Where to Live- A guide to local cities, towns and villages
Cities and Towns (Click to view a Map)
Newmarket- Newmarket is located southwest of RAF Mildenhall. It’s location at the intersection of two major highways, the A11 and the A14, make it ideal for those who want fairly quick access to the bases but still live some distance away. The main travel route between the RAF bases and Newmarket is the A11 which is dual carriageway (two lanes of traffic in each direction). Many prefer commuting on this road since speed limits are higher and you are less likely to get stuck behind slow vehicles that you can not pass safely. Drive time between Newmarket and the bases is roughly 20 to 25 minutes.
Newmarket is a small town with two large British grocery stores and a number of other major retailers in the town center. There are also numerous restaurants, pubs, and some nightlife on the weekends (Bars and Clubs).
Bury St. Edmunds- Bury (pronounced “Berry”) is located southeast of RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath. The most direct road between Bury St. Edmunds and Mildenhall is the A1101 which is a fairly slow drive. You must drive at low speed through many villages, which means it takes about 30-40 minutes to drive between the bases and central Bury. There are a few short cuts that use the A14 and country roads through the village of Tuddenham, which can normally cut the journey time down to 20-30 minutes.
Many U.S. families feel living in Bury is worth the extra commute time. The town has a lively downtown with a market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, high end shops, restaurants, tea rooms, and a newly opened shopping mall. Bury St. Edmunds is the capital of the county and draws tourists to its medieval abbey and gardens among other landmarks. Many families go to Bury often to shop, relax and enjoy themselves regardless of where they live.
Small Towns and Villages (Click to view a map)
Beck Row- Beck Row is the area that surrounds RAF Mildenhall and the main access road to the base, the A1101. Because of its proximity, it is a very popular choice with U.S. Military families. There are a number of neighborhoods in Beck Row from which you can walk onto RAF Mildenhall. Beck Row has three pubs and a great village shop for groceries. Many living in Beck Row travel to Mildenhall town for shopping and dining. Beck Row is about a 6-7 minute drive from downtown Mildenhall.
West Row- West Row is a quaint village on the southern side of RAF Mildenhall. There is a gate from West Row that gives easy access to the flight line side of base. However, this gate has limited evening and weekend hours. West Row has very popular pubs and a great fish and chip shop. It is an ideal choice for those who want a short commute to base and live in a quiet and serene little village.
Mildenhall Town- Mildenhall is the largest town closest to both RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall. It has a market on Fridays, popular tea room and a number of restaurants. Travel time to the main gate of RAF Mildenhall is about 6 minutes and 10 minutes to RAF Lakenheath. There are a few neighborhoods with single family homes on the outskirts of Mildenhall that are popular with the base families.
Lakenheath Village- It is about a 5-6 minute drive between Lakenheath village and the RAF Lakenheath gate. Lakenheath is a small village with one convenience store and several pubs. It is not possible to walk onto RAF Lakenheath from the village.
Feltwell, Hockwold- The small villages of Feltwell and Hockwold cum Wilton are ideal for those stationed at RAF Feltwell. Located in Norfolk, these villages offer a few quaint pubs between them.
Isleham, Chippenham, Freckenham- There are 3 quaint villages just south of RAF Mildenhall that are very popular with families who are looking to be near base, but want to feel more integrated into the local community. All of them have pretty churches and traditional architecture and good higher end pubs. They are various distances from RAF Mildenhall (see map), but none are more than a 10 to 12 minute drive away.
Kentford, Kennett- Kentford and Kennett are located near Newmarket, but also have easy access to the bases and Bury St. Edmunds. This is a lovely area with wonderful old homes and great pubs. Drive time to RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath is about 20 minutes.
Tuddenham, Red Lodge- Tuddenham is located just off the A11 so it has easy access to the bases, Newmarket, and Bury St. Edmunds (via country roads). It has good pubs and a high end restaurant. It is a very pretty little village with a lot of charm. The villages of Red Lodge and Barton Mills are also near Tuddenham and offer similar access to base.
Approximate Driving Distances (in minutes)
| Area or Town | To RAF Mildenhall | To RAF Lakenheath | To RAF Feltwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newmarket | 20 to 25 minutes | 20 to 25 minutes | 35 to 40 minutes |
| Bury St. Edmunds | 40 to 50 minutes | 40 to 50 minutes | 1 hour |
| Thetford | 35 to 40 minutes | 25 to 30 minutes | 30 to 35 minutes |
| Mildenhall Town | 6 to 8 Minutes | 12 minutes | 25 to 30 minutes |
| Lakenheath Village | 15 to 20 minutes | 6 minutes | 12 minutes |
| Beck Row | 4 to 5 minutes | 10 minutes | 25 to 30 minutes |
| West Row | 3 to 5 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 to 35 minutes |
| Isleham, Chippenham, Freckenham | 10 to 20 minutes | 25 to 30 minutes | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Tuddenham, Red Lodge | 15 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Kennett, Kentford | 20 minutes | 20 minutes | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Feltwell, Hockwold | 25 minutes | 15 minutes | 5 to 10 minutes |
Click here to view a map
