48 hours in Suffolk

48 hoursin Suffolk

AN ITINERARY

Lavenham: England’s Best Preserved Medieval Village

DAY 1

STAGE 1: The Brecks is a haven for wildlife, walkers, and cyclists, with a landscape as old as any you can find in the UK. Visit the ancient flint mines, walk among the pines of Thetford Forest, or if you’re feeling adventurous, swing through the trees at Go Ape. STAGE 2: Your next destination is Tuddenham Mill, a boutique hotel inside a converted water mill with a critically acclaimed and awardwinning restaurant in the village of Tuddenham.

STAGE 3: Next, is a short drive to historic Bury St Edmunds. From the ancient Abbey of St Edmund, with its impressive gate to an observatory dome atop an Athenaeum, Bury St Edmunds has plenty of things to see and do, shopping and a range of places to eat and drink.

STAY THE NIGHT

After your first day in Suffolk stay at one of its most celebrated hotels, The Angel Hotel in Bury St Edmunds. Guests have been welcomed here since it opened in the mid-1700s, even Charles Dickens stayed and purportedly had a favourite four-poster bed, that is still in use today!

DAY 2

STAGE 4: Lavenham is the next stop, whose appearance has changed little in 500 years. Explore the breathtakingly beautiful buildings of the Guildhall of Corpus Christi and the church of St Peter and St Paul. We recommend lunching at the 800-year-old Swan at Lavenham or one of the many other cafes, pubs or restaurants.

STAGE 5: From Lavenham, it’s a leisurely drive to East Bergholt along Suffolk’s back roads, detouring to Kersey, named among the 10 loveliest villages in England. STAGE 6: Take a walk in Flatford. From East Bergholt, head to Flatford along the lanes and river path that Constable would have walked. From here you will see Flatford Mill and Willy Lott’s Cottage. These iconic buildings were captured by John Constable, the latter in his most famous painting, The Hay Wain (1821).

STAY THE NIGHT

As the sun sets on your second day, the magnificent Hintlesham Hall Hotel awaits. This 16th century country house has expansive gardens to explore, an award-winning restaurant, and, best of all, supremely comfortable rooms.

Christmas at Snape Maltings

The Nutcracker and I

Thursday 15 December, 4.30pm Friday 16 December, 10.30am & 4.30pm

A pianist, a ballerina, and a magical digital world on screen. This is Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker for the 21st century, using astonishing, state-of-the-art animation and effects to retell this seasonal classic like it’s never been told before, creating a fantastical world so real that you might even start to believe in sugarplum fairies!

Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, IP17 1SP Tickets from £10

Breakfast with Father Christmas

17, 18 & 19 December, Slots beginning 9am - 10.30am

Come and experience a magical festive family breakfast in our River View Café, Bar & Restaurant. Enjoy a delicious English Breakfast and a chance to meet Father Christmas and tell him what’s on your wish list!