It is 1.25 miles from the ancient Anglo-Saxon burial site at Sutton Hoo, run by the National Trust.

At the beginning of World War I, the 9th Field Company Royal Engineers were sent to Melton to prepare defences at the station and nearby Wilford Bridge (the first crossing point of the River Deben) against possible invasion.

[6] During World War II Melton was the railhead for nearby RAF Bentwaters with a pipeline running from the station yard.

[6] All freight traffic ceased in the early 1980s but after local campaigning the station was reopened for passengers on 3 September 1984.

As of December 2020[update] the typical Monday-Sunday off-peak service at Melton is as follows: Trains direct to and from London Liverpool Street were withdrawn in 2010.