Suffolk is a rural paradise filled with idyllic landscapes, Tudor towns, peaceful coastline and a fascinating selection of National Trust properties. The verdant Dedham Vale is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with scenery that remains mostly unchanged since the celebrated landscape painter John Constable lived and painted there. Beyond the charming cottages and scenic waterways, historic market towns burst with medieval charm and elegant and eclectic houses showcase the historic and cultural treasures of the region.
based on two sharing in a twin/double room, with a minimum of 30 passengers travelling in a specific month
April, May, June, July, August, September, October
Flatford lies in the rural heart of Constable Country, in the beautiful Dedham Vale. Flatford, with its picturesque mill by the River Stour, was the subject of many of Constable’s best-loved paintings and remains much the same as it was in his day. You can also see exhibitions by contemporary artists here.
Oozing with charm and lined with pastel-coloured holiday villas, this delightful seaside town on the Suffolk Heritage Coast has a pretty pebble beach and was once the home of composer Benjamin Britten.
The charming seaside town of Southwold is famous for its painted beach huts and lovely pier. Enjoy free time to explore the pier, stroll along the beach and wander through the town.
Grand and dramatic, the approach to the moated Helmingham Hall is nothing short of spectacular. The immaculate, tranquil, Grade-I listed gardens are mellow and serene. The varied sections of the grounds combine effortlessly to create this extraordinarily beautiful estate.
Best known as the birthplace of the painter Thomas Gainsborough, this lovely market town is a cluster of Tudor houses and elegant church spires emerging from the verdant Stour Valley. A collection of works by Gainsborough is displayed in Gainsborough’s House, alongside a museum which presents the landscape artist’s life.
Melford Hall is a fine turreted Tudor manor house with an impressive collection of maritime paintings and Chinese porcelain. The eclectic property has been altered and added to over its centuries of history, and today presents a magnificent and unique façade.
With an ancient ruined abbey sitting amongst lovely gardens and alongside fine Regency architecture, the ancient pilgrimage town of Bury St Edmunds is picturesque as well as rich with history. With local breweries and a foodie scene, it’s also a great place to sample local flavours.
Charmingly situated, this Georgian palace was commissioned to house the treasures collected by the 4th Earl of Bristol on his tours around Europe. The elegant Rotunda showcases an exquisite collection of artefacts accumulated by the Hervey family over 200 years, as well as portraits by Gainsborough, Hogarth and Reynolds. Within the tranquil grounds of the property is the earliest Italianate garden in England.
Ipswich is a town with many interesting attractions, including Christchurch Mansion, the Wolsley Art Gallery (with significant Constable and Gainsborough collections) and the Ipswich Museum and Gallery, which displays ancient relics, local Anglo-Saxon artefacts and a fascinating natural history exhibit.
Hand picked destinations
England
Beyond the university city and imposing Ely Cathedral, this rural county laced with picturesque rivers has much to offer. Within its historic market towns and quaint villages lie ancient houses, museums and galleries to explore.
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England
Rolling hills meet dramatic cliffs in Kent, the garden of England. Where the fertile landscapes of Kent and East Sussex meet the sea, towering chalk descends into beautiful stretches of beach & lovely seaside towns.
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