Places to eat 

Nearby

Kersey Bell – Located next door to our cottages, the Bell inn is the perfect place to enjoy a locally sourced home cooked meal. If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your cottage, the lovely folk at the Bell will bring your meal straight to your door.

Bildeston Crown - Owned and managed by Nedging Hall Estate, The Crown crafts menus using much of it’s own produce; the ultimate estate-to-plate dining experience.

The Lindsey Rose - Serving wholesome, locally sourced food at lunch and dinner and an extensive drinks menu (which includes ales from their own brewery, Mauldons) the Rose is one of Suffolk’s most charming pubs.

Fork - Situated in the heart of Hadleigh high street, Folk offers a fantastic range of home cooked breakfasts, delicious home made cakes and a tasty lunch offering.

Further afield

Scutchers - Scutchers is an award winning restaurant situated in the picturesque village of Long Melford.

The Melford Valley – Serving an extensive array of Indian dishes, the Melford Valley Tandoori has been recognised both locally and nationally for its excellent cuisine.

Attractions and days out

Nearby

Hollowtrees Farm Shop, café and Farm Trail – One of our favourite places to visit, and right on our cottage’s doorstep, there’s always a warm welcome at Hollowtrees. The Farm Trail gives you the chance to experience a real working farm. Some of the original trailblazers behind the ‘field to fork’ mantra, you’ll see cows, pigs, goats and even friendly alpacas alongside tractors and the odd farmer or two! Buy a bag of food from the feed station to get up close and personal with all creatures great and small. There’s a play area called ‘Pogles Pit’ where you can find rope swings, climbing pole and a slides. There is also a sand pit for little ones. Top tip – bring your wellies! Finish off your trek with a hearty lunch, or piece of homemade cake in the café then browse the extensive farm shop for treats to take home.

Kentwell Hall is one of England’s finest Tudor houses, developed between approx. 1500 and 1578. The house is a much-loved family home and great care has been taken to save this beautiful house, re-create its gardens and form a traditional style farm with rare breeds. It is also home to many special events throughout the year so a visit to this attraction is a must.

Melford Hall is a large red brick Elizabethan house, built around a quadrangle and ornamented with mitre-topped turrets. It is run by the National Trust and they organise many events at the Hall throughout the year.

Further afield

Jimmy’s Farm - As seen on TV…

The Wildlife Park here plays host to traditional, rare and exotic animals. From crocodiles, camels and capybara to pigs, skunks and guinea pigs – there’s lots to see! There is  WonderWood  where kids, big and small, can build their own den. In the Butterfly House and Tropical House, you can meet some of our colder blooded friends as well as free-flying birds. The latest addition Jimmy has introduced is a sight to many of us will be privileged to see….polar bears! If you thought Suffolk was just pheasants, foxes and squirrels, think again. You’ll also find a bar, field kitchen, restaurant and tea rooms on site.

Clare Country Park - The park contains the remains of the 13th Century stone castle keep set upon its 60ft high motte overlooking the town, which you can walk the steep path up to climb up to and view its inner and outer baileys.  A really popular place for picnics in the summer and for chillier days there is also a tea room in the old railways station in the grounds.  There are footpaths through the trees and along the banks of the River Stour and along the old railway line.  There is also a children’s play area.

Nowton Park - There is something for everyone to enjoy within the 200 acres of Nowton Park. There are walking routes that vary from a short stroll to a long ramble round the perimeter of the park. You can explore the arboretum which features trees from all around the world, as well as beautiful wildflower meadows and ponds full of wildlife. In spring, there’s a carpet of daffodils that bloom beneath the trees on the Lime Avenue. You can lose yourself in Nowton Park’s maze and explore the 2,500 hornbeam trees that make up the maze in the shape of a stylised oak tree. The park is also home to a large play area, football pitches, a picnic area, cafe and visitor centre.

Abbey Gardens Bury St Edmunds - The ruins of an 11th century Benedictine monastery lay within these majestic gardens. You’ll also find a sensory garden, herb garden, plant and gift shop, small aviary and river with feeding area for the ducks. Sitting next to the town center, combine your visit to the gardens with a stroll into historic Bury St Edmunds where you’ll find a plethora of independent boutiques nestled between big name brands. There’s a huge choice of cafes, tea rooms and restaurants to make a pit stop for a refuel too.

Alton Water - Here you can try your hand at paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, boating, wind sailing, or hire bikes and do the 6 ride the 6 mile bikes track around the perimeter of the lake.  Small crazy golf and a children’s play area onsite.  Onsite café and picnic area too.

Colchester zoo - This spacious and well-managed zoo offers a fantastic chance to see a variety of magnificent animals, with opportunities to feed some of them too! You can spot elephants, lions, tigers, rhinos, giraffes, and much more. Covering over 60 acres, it's an ideal destination for a family day out, featuring picnic areas and beautiful parks scattered throughout the zoo.

Places to visit

Nearby

Hadleigh - A picturesque small market town that is less than 3 miles from the cottages. It boasts a bustling high street peppered with independent shops, clothing boutiques, cafes and pubs. An impressive medieval church, guildhall and pretty river walk makes for a rich day out. Hadleigh nestles in breath-taking countryside with spectacular scenes that inspired 18th-century painters, Constable and Gainsborough.

Once a Viking Royal Town, Hadleigh is the reputed burial place of Danish King Guthrum. In the 15/16th century it prospered through its cloth trade – with timber and ornate plasterwork buildings lining the traditional high street that can still be seen today. St. Mary’s Church with its tall lead spire, is bordered by a magnificent 15th century Guildhall and red-brick Deanery Tower is an impressive sight . Follow the little back alleys to be greeted with quaint footbridges, historic houses and a magical woodland walk that will take you along the lush greenery that envelopes a beautiful river that flows through the back of this market town.

Lavenham - Picture tiny streets lined with timber-framed buildings, an expansive market square surrounded by iconic Medieval and Tudor halls and a thriving community with independent shops, cafés and restaurants with plenty to see and do.

Lavenham claims to be England’s finest medieval town and has an extraordinarily well-preserved a collection of half-timbered Tudor buildings steeped in history.

The height of Lavenham’s wealth is evident by the 141-foot tower of the Church of St Peter and St Paul, a lavish Perpendicular Gothic construction.

Some say its almost… too picturesque. If you squint a bit on Market Lane and ignore the parked cars you can well believe you’re no longer in the 21st century. As generations of film producers will tell you, Lavenham is a perfect period setting.

If you are visiting with children (or the young in spirit!) don’t forget to do the “Harry Potter sights” - Lavenham provided the inspiration for the Harry Potter village of Godric’s Hollow. Lavenham Guildhall was transformed into Harry Potter’s parents’ derelict house and in the film, Harry visits his parents’ graves and their house in Godric’s Hollow. Filming in Lavenham took place in secret in January 2010 and De Vere house in Water Street also appears in the film.

In the main street you will find plenty of boutique shops and the Crooked House, a 600-year-old beamed house that looks as if it is about to topple over!

Lavenham has enough teas rooms, pubs and restaurants to make sure you never go hungry.

Long Melford - is quintessential English village set in the heart of the county of Suffolk.

With the main village spanning nearly 3 miles long, it makes for one of the longest villages in the country. The main high street is edged with facades that allows you to trace the architecture down though the ages, Tudor, Georgian and Victorian all being covered.

As its name suggests, the village has a long High Street, populated by charming independent shops, vibrant art galleries and antique centres. It has a wonderful selection of eateries for either a pub lunch in typical Suffolk Inns, afternoons tea in the local Tea rooms or fine dining. This coupled with a selection of restaurants and eateries means it caters for every taste comfortably.

There are many interesting sights in Long Melford and its surrounding areas.

It has its own country park, and many walks, in the countryside, along the river, or even the old railway track. Be sure to visit the Long Melford Heritage Centre which is situated at the rear of the Village Hall in Chemists Lane.

Further afield 

The Suffolk Coast – Suffolk boasts miles and miles of heritage coastline and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Aldeburgh, Southwold and Walberswick are favourites with walkers and nature lovers, and Felixstowe is the go-to for those who yearn for traditional seaside fun.

Walberswick is a lovely little sand dune backed beach is just across the River Blythe from Southwold, however its is best known as one of the very best places to go crabbing! Crabbing lines are for sale locally (and cheaply) – we recommend arriving early, dropping a line and revel in the amount you can catch!

A walk in the other direction will take you past the Walberswick Nature Reserve with its mix of marsh and heathland. There’s plenty of places to stop along this stretch of coast from Aldeburgh to Southwold for a pint, an ice cream or traditional fish and chips.

Felixstowe is a busy seaside town with a pier, amusements, lots of eateries in the locally loved ‘Beach Street’ and of course miles of promenade to stroll down. Why not start at the historic Landguard Fort at the far end of the beach and enjoy a meander down to the hustle and bustle of this classic seaside spot?

Flatford and the Dedham Valley – Nestled deep in the heart of the Dedham Valley, Flatford is rich in history and charm. Famous as the backdrop of John Constable’s paintings Flatford and the surrounding area is the perfect place to walk, hire a row boat or enjoy tea and cake by the river.

If you’re venturing into ‘Constable Country’ you’ll be rewarded with outstanding views of the rolling Suffolk countryside that remains relatively unchanged since John Constable took his inspiration from it centuries ago. Visit Willy Lotts cottage in Flatford, Thomas Gainsborough’s house in Sudbury, enjoy a meal on the River Stour at the locally renowned Boathouse Bar and Grill or take in the quintessentially British high street in Dedham not forgetting to visit the Arts and Crafts center located in a converted church.

Woodbridge and the River Deben - The lovely market town of Woodbridge is known for its outstanding natural beauty and rich industrial and cultural heritage. Often referred to as one of the gems in Suffolk’s crown, the town boasts plenty of great activities and places to see, including beautiful beaches, wildlife parks featuring fascinating animals, entertaining theatres, superb pubs and restaurants, and fascinating museums to explore.

There’s plenty to see and admire on the river bank, including many boats and the famous Tide Mill Quay. This working tide mill is a welcome sight for visiting boats and open to the public. Round the corner lies the ‘Long Shed’ home to the reconstruction of the famous Anglo Saxon long ship found just round the corner in Sutton Hoo (made famous by the recent film ‘The Dig’)

Walks

Nearby

Kersey Walking Map - Kersey’s situation in the rolling Suffolk countryside make it the perfect place for walking. For those wanting to enjoy a leisurely stroll to those seeking a days ramble through the picturesque Suffolk countryside, Kersey has the perfect starting point.

Further afield

Suffolk Walks - From stunning coastline and traditional countryside to beautiful heathland and sleepy villages, ancient woodland and country parks to historic estates and nature reserves, Suffolk really is the place to get outdoors.