint or take a brewery tour.

Crouch Valley Rail Ale Train graphic

Cambridgeshire:

Pubs near stations

  • The Old Ticket Office, Cambridge
  • Station Tavern, Cambridge
  • The Cutter Inn, The Royal Standard, The Fountain and The Prince Albert, Ely
  • The Station Hotel, March station
  • The Railway Inn, Whittlesey
  • The Brewery Tap, Peterborough
  • The Railway Tavern, The Square and Compasses and The Plough, Great Shelford

Breweries

Festivals

Essex:

Existing ale trails:

  • The Crouch Valley ale trail (all year round). Download the map and enjoy a voyage of real ale discovery along the scenic Crouch Valley rail line from Wickford to Southminster. The route map includes 12 pubs and breweries and has been put together for you by the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership. https://esscrp.org.uk/things-to-do/crouch-valley-rail-ale-trail/
  • Harwich Ale Trail – Harwich has a good number of pubs in close proximity, making it perfect for an ale trail just a short walk from the station. https://harwichaletrail.co.uk/
  • The Flitch Line Ale Trail - This Rail Ale Trail on the Witham – Braintree ‘Flitch’ line features 9 pubs recommended by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and in walking distance of a train station. See esscrp.org.uk/events/flitch-line-rail-ale-trail/ for more details.

Pubs near stations:

  • Manningtree Station Buffet
  • Colchester has a few real ale pubs not far from both stations, including the Victoria Inn in North Station Road and The Three Wise Monkeys in the High Street which recently opened Other Monkey Brewing, a brewery and tap room where it serves beers brewed on site.

Breweries:

  • Posh Boys Brewery and Tap Room, Wickford
  • Crouch Vale Brewery, South Woodham Ferrers,
  • Wibblers Brewery, Southminster
  • Colchester Brewery, Wakes Colne

Festivals:

Hertfordshire:

Breweries

  • New River Brewery, Hoddesdon
  • McMullen’s Brewery, Hertford

Pubs near stations:

  • The Crown, Broxbourne
  • The Rye House, Rye House
  • The Jolly Fisherman, St Margarets
  • The Waterside Inn, Ware
  • Great Eastern Tavern, Hertford

Norfolk:

Breweries

  • Humpty Dumpty Brewery, Reedham
  • Redwell Brewing, Norwich
  • Wolf Brewery, Attleborough
  • Woodforde’s, Salhouse
  • Tipple’s brewery, Salhouse
  • Brandon Brewery, Brandon
  • Lacons, Great Yarmouth

Pubs near stations

  • The Reedcutter, Norwich
  • The Links Hotel, West Runton
  • The Lobster and The Robin Hood, Sheringham (and many more in the town)
  • The Wellington Hotel, The Cottage, Cromer (and many more in the town)
  • The Mulberry Tree, Attleborough
  • The Railway Tavern, The Rose and Crown and The King’s Head, Thetford (and many more in the town)
  • The Suffield Arms, Gunton
  • The King’s Head Hotel, Wroxham
  • The Railway Tavern, The Lord Nelson, The Ferry Inn, Reedham
  • The Reedcutter, Cantley

Festivals:

Suffolk

Breweries

  • Calvors Brewery, Ipswich
  • Briarbank Brewing Company, Ipswich
  • Humber Doucy Brewing Company, Stowmarket
  • Uffa Brewery, Woodbridge
  • Nethergate Brewery and Distillery, Sudbury
  • Mauldons Brewery, Sudbury
  • The Old Felixstowe Brewing Co, Felixstowe
  • Sole Bay Brewery (Adnams), Southwold (bus or taxi from Darsham or Halesworth stations)
  • Green Jack Brewing Co, Lowestoft
  • Greene King, Bury St Edmunds
  • Brewshed, Bury St Edmunds
  • Munsons Brewery, Newmarket

Pubs near stations:​

  • The Station Hotel, Ipswich
  • Railway Inn, Westerfield
  • The Railway, Derby Road
  • Harry’s Bar at the Orwell Hotel, Felixstowe
  • The Anchor, Woodbridge
  • The Wilford Bridge, Melton
  • The Duck, Wickham Market
  • The Railway Tavern, Queen’s Head and Bell Hotel, Saxmundham
  • The White Hart, White Swan and The Triple Plea, Halesworth
  • Beccles has several pubs a short walk from the station
  • The Flying Dutchman, Oulton Broad South
  • Lowestoft has many pubs and the Joseph Conrad is opposite the station

Festivals

Anglia Plus

Map showing where the Anglia Plus is valid

Above: Map showing where the Anglia Plus is valid

You can choose between an Anglia Plus One Day Ranger or a 'Three Days in Seven' Flexi Rover, and there's no need to book in advance - just turn up and go! These tickets can be purchased on the day of travel from any staffed Greater Anglia station or from the conductor on the train if you start your journey from an unstaffed station.

Anglia Plus One Day Ranger

Spend the day travelling wherever you like within the Anglia Plus area for just £24.70 per adult. Up to four accompanied children can travel with each adult for only £2.00 per child with this great value fare.

In some places you can even use the ticket to travel on local bus services.

All the information you need is here: https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/tickets-fares/discounts/rangers-rovers/anglia-plus