Heart and South Suffolk

Our self catering breaks in rural Suffolk are set in an area that has long been an inspiration for artists, composers and writers so it’s no surprise that this region of diverse landscapes provides an ideal place to escape, explore and unwind.

Every bit as enticing as the coastal region for which Suffolk is so famous, our country holiday homes in the heart and south of Suffolk are dotted amongst ancient homesteads, rolling landscape, and church towers. Up close, traditional pink-painted cottages cluster around village greens, their timeless beauty a reminder that East Anglia is the oldest settled region of England.

Stowmarket, located in the centre of the county on the River Gipping, is a great location from which to explore the surrounding countryside. This thriving market town has a variety of listed buildings typical of the area – not to be missed is the Museum of East Anglian Life, while magnificent Framlingham Castle is just a short drive to the east.

To the south are our holiday homes in Stour Valley and our idyllic self catering cottages in ‘Constable Country’. Our cottages in Sudbury once shared the town with Thomas Gainsborough and a fine art collection is housed in his historic home here. Take a different sort of trip down memory lane with a boat trip along the River Stour – one of the first English rivers to be made navigable to barge traffic.

Our picturesque self catering cottages in Denston, Shimpling and Foxearth are great for exploring Long Melford, a village well known for its range of antique dealers and independent retailers as well as a fine selection of eateries. Long Melford has been settled for many centuries – buildings from the 15th century rub shoulders with Georgian facades and Victorian terraces, while the nearby halls of Melford and Kentwell are testament to its importance in Tudor times.

Nearby is the historic village of Lavenham – the finest medieval village in England is home to more than 300 listed buildings. Renowned tearooms and restaurants sit alongside fashionable boutiques, galleries and gift shops… and if you tire of the retail experience you can try to spot the locations used in films including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Our Shotley and Stutton holiday cottages are great for exploring ‘Constable Country’ and Stratford St Mary and Flatford, the settings for some of John Constable’s finest and most famous works – you can’t fail to be inspired by the beauty of the countryside here! Stratford St Mary has a fascinating number of rustic buildings and historic manors including Constable’s much-loved The Old Stratford Mill, dating from 1600.

In the north of this region, guests in our holiday homes near Stanton can visit Bury St Edmunds’ Abbey ruins, many preserved buildings, stunning Abbey Gardens and the recently crowned St Edmundsbury Cathedral… it’s easy to see why Daniel Defoe and Charles Dickens were fans! But if your appetite is whet by more modern attractions, then Bury has a bustling retail centre with a selection of fine shops and eateries – and the excellent Greene King brewery is open to visitors too!