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January 20, 2025

How to keep up with your 2025 New Year’s Resolutions in Bury St Edmunds

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It is thought around 3 in every 4 Brits make a New Year's Resolution every January, but only around a quarter keep up with them throughout the year.

 Keeping these can be tricky, but we’ve put together a guide on how you can keep some of the most ‘popular’ resolutions, in Bury St Edmunds in 2025. 

Self-Care and ‘Me Time’

Perhaps you want your 2025 to consist of a self-care-related goal. If so, there are plenty of places in town to help you achieve it.  With health and wellbeing as your intentions for the year, stores such as CBD Brothers, Croasdales Chemists, Guildhall Pharmacy, and Holland and Barrett offer vitamins and supplements, specialist foods, sports nutrition, and conscious beauty brands to browse. As well as taking care of the inside, L’Occitane, Boots, Superdrug and The Bodyshop are great stops if you’re looking to also take care of the outside.

Making time for yourself is incredibly important and often overlooked with busy lives. To take care of your face and skin Amanda James, Clear Skin Clinic and Edit, offers dermatology, makeup and aesthetic services. If you need space and time to destress or unwind, a Hot Stone or Indian head massage at The Body Sanctuary is just the ticket.  Feel glamorous from your hands, with Art of Nails or Celebrities Nails to your head with a range of hairdressers, including Bimbo’s Hair, Escape Hairdressers, and On Point Barbers or The Art of Men’s Grooming for him; you can even enjoy some pamper time together at Hair, His & Hers.

Moving to a New Home

Lots of people look to move house when the new year rings in. Moving house is easy to procrastinate, or delay, as it requires a lot of planning, time, money and patience! Bury St Edmunds is, however, full of professional services to help you make your moving goal a reality.

Estate agents should be the first stop when it comes to starting your move; whether you’re looking to rent or buy a property, a flat, a new build, or a character property, they will be there to help you guide you through your options. For first-time buyers, the customer is essential, and Mark Ewin, Martin & Co. and GD Estates will be sure to go over and beyond to ensure the process is as smooth as possible. If you’re looking for a premium property, Jackson Stops and Fine & Country specialise in character and period properties. Solicitors are a key part of your move as they are essential to ensuring all the legal matters are handled correctly. Burnett Barker, Hayward Moon Property Lawyers and Willett & Co, all have expertise in property law, minimising the risk of unexpected problems later on. Surveyors are also an important part of your process. Acorus, Brown & Co, Hazells and Lacy Scott & Knight are all integral to understanding your new property’s construction and can provide you with information regarding potential problems and expenses you may face.  

Fine & Country

Saving Money

With the New Year, many people decide to spend less and save more – but this doesn’t mean that you can’t still go out and do things in your spare time. There are plenty of FREE things to do in Bury St Edmunds throughout the year for everyone, including the whole family. 

Take a walk around Abbey Gardens with your family or friends, even dogs are welcome, as long as they are kept on a lead. You can enjoy the flower gardens, several sculptures scattered throughout; there is also an aviary and a play area for small children. 

For those that love history, explore St Edmundsbury Cathedral, originating from the 11th Century its rich past, and rebuilds, including its gothic revival, there are several free activities and events throughout the year including talks, markets, art collections and self-led tours. The Guildhall, a rare building of its period that is famous for its roof structure, also offers similar free events.

Several markets in the town centre are held each week, and attendance is free. Bury St Edmunds Makers Market happens every Wednesday and Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and over 80 stalls from local producers and makers come together. Keep an eye out on our What’s On page for upcoming free events in Bury St Edmunds.

Becoming more active

Over half of New Year’s Resolutions in the UK involve being more active or focusing on fitness-related goals. The Gym Group offers great, affordable, no-contract gym memberships that allow you 24/7 access to the gym. There are lots of great starting deals, such as up to 30% off your first month or 20% off 12-month memberships for students.

Cycling is a great way to be active; it can also be an effective and convenient method of transport while working to achieve your New Year goals. You can bike to work, school, the shops, or just for fun! Cycling is also something that you can do with other people, as part of a social activity. Bury St Edmunds has two cycle shops; Cycle King and Micks Cycles. Both of these stores offer a wide range of cycles (road bikes, mountain bikes, e-bikes and children’s bikes) and cycling accessories such as bells, helmets, lights, tyre repair kits, cleaning products, clothing and more.

If you’re looking to spend more time doing other sports such as football, golf, running or more, Sports Direct and JD Sports have a range of clothing, accessories and equipment to take your resolution to the next level. For any outdoor adventures you’ve promised to yourself, such as camping, walking and hiking Blacks, Cotswolds Outdoors and Mountain Warehouse will have everything you need.

Changing your eating habits

January is one of the most common months to change up your diet. Thanks to Veganuary, opting for a more vegetable-based diet has never been easier. Eateries such as Juice Bros, Primal 8, Wagamama, Giggling Squid, and Mowgli Street Food offer a wide range of vegetarian and vegan dishes to enjoy if you want to eat more veggies and go greener! Check out more plant-based restaurants on our latest blog.

The New Year is also a great time to expand your palette! As the foodie capital of Suffolk, there are plenty of restaurants that explore flavours from all over the world. 513, Sakura, Spice Garden, Moza, Voujon, Orissa and Zen Noodle Bar bring Asian cuisine, including Chinese, Indian and Japanese, to the streets of Bury St Edmunds. European tastes include Pommodoro, The Sheesh, Papakis Deli, Maison Bleue and Francela, as well as Mexican Amigos and South African-Portugese infusion at Nando’s. As well as seasonal dishes at Lark, The Michelin Starred Pea Porridge, New Cafe Blend, and BBQ food at Meat & Greet.

Taking up new hobbies

The start of a new year serves as the perfect opportunity to start that hobby you’ve always wanted to do or even just dedicate more time to something you already love. 

For flourishing artists, Ryman, Smiggle, and WHSmith have the perfect supplies to get going, whether it’s colouring, painting, or scrapbooking. If you prefer to observe art rather than make it, Chelmer Fine Art and The Hunter Gallery offer contemporary and local pieces to enjoy. The Apex offers several fitting workshops, such as Booze and Brushes, Resin Pouring, Kids and Canvas, and Paint Your Pet. 

Musicians can benefit from a free guitar club at Hunter Club Arts Centre, which happens on the first Thursday of every month from 7:30 pm-9:30 pm. If you’re looking to expand to a new instrument or start playing for the first time Balaam’s Music has a wide range of instruments, and the expertise to help you find what is best for you. Sessions such as Harmonica Workshops at The Apex offer the perfect opportunity to improve your skills. For those who love to listen to good music, also at The Apex, is a range of events throughout the year, including bands, orchestras and singers, as well as a wide range of records to choose from at Vinyl Hunter

If you want to spend more time enjoying the arts, you can find the latest blockbusters, Hollywood classics, and international favourites to enjoy at Everyman, Abbeygate Cinema, and Cineworld. The Apex shows comedy shows throughout the year, and Theatre Royal has a variety of plays, pantos, ballets, and musicals to entertain. Anyone looking to encourage their inner bookworm can participate in regular book clubs in one of the two Waterstones in town, located at the Buttermarket and the arc.

Be more sustainable

While you might want to start decluttering, it is important to consider where your ‘clutter’ is going. Charity shops are a great place to donate your clothes, shoes, accessories, homeware, and books that you no longer have space for. With several charity shops in town, including the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Dogs Trust, EACH, Oxfam, St Nicholas Hospice, Suffolk Mind, The Salvation Army, and Wood Green Animal Shop, there are plenty of opportunities to donate. 

When it comes to more conscious choices, Charity shops are also a great place to buy from as support great causes, as well as offer pre-loved items a new home. Thrifting, in vintage stores like Bohemia Vintage and Lifestyle and 3 Cats Vintage offer the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to something unique, all while supporting sustainability. Elimayboo Antiques, Luna House Boutique, and Smoking Monkey Antiques are great places to find stunning, one-of-a-kind, pre-loved pieces for your home. Making eco-friendly choices is about being more mindful, but still not having to give up what you love.

Search our business directory for all businesses in Bury St Edmunds or browse current and future events through our What’s On page.