There are various beauty spots in Suffolk that should be visited including the Sudbury meadows where you can enjoy the beauty of the River Stour and grazing animals.
Stable Cottage can offer an ideal countryside break, you can visit the local museums and historic buildings in the surrounding villages and arrange to eat wonderful food in the numerous restaurants in town.
As well as the beautiful countryside there are also attractions nearby for younger visitors. Colchester Zoo, Jimmy’s Farm and Hollow Trees Farm are ideal for the whole family to explore.
Bury St Edmunds
The market town of Bury St Edmunds has 1,000 years of history to explore from the St Edmundsbury Cathedral and the ruins of the 11th century Abbey of St Edmund, once one of the most important monasteries in medieval Europe, set in the stunning Abbey Gardens to the modern shopping mall set on the old auction site.
Colchester Zoo
Enjoy a fun day out at Colchester Zoo. They are listed as the 11th best zoo around the world and in the top 2 zoos in the UK as part of the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Attractions.
Dedham Vale
Dedham Vale is a well deserved designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Essex-Suffolk border in east England. Some wonderful walks!
Flatford Mill
National Trust
CO7 6UL
01206 298260
Flatford Mill is a Grade I listed watermill on the River Stour at Flatford in East Bergholt, Suffolk. Once owned by the Constable Family and made famous by the paintings of John Constable it is a beautiful, tranquil place for a stroll along the river.
Gainsborough’s House
CO10 2EU 7 minutes walk
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) was born in Sudbury and baptised at the Independent Meeting-House in Friars Street on 14 May 1727, the fifth son and ninth child of John and Mary Gainsborough. In 1958, Gainsborough’s House Society was formed to purchase the house and establish it as a centre for Thomas Gainsborough. The Museum opened to the public in 1961 and has remained open for over 50 years. The beautiful historic garden at the heart of Gainsborough’s House is maintained by a devoted body of volunteers, who garden exclusively with plants that were available in Gainsborough’s lifetime.
Hedingham Castle
Hedingham Castle, in the nearby village of Castle Hedingham, is arguably the best preserved Norman keep in England. The castle fortifications and outbuildings were built around 1100, and the keep around 1140.
Open generally Wednesdays and Sundays but please check their website for confirmation.
Hollow Trees Farm
IP7 6HX
Buy fresh farm produce and plants, sip a coffee in the cafe or take a walk on the farm trail. Come and meet friendly pigs, cheeky goats, furry alpacas and many more.
Ickworth House
National Trust
IP29 5QE
01284 735270
Jimmy’s Farm
Pannington Hall Lane
Ipswich
Suffolk. IP9 2AR
Kentwell Hall
Long Melford
In 1970 Kentwell stood neglected. No-one was prepared to take it on – except Patrick Phillips. He fell for this wonderful House in its magical setting and was not deterred by its condition. Ever since then he has, with his wife and family, sought to bring Kentwell back to life.
Kentwell pioneered Tudor domestic Living History events in the UK, and over 30 years later, Kentwell’s events are as magical as ever.
Lavenham
Long Melford
Long Melford is one of Suffolk’s many gems. It has lots to offer the visitor, from historic buildings to contemporary fashions, antique shops and art galleries. It is the longest village high street in the UK full of independent boutiques, shops and plenty of places to eat.
Melford Hall
National Trust CO10 9AA
Devastated by fire in 1942, it was nurtured back to life by the Hyde Parker family and it remains their much loved family home to this day. It is their stories of family life at Melford – from visits by their cousin Beatrix Potter through to our visitors today that make this house more than bricks and mortar.
Quay Theatre
5 minutes walk
The Quay is a Community theatre in Sudbury, Suffolk hosting a diverse range of entertainment as well as a bar and pop up restaurant. From a run-down building by a rubble-filled section of water in the middle of Sudbury’s derelict gasworks in 1977, the restored Quay building is now one of the town’s showpieces, and is offering a wide range of high quality services and performances to its surrounding community
Sudbury Heritage Centre & Museum
Sudbury meadows
5 minutes walk from the cottage. Lovely circular walks along the river.
Photo thanks to Trevor Burch Photography