The Historic Houses & Heritage of
Suffolk

Day 1

We meet our private executive coach at our designated pick up points. En route to our hotel we visit Gainsborough’s House at Sudbury, where we enjoy a guided tour on arrival. The house dates back to the 16th century and was the birthplace of the famous painter, Thomas Gainsborough. The outstanding art collection is shown together with 18th century furniture and displays more of Gainsborough’s work than any other gallery. We continue to the 3* Ufford Park Hotel near Woodbridge for a four night stay on a half board basis.

Day 2

With our Blue Badge guide this morning we visit the National Trust’s Sutton Hoo, an Anglo Saxon royal burial site where the priceless Sutton Hoo treasure was discovered in a huge ship grave in 1939. We continue to the picturesque 16th century fishing village of Aldeburgh for a guided tour. We then spend some time at leisure at the Snape Maltings complex. It was one of the largest barley maltings built in East Anglia in the mid 19th century, and today is home to a shopping complex and concert hall.

Day 3

Our Blue Badge guide meets us at our hotel this morning and accompanies us throughout the day. We firstly visit Christchurch Mansion for a guided tour, a fine Tudor building set in an ancient and beautiful park close to the centre of Ipswich. With historic room settings, outstanding paintings and furniture, and the modern Wolsey Art Gallery with changing contemporary exhibitions, it is one of the most important visitor attractions in East Anglia. We continue to Constable Country, located on the Suffolk and Essex border and renowned as the birthplace of artist John Constable. Our guided tour of East Bergholt takes in sights such as John Constable’s Studio and St Mary’s Church, built in the 15th and 16th centuries and renowned for the absence of a tower or spire to house the bells. We continue to Dedham where our guided tour takes in sights such as Constable’s School and Dedham Parish Church, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin in 1492 when the present building was begun. We finally visit the National Trust’s Bridge Cottage at Flatford. Located upstream from Flatford Mill, Bridge Cottage houses an exhibition on John Constable, several of whose paintings famously feature this property.

Day 4

A morning guided tour of Bury St Edmunds with our Blue Badge guide includes a visit to St Edmundsbury Cathedral, a place of worship for nearly 1,000 years. We continue to the National Trust’s Melford Hall, one of East Anglia’s most celebrated Elizabethan houses, and where little has changed externally since 1578. The garden contains some spectacular specimen trees and a charming banqueting house.

Day 5

After checking out of our hotel and before returning home we visit the National Trust’s Ickworth House, located in 70 acres of stunning gardens and 1,800 acres of idyllic ‘Capability’ Brown parkland. Dominated by its huge central Rotunda dating from 1795, Ickworth is home to a fine collection of Old Master paintings, silver and Regency furniture. Taking carefully selected comfort stops en route, we return back to our original pick up points.

We stay four nights on a half board basis at the 3* Ufford Park Hotel near Woodbridge (www.uffordpark.co.uk). Located in a countryside setting, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar, indoor swimming pool, steam room, sauna and a jacuzzi. All rooms are en suite and feature television, hairdryer, and tea & coffee making facilities.

Insurance (including Covid cover) £28

Single room supplement £149

Entrance fees to National Trust properties (free to NT members)

Gratuities

Lunches

Donations at any churches or cathedrals visited

All excursion travel & guided tours included