Set in the Gipping Valley the historic market town of Stowmarket lies equally distant from the towns of Bury St. Edmunds and Ipswich and is the largest town in Mid Suffolk. The River Gipping flows south east through Stowmarket all the way to Ipswich.  It was the industrial growth of the town in 1793 with the opening of the canal to Ipswich, which put Stowmarket firmly on the map. Canal boats and barges were lifted some 90 feet, through 15 locks over the rivers 17-mile navigable length. Unfortunately when the canal company went into liquidation the navigation of this river way ended  in 1932.

The medieval heart of Stowmarket lies around the parish church of St. Peter and St. Mary Church which is over 600 years old and the oldest building in Stowmarket.  It was Edward III who granted the town a market charter in 1347 and markets selling a range of locally produced goods are still held in the town centre on Thursday and Saturday.  There is also a monthly Farmers Market which is held on the 1st Friday of every month in the Barn at the Museum of East Anglian Life. Stowmarket has 131 listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest and you can pick up a 'Town Trail' leaflet from the local Tourist Information Office, which illustrates some of the towns history as well as guiding you around some of its historical buildings.

The town is surrounded by a rural landscape and many of Suffolks picturesque villages. There are a number of circular walks and a wide range of footpaths which take you from the heart of Stowmarket to the surrounding villages and countryside.  They include the Mid-Suffolk Footpath, a twenty mile long distance path linking the towns of Hoxne with Stowmarket; the Middy Railway Footpath, which takes you along the route of the old Mid-Suffolk Railway, finishing at Brockford Railway Museum.

The Gipping Valley Footpath which covers the 17 miles on the old tow-path.  The walk takes take you from the centre of Stowmarket through Needham Market, concluding at the Ipswich Docks. There are also shorter circular walks signposted from the footpath.

The Open Air Museum of East Anglian Life  at Stowmarket covers a 75 acre site.  Here you can discover the history and natural world of East Anglia; learn about East Anglian crafts and traditional Gypsey culture.  There are 3km of woodland and riverside nature trails to be explored, 15 restored historic buildings to be visited.  The museum also has rare breads of cattle and sheep and Suffolk Punch Horses.

The many different gardens of Helmingham Hall are open to the public from May to September for two afternoons a week. Its park encloses 400 acres with herds of both red and fallow deer roaming free.

Stowmarket has a popular shopping centre and benefits from a main line railway station; an 18 hole Golf Course, which has been designated by the English Golf Untion as a 'Centre of Excellence; a Regal Cinema and Theatre and a good social scene with many active clubs and groups and two nightclubs. Its Leisure Centre has three swimming pools, squash, indoor bowls, football, climbing wall and a Health Club.

Stowmarket hosts many events throughout the year including a Carnival during the summer months and an annual Traditional Music Day held in September.