North of the village is the site of the Battle of Bulcamp which occurred in 653 or 654 between the forces of Anna of East Anglia and Penda of Mercia.

[9] It was called Bledeburo, Blieburc or Blideburc and formed part of King William's holdings.

[15] By the end of the 19th century silting of the river downstream from Blythburgh made trade difficult and the locks were finally closed in 1934.

Kennedy and Lieutenant Wilford John Willy were piloting a BQ-8 "robot" aircraft (a converted B-24 Liberator) for the U.S. Navy's first mission in Operation Aphrodite.

Standing beside the road, the White Hart Inn owned by Southwold-based Adnams Brewery, dates from the 16th century and is known for its Dutch gable ends to the building and beamed interior.

Southwold is reached by the A1095 road with views over the river and the adjacent Hen Reedbeds bird reserve.

Blythburgh Station is in the process of being restored, currently there is a period platform, with a length of operating track, sidings and other infrastructure.

A 3ft gauge battery electric locomotive 'Greenbat' hauls replica rolling stock on open days.

Known as the Cathedral of the Marshes, Blythburgh was one of the earliest Christian sites in East Anglia and a church is believed to have been located here in the 7th century.

Blythburgh is mentioned in the song “Black Shuck”, from rock band The Darkness, from their album Permission To Land.