Leiston

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Dating back to 1250, this idyllic cottage has bags of charm. It’s in the town of Hadleigh, so shops, restaurants and cafés are just a short walk away, along with cycleways across the countryside and a meandering riverside walk. 

Hide away from the world in a timber-clad bolthole where Tudor windows let in plenty of sunlight during the day. By night, it’s time to get a fire crackling in the fireplace and snuggle up with a glass of wine on the sofa. Antique, rustic furniture has been hand-selected to keep the medieval feel to the cottage, including cast-iron pans suspended from the wooden beam in the kitchen. Heading up the narrow staircase to bed, you’ll find a sound sleep beneath the old roof beams. 

Tudor Romance

If you're looking for a luxurious, romantic retreat in Norfolk – this newly refurbished cottage could be the place for you. Unwind with a glass of Champagne in the hot tub at the end of the beautiful garden, filled with roses and other cottage garden plants. Later, settle down in the reading corner, next to the log burner, with a good book and a glass of wine from the wine chiller. We adore the vistas over the green and village pond from this cottage – it's the picture-perfect view. As night falls, have a long soak in the free-standing bath with the organic toiletries provided – utter bliss. Your lovely hosts have thought of everything to make your stay comfortable, from bathrobes and slippers to treats for your four-legged friends (if you're bringing the pooch). The next day enjoy breakfast in the light, contemporary glass dining room overlooking the garden. Then, pop over the road for lunch if you don't fancy cooking – one of the top five gastropubs in the area is right opposite. Afterwards, perhaps walk off all that lovely food with a stroll around the village with its pretty duck ponds. For a day at the beach – Old Hunstanton Beach is a thirty-minute drive away – so you can have the best of both coast and country. It doesn't get much more idyllic than this. 

The Shelduck

Step back in time at this meticulously restored Regency cottage. Your hosts have poured their time and energy into sourcing period-specific reclaimed materials and equipping the home with antique furnishings to create a cosy and charming English escape that offers the very best of coast and country.

All that effort has clearly paid off, as evidenced by the beautiful interior. From the Victorian roll-top bath to the eighteenth-century range and the wainscotting on the walls – every effort has been made to make it feel as authentic as possible. Even the mod cons, such as the TV, are hidden away inside bread ovens that are built into the chimney so as not to shatter the illusion.

At the top of the narrow staircase is the twin bedroom, through which you enter the main bedroom – a pretty common arrangement for houses of this period.

Step outside, and you'll find a beautifully maintained nature reserve right on your doorstep. Your hosts bought it in 2015 and have spent the intervening years slowly restoring and exposing its beauty, with winding footpaths leading to conveniently placed benches, soaring Scots pine trees and ancient oaks – perfect for a reflective moment in nature or a ride on the supplied bikes.

For adventures further afield, you'll find maps detailing footpaths that run to the world-class concert hall at Snape Maltings, two-and-a-half miles away, and continue through forests and past lakes, leading all the way to the sea at Aldeburgh. 

The Miller's Cottage

Large groups looking to explore the expansive Norfolk landscape will love all that this stunning Georgian home has to offer. Located just a fifteen-minute walk from the charming village of Somerleyton, with its grand hall and traditional pubs, there's plenty to see and do in the area – walking, and cycle paths, boats for hire in St. Olaves. The nearest beach is a quick ten-minute drive away, while the lovely seaside towns of Gorleston and Great Yarmouth are approximately twenty minutes in the car. But we really wouldn't blame you if you stayed put at home. After all, the main house boasts a pool table, a large lounge, an impressive dining room and four elegant bedrooms. On top of that, guests can delight in sweeping views of Waveney Valley. Wander out into the sprawling picturesque garden, and you’ll find a rustic fire pit and wood-burning hot tub to pass the time in. There’s also a delightful shepherd's hut where two additional guests can stay, providing an intimate space to enjoy a little more peace, quiet and privacy close to nature. Reconnect with the countryside at this lovely retreat and explore the Norfolk Broads and Suffolk Heritage Coast.

Somerleyton

Set within 100 acres of parkland, these former stables put open countryside walks and wildlife on your doorstep. Wander across the fields to the deserted medieval village of Godwick, where a ruined church tower juts out from the ground. It’s also a half-hour drive to Wells-Next-the-Sea, a pretty seaside town in the Norfolk Coast AONB. The 19th-century stable block has been transformed into a cosy country bolthole for a family or group of friends. You can spot the village’s old church tower from your private garden, where a patio provides a place to sit in the sun and fire up the gas barbecue, and a vast lawn stretches before you. Or, head inside to the sunny kitchen diner where dining is set for the whole group. Scandi-chic interiors make for a relaxing living room, set around a traditional wood-burning stove should the weather turn chilly. Bedrooms blend in with the estate’s wonderful ladscape, with autumnal tree motifs on feature walls lulling you off to sleep. The only sounds around here are the swish of towering trees and birdsong in the morning. 

Astrophil & Stella

Hidden away next to ancient woodland in rural Essex, this cabin is a British getaway that overflows with quirk and charm.

Inside, classically styled furnishings, such as the tufted Chesterfield, oak dining table and the four-poster bed that's come straight out of a fairytale, rub shoulders with the eclectic animal portraits that dot the wall, the antler chandelier and antique-style gramophone — which actually works in case you're in the mood for a boogie. The copper rolltop bathtub that lies just next to the bed is another decadent touch that we can't help but salute.

The home's exterior is full of pleasant surprises, too. When the weather's warm enough — and even when it's not — you can sit out in the home's hot tub, before drying off on one of the egg chairs next to the roaring fire pit. It's possible to hear the sounds of wildlife from the neighbouring forest, as well as the occasional roar from Colchester Zoo, which is less than ten minutes' drive from the home.

Elsewhere in the local area, the huge Abberton Reservoir takes five minutes to reach in the car and offers spectacular birdwatching opportunities. The local village of Layer de la Haye, with its pair of pubs and farm shop, is a ten-minute walk away, too.

Kooky Cabin

Originally built in the 1700s as a winnowing barn, this cosy cottage conversion is part of the Old Grove Farm, and is one of six homes around a large central courtyard. Begin your morning here with a welcome basket breakfast, served at the Millstone breakfast bar. Then explore the acres of orchards and meadows, with your four-legged friend trotting by your side. For lunch, why not follow the footpaths through the open countryside to the dog-friendly pub, which is just a fifteen-minute walk away? 

In the late afternoon, we would love to curl up on the sofa with a good book in front of the roaring fire or lounge beneath the apple and pear trees in the beautiful orchard. 

From inside the house, handmade oak windows in the living room, cut through the floor to the bedroom above affording amazing views, while a handmade iron balcony is a great vantage point to watch the sunset from. 

In the summer months, the large open-sided ‘Cart Lodge’ has a barbecue which can be pulled out, or you could simply sit beneath the lodge’s fairy lights and gaze at the stars of the night-time sky. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the wildlife – bats, badgers, hares, rabbits, deer and birds ¬– that share this land. 

Despite its rural setting, this cottage is only a five to ten-minute drive from supermarkets, cafés, museums, and the river Stour. Kersey, widely regarded as Suffolk’s prettiest village, is only a ten-minute cycle ride from the home. Plus, Lavenham – England’s best-preserved Medieval Village – is just a fifteen-minute drive away, where you will also find great quality restaurants such as The Great House or The Swann. Meanwhile, a day out to the unspoilt Suffolk coast is roughly an hour’s drive away to reach places like Pin Mill, Nacton, Levington, Orford, Aldeburgh, Dunwich, Southwold, and Mersey Island. 

Orchard Farmhouse

This converted barn in Bradwell provides a special base for a memorable Norfolk adventure. Beautifully decorated throughout, the high ceilings, exposed beams, and wood floors give it a homely, luxurious feel. There's plenty of space to relax and entertain, with upstairs and downstairs living spaces, a bright dining area, plus an outdoor private pool, and an indoor hot tub and sauna. The location is also ideal, with the Norfolk coastline, the Broads National Park, and Great Yarmouth all within easy reach.

The Coastal Home

This pretty 16th Century cottage is full of character and light. Relax on the large enclosed courtyard with its beautiful blossom tree and flower baskets – it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of rosé wine. At night the tree is lit up with twinkling lights giving the space a magical feel.

If it gets a bit chilly, head inside and sit next to the large inglenook fireplace with its cosy wood-burning stove. We love this room with its historic beams and antiques. If you don’t fancy eating out, rustle up a dinner using some local fresh seafood from the fisherman’s huts at Aldeburgh, a twenty-minute drive away.

Closer to home, the centre of Wickham Market is 50 yards away, where you’ll find a range of shops including a butchers, antique store and beauty salon, as well as an arts centre. There are a couple of restaurants here as well as a fish n’ chips shop, while there are many pubs nearby, including one in the village of Ufford, a one to two-hour walk from the cottage (or a four-minute drive). Your lovely hosts provide bikes for free, too, if you want to explore the area on two wheels.


Chaffinch Cottage

We can see why this cottage was in The Sunday Times' Coolest 100 Cottages' list – it's a Jacobean dream, full of original character and quirky features. Once home to the miller of Plomesgate Mill, it now houses wonderful antiques, such as a fantastic 1700s Breton bed built straight into the wall, a gorgeous oak four-poster and a working 1800s kitchen range. 

Enjoy a tasty full English breakfast (courtesy of the welcome hamper provided by your lovely hosts Beverley and Martin) in the farmhouse style kitchen. Or when the Suffolk sun is shining, dine in the pretty, wisteria clad courtyard. If you’re lucky enough to be here in August and September, there's a mulberry bush in the grounds that guests are welcome to pick fruit from – perfect for making some jam or muffins.

Something else we adore here is the owner’s beautiful private nature reserve behind this home. Take the dogs for a walk through the meandering footpaths that wind through meadows and ancient woodland. In spring, you’ll see captivating carpets of cheerful daffodils, bluebells and primroses. Whatever time of year you come, though, you’ll be treated to an array of wildlife, from nuthatches to woodpeckers.
 
There are maps to find the footpaths going onwards to Snape Maltings, an arts complex on the banks of the River Alde, just over two miles away. Or head to Aldeburgh (seven minutes in the car) – you can borrow some bikes and cycle there in around thirty minutes too.



Jacobean Gem

Just ninety minutes outside of London, you will find this charming and character-filled home on a quiet lane in rural Suffolk. It’s over 500 years old, and still has many of the original fittings, from the inglenook fireplaces to the oak beams. Perfect for a family getaway from the city, there is plenty to do and see from the property by foot or bicycle, while lush gardens and cosy interiors are there to enjoy if you’d like to stay put. When it’s meal time, if you don’t fancy getting your hands dirty, there is an excellent local pub just down the road.

Raspberry Scone

Set within over 100 acres of grounds, this handsome Georgian house is surrounded by manicured gardens, woodland walks and activities like clay pigeon shooting and archery. The home’s private garden features a heated swimming pool for sunny days and you can still sit and listen to the birdsong in the huge conservatory if the weather turns. Or, head inside to the games room for a round of pool or foosball by the wood-burning stove. The kitchen, with its gas range cooker and oodles of prep space, is more than big enough for the bustle of family breakfast time, and the old servant’s bells are still on display. Tucked into a corner of the kitchen you'll find a little TV snug, warmed by the purr of an Aga. Gather the group in the dining room with its view across the fields outside, or head up to the privacy of beautiful bedrooms, each decorated with its own motif – paisley and peacocks perhaps, or a princess-style four-poster and freestanding tub. If you don’t feel like cooking, the estate staff can arrange for a private chef, or you can make the short walk to the Brisley Bell which serves excellent food.  

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