Stately Suffolk & Constable Country

Accommodation

The Holiday Inn Ipswich is situated on the outskirts of the town. The modern rooms offer air-conditioning, Freeview TV and tea and coffee-making facilities. The hotel also features a lounge bar, restaurant, indoor swimming pool, spa, sauna, steam room and gym.

Drive Only

Itinerary

Excursion One – Kentwell Hall & West Stow Hall

This morning we head to one of England’s finest Tudor Houses, Kentwell. There’s plenty to admire, including portraits, tapestries and artefacts, as well as the tranquil walled gardens, moats and giant cedars. Don’t miss the Moat House too, which dates back to the 15^th century and now has a working dairy, bakery and brewhouse!

In the afternoon, we visit West Stow Hall for a fascinating guided tour with refreshments. This picturesque house is said to have been built by Sir John Croftes, Master of the Horse to Henry VIII’s sister, Mary Tudor. Originally, the house was surrounded by a moat until it was filled in in 1840. Take the time to marvel at the Hall’s dignified architecture, with its decorative brick gatehouse, and explore the six acres of gardens, woods and paddocks here.

 

Excursion Two – Constable Country: Flatford, Dedham & East Bergholt

We take a Blue Badge guided tour of Constable Country, travelling first to the picturesque Stour Valley and Dedham Vale, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty made famous by the paintings of John Constable. We stop first in the picturesque hamlet of Flatford where we admire some of the key views and locations which inspired many of Constable’s iconic paintings, including Flatford Mill and Willy Lott’s House, immortalised in The Haywain.

 

After our walk, we rejoin the coach and travel to the idyllic village of Dedham, where Constable went to school. Set on the River Stour with scenic water meadows, the village is the epitome of rural England with an attractive main street lined with Georgian-fronted houses, old inns and a large arts and crafts centre. Finally, we visit East Bergholt, located on the north bank of the River Stour, where Constable was born in 1776.

 

Excursion Three – Lavenham, Lavenham Guildhall & Melford Hall

Picturesque Lavenham is a remarkably well-preserved Tudor village which was one of the richest towns in England during the 15^th century thanks to the woollen-cloth industry. Here we enjoy a guided walking tour learning more about the village’s fascinating history. We also visit Lavenham Guildhall, a fine timber-framed building that is a potent reminder of Lavenham’s former prosperity. During our introductory talk with refreshments, we discover the stories of the people who have used the Guildhall through its almost 500 years at the heart of the community.

 

In the afternoon we make our way to Melford Hall for a guided tour. During its history, this red-brick Tudor mansion with picturesque turrets has played host to Queen Elizabeth I, seen Civil War unrest and survived a disastrous fire in 1942. Home to the Hyde Parker family for more than two centuries, it remains their beloved family home to this day and contains fine collections of art, porcelain and furniture. 

Self Drive Bullets

• 4 nights at the 4-star Holiday Inn, Ipswich with dinner & breakfast
• Welcome drink
• After-dinner tea and coffee at the hotel
• Coach transfers to and from your excursions
• Visits to Kentwell, West Stow Hall, Flatford, Dedham, East Bergholt, Lavenham, Lavenham Guildhall & Melford Hall
• Guided tours of West Stow Hall& Melford Hall
• Guided walking tour of Lavenham
• Blue Badge guided walking tour of Constable’s Flatford
• Accompanied by a knowledgeable Tour Manager throughout