Time Out In Suffolk

Suffolk is dotted with picturesque villages seemingly lost in time. This charming county is filled with natural beauty situated on the east coast of England, topped with breathtakingly beautiful open skies. It made its money on the back of the medieval wool trade, and magnificent churches and lavish Tudor homes attest to its wealthy past. Enjoy the picture-postcard villages of Lavenham and Long Melford and further north, Bury St Edmunds ushers in historic buildings and a market-town vibe. Your base is the picturesque Mill Hotel at Sudbury, a beautifully converted watermill on the riverbank framed by weeping willows with lush green meadows stretching as far as the eye can see.Holiday Highlights
- Hotel for 3 or 4 nights with breakfast & dinner- Porterage- Tea / coffee after dinner- Morning at leisure in Sudbury- Visits to Long Melford, Lavenham & Stowmarket (all tours)- Visit to Bury St Edmunds (5 day only)- Entrance to the Food Museum (all tours)- Entrance to Melford Hall (5 day only)- En-route visit to Colchester (time permitting)

Suffolk - full of picturesque towns & villages
Day 1 - A morning departure, stopping for sightseeing and refreshments in Colchester (time permitting). Colchester is Britain's oldest recorded town, with a colourful history dating back over two thousand years. This afternoon travel the short distance to the market town of Sudbury, your holiday base in Suffolk to check in at The Mill Hotel for 3 or 4 nights DBB\n\nDay 2 - 3 (or 4) - At leisure in Sudbury with two or three included excursions.\n\nINCLUDED EXCURSIONS\nSudbury & Long Melford (All tours)\nEnjoy a leisurely start to the day to explore Sudbury on market day (Saturday & Thursday). Set on the River Stour, this ancient market town is surrounded by water meadows. Sudbury has thrived on the textile industry, firstly with wool, then silk. A statue of Sudbury's famous son, the artist Thomas Gainsborough stands on the Market Place. He was born here in 1727 and his birthplace, the historic Gainsborough's House re-opened to the public in 2022 after a transformational refurbishment. Visitors can view a comprehensive collection of Gainsborough's work (open daily 10.00 - 17.00. Entrance not included - approx. £16.50 pp in 2024). Take a drive out later on to Long Melford with its mile long high street populated by charming independent shops, vibrant art galleries, antique centres, cafes, and of course, typical Suffolk Inns.\n4 day tour - Continue to medieval Lavenham. one of the UK's best preserved towns with its exquisite collection of 300 listed half-timbered and thatched buildings which have been left virtually untouched since the 15th century.\n5 day tour - Head just up the road to the imposing red-brick mansion of Melford Hall. It is thanks to many generations from medieval monks to the Hyde Parker family who still live here, that this home still stands. Around every corner there's a new twist in the story - from Beatrix Potter sketches to collections of naval paintings and Chinese porcelain - everything tells a story and everyone has left their mark. 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 the visitors of today that make this house more than bricks and mortar. The gardens feature walled gardens with herbaceous borders, a woodland corner and lawns with topiary, espaliered fruit trees and a reflecting pond.\n\nThe Food Museum & Stowmarket (All tours)\nEnjoy a fascinating visit to The Food Museum which connects people with where food comes from, past, present and future, via via daily talks & demos and a collection of 40,000 objects, 17 historic buildings and 75 acres of glorious Suffolk countryside comprising farmland, woodland and parkland. From cheese-making to brewing, historic breads to seasonal eating, from wartime ration recipes to a full size steam-powered mill engine - explore the heritage of food and the communities who grow and make it as well as the social, historical, technological, industrial and environmental aspects of food production. There is a cafe and shop. There are paths around the museum site, but some are unsurfaced and uneven. The river walk is relatively level and flat. The museum allows good access to the town of Stowmarket itself which takes its name from the Old English word stow meaning “principal place”, and was granted a market charter in 1347 by Edward III. It lies on the River Gipping, which is joined by its tributary, the River Rat, to the south of the town. Enjoy time at leisure before heading back to the hotel.\n\nBury St Edmunds & Lavenham (5 day tour only)\nHead to Bury St. Edmunds, whose past is ever present in its handsome Georgian architecture. Once the most famous pilgrimage location in England, Bury is home to the magnificent St Edmundsbury Cathedral as well as the atmospheric ruins of the Abbey of St Edmund in the stunning Abbey Gardens. Known as Suffolk's foodie town, Bury St Edmunds is home to Greene King and many award-winning eateries. Then continue to medieval Lavenham. one of the UK's best preserved towns with its exquisite collection of 300 listed half-timbered and thatched buildings which have been left virtually untouched since the 15th century.\n\nReturn Day - After a leisurely breakfast, depart the hotel with an intersting stop en-route to interchange and onwards to your home towns.Beautifully converted watermill on the riverbank
The 3* Mill Hotel in the centre of quintessential country town of Sudbury is set on the banks of the River Stour, nestled away in true Suffolk countryside. It is a restored watermill steeped in history with all public areas refurbished to the highest standards. It has a bar, restaurant and sun terrace, each with picturesque views. Accommodation consists of 62 well-appointed bedrooms, many overlooking the meadows, all with wide-screen television and tea / coffee making. There is no lift at the hotel but there are some ground floor rooms.