Thorpeness is an architect-designed village created for families to have fun on holiday. No 2 Westgate is a spacious Grade-II listed house on a quiet lane close to the beach, Meare, Dolphin Inn, and the Country Club. It's a superb choice for a family self-catering holiday on the Suffolk Coast as it sleeps nine people in five bedrooms with excellent facilities and a lovely private garden. Aldeburgh is two miles away, and there are many attractions and amenities within a short drive, scenic walk, or relaxed bike ride.
Abbey Farm is a beautiful farmhouse in the Suffolk countryside, close to the Norfolk border and within easy reach of the coast. The owners of Abbey Farm have created a fantastic holiday retreat that is ideal for large or extended families and groups of friends to stay. The five lovely bedrooms can sleep up to 10 people, and the layout is ideal not only for family holidays but also for special celebrations, relaxing retreats, workshops and boot camps. The beautiful location between Eye and Diss, together with the high standard of accommodation makes the house an ideal year-round destination.
Golden Cross is a stylish and comfortable holiday home on the Norfolk/Suffolk borders, ideally placed in the picturesque Waveney Valley providing an ideal self-catering base from which to explore the many attractions of these two beautiful counties including the heritage coastline, historic market towns and Broadland villages.
4 Church Walk is proof that good things come in small packages. This attractive Victorian terrace is in the idyllic village of Long Melford. You can look over the green to the pub and hear the sound of the church bells from the medieval Holy Trinity Church on Sunday. The self-catering property is immaculately presented with everything couples or individuals could wish for in a holiday cottage in Suffolk. It's a delightful location from which you can explore the beauty of Constable Country on foot, by bicycle or in the car. For guests arriving without transport, I can recommend Felix of Long Melford, a family owned taxi and coach hire firm currently run by the second and third generation family members since 1952. Tourist board rating: 3 Star
The Kiln is a comfy welcoming retreat providing stylish self-catering enhanced by original features, ideally placed on the Norfolk/Suffolk borders. An excellent base for exploring the many attractions of both counties including the city of Norwich.
This lovely holiday cottage is ideally positioned within a short stroll of the historic medieval castle and market town of Framlingham with its good selection of restaurants, pubs and shops. Set amongst beautiful Suffolk countryside, the area offers lovely cycling, walking and is within easy reach of Suffolk's beautiful Heritage Coast.
Light and airy throughout, Little Barn provides plenty of space for couples to relax in Four Star Gold accommodation, amidst peaceful Suffolk countryside, just moments from Southwold by the sea. A superb self-catering base for discovering the beauty of the Heritage coast, cycling, and exploring with Norwich and the Norfolk Broads within driving distance. Tourist board rating: 4 Star Gold
Alma Cottage is a well equipped family friendly holiday cottage in the centre of the riverside village of Pin Mill on the Shotley Peninsular. With uninterrupted views of the river, an open plan living/dining area, and two bedrooms sleeping four guests, it is perfect for families looking to explore this corner of the Suffolk Coast AONB. The area is well known for a variety of watersports activities, stunning walks, bird watching and painting. Bookings are available all year round, with short breaks out of peak season, and well behaved dogs are welcome too.
In a quiet Suffolk village near to the popular seaside town of Aldeburgh, this comfortable self-catering holiday cottage provides the ideal place for a romantic break away or a family holiday enjoying the many attractions of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.
Stunning contemporary barn conversion in peaceful garden on the Suffolk Coast. Two bedrooms (2 king size beds with supremely comfy mattresses + 1 futon), large vaulted ceiling with French doors onto garden and woodland, bathroom, large kitchen/diner. Adults love the fact there are two fantastic gastropubs a mile away, easily reached via a gorgeous river walk. Plenty of things for kids to do - local attractions include Jimmy's Farm, the Suffolk Ski/tobogganing Centre, Stonham Barns Park (owls & raptors), wild swimming locally or 15 mins away at Felixstowe beach.
A detached one bedroom holiday apartment in the lovely village of Snape in rural Suffolk. Close to the heritage coastline, this is an ideal base for exploring the local beaches with Aldeburgh being a popular local choice, castles, towns and countryside. Bring your bike and cycle the leafy lanes, walking boots, binoculars for bird watching and beach towels for lazy days.
Four Superb independent and dog-friendly barns (2 x 1-bedroom and 2 x 2-bedroom) plus large games/dining room converted from a single building, allows a perfect Suffolk break for up to 12 people. Located in glorious rural Suffolk, a mile walk to a CAMRA award winning pub. An easy drive to explore both the coast at Southwold/Walberswick and nearby AONB at Dunwich, or wander the ancient city of Norwich. Escape work now and unwind at this genuine Oasis in the countryside.
Sitting in one of the prettiest villages in Suffolk, Water Cottage gives you and your friends/family the chance to stay in a traditional weaver's cottage, close to 'the splash' in Kersey. There is a good pub in the village and lovely walks from the front door through the beautiful rolling Suffolk countryside. Hadleigh is a short car ride away with its excellent independent shops and the many attractions of Suffolk are within easy reach. Perfect for a weekend away or longer holiday.
The Granary is a spacious, single-story dwelling tastefully converted from a traditional Suffolk farm grain store with beautiful wooden rafted ceilings. Situated in the leafy Suffolk village of Thorndon, the Granary offers you the opportunity to relax and unwind in its beautiful tranquil surroundings or acts as a perfect base to explore Suffolk by foot, car, cycling, or simply out exercising the dog. The Granary is a dog-friendly property.
An exceptionally attractive luxurious Suffolk Farmhouse with heaps of character sitting in a peaceful countryside position within easy reach of the areas many attractions. With a large garden and wood burning stove, this is a cosy retreat at any time of the year and perfect for a family holiday or weekend away with friends.
Foster's Barn is a very spacious, recently converted, architect designed, historic property in the heart of the west Suffolk countryside with lovely views and sunsets. Best suited to couples, it is an ideal place to get away from it all for a quiet weekend or longer of rural bliss. Recent visitors: "We had a lovely time - thank you so much for letting us stay in such a wonderful place!"
A luxury romantic holiday cottage ideal for couples. Backing onto a Nature Reserve leading to Snape and beyond to Aldeburgh, Queenies is perfect for anyone (including pet owners) wanting a luxury character cottage. Great walks and ideal for exploring Suffolk with the coast and a multitude of attractions on the doorstep. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
Simon's Cottage is a traditional dog-friendly holiday home situated close to the Suffolk coast near Aldeburgh and Thorpeness. A good self-catering base for exploring the beautiful Suffolk coast and its many attractions.
Celebrate a special occasion in this magnificent country house just two hours from London, close to Aldeburgh and only a short drive from the pretty market town of Woodbridge. Pettistree House is an early Georgian country house in which the owners have carefully restored original features like big sash windows and wall panelling, hiding away modern comforts like underfloor heating. Pettistree House provides the perfect place to host your country house party, with 15 stunning bedrooms sleeping up to 30 people and 13 private acres of parkland. The house feels like a luxurious boutique hotel, yet guests enjoy space and convenience of staying in a private residence.
A cosy holiday cottage ideal for a single person or couple, located in the lovely market town of Saxmundham near Snape and the popular seaside town of Aldeburgh. Chapel Cottage is an ideal self-catering base to enjoy all that Suffolk has to offer and perfect for romantic weekends away, or for birdwatching or walking trips with many designated country and coastal walks and several bird sanctuaries and nature reserves nearby. RSPB Minsmere just six miles. 4 Star. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
Popular towns in and around Suffolk:
AldeburghBlythburghBungayBury St EdmundsClareEyeFramlinghamHalesworthIpswichKerseyKnodishallLavenhamLoddonMendhamNeedham MarketSaxmundhamSnapeSouthwoldStowmarketSudburyWoodbridgeSome local suggestions:
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Many go to the east of the county to visit the stunning coastline which stretches for some forty-five miles, with both beautiful sandy beaches and shingle shores. Sitting within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB, Aldeburgh is possibly one of the most popular seaside retreats with its Blue Flag shingle beach, fantastic independent boutiques, fine restaurants, traditional pubs and great fish and chips!
Lowestoft is another popular option for those looking for a traditional seaside experience. With its sandy beaches, colourful beach huts and iconic lighthouse that keeps watching over the town.
Surrounded by beautiful countryside is the charming heritage seaside town of Southwold. This spot is famed for its award-winning pier and loved for its golden sands, weekly markets and excellent restaurants and pubs selling local ales brewed by Southwold-based Adnams.
Before booking your holiday cottage in Suffolk, you can find all the information you need for your trip here. For more tips, check out our complete Suffolk Guide.
Suffolk boasts a rich heritage, bustling towns, great culture and fascinating history making it a popular destination all year round. With so much to see and do here, you will be pleasantly surprised no matter when you choose to visit.
Summer in Suffolk is truly beautiful. With the sun shining over the pretty landscapes, it makes for a lovely time to visit. From June to August you can expect average high temperatures of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Summer also attracts many tourists, so it is one of the busier times to visit the area. With this in mind, there are more attractions and events throughout the season, but the towns and top sites tend to be busy with tourist traffic.
For those seeking a trip full of beautiful scenery, Spring is when to visit Suffolk. With flowers blooming all over the county, you will find unmatched countryside vistas. The weather in spring does get cooler than in summer, with average highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. This is an excellent time to explore Suffolk’s outdoors as the weather is comfortable for anyone looking to get active.
For a festive break, a trip to Suffolk in winter makes for one of the best getaways. With Christmas around the corner, the many towns and villages in Suffolk begin to deck the streets with lights and pretty decor. You can wander Christmas markets, or spend your time cosy next to the fire. Average temperatures in winter display highs of 6°C and lows of 1°C, making it a much colder time to visit. This is great for those looking to get wrapped up and wander the countryside in Suffolk as it glistens under the winter frost.
A visit to Suffolk would not be complete without a trip to the wetland broads in the north of the county. The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads is the largest protected wetland area in the country – a haven for wildlife and great for bird watchers, with National Park status.
With a diverse landscape of heritage coastline, wetland areas, historic towns, quintessentially English villages and beautiful rolling countryside, Suffolk is a unique and popular holiday destination. If you only have a couple of nights to see Suffolk's many attractions, take a look at our guide to help you experience a true taste of life here.
If you are travelling from one of the major cities in the UK, below shows an average distance to Suffolk so you know what to expect when choosing to visit by car.
London: 94 miles
Birmingham: 137 miles
Glasgow: 394 miles
Liverpool: 232 miles
Bristol: 218 miles
Manchester: 220 miles
Leeds: 190 miles
Edinburgh: 392 miles
Newcastle: 272 miles
There are multiple ways to travel to Suffolk. Its excellent public transport links in many of its towns and villages mean you can journey by train or bus from numerous major UK cities. If you travel by car, there are some great service stations to stop off and rest up whilst on your trip, as well as alternative routes depending on what roads you prefer to drive on.
The heart of Suffolk is home to the wool towns and villages, which gained their wealth in the 15th Century from the wool trade. Still very much encapsulated in the bygone era, picturesque villages and towns such as Lavenham, Clare, Cavendish, Long Melford and Kersey still show some of the finest examples of mediaeval architecture in the country.
Suffolk boasts a stunning coastline, vast countryside and plenty of tourist attractions. Unlike many other popular places in England, Suffolk also displays much drier weather, perfect for those looking to spend some time outdoors. The county is also home to lots of arts and culture, making it a desirable destination for many.
There are so many incredible places in Suffolk, it can be difficult to narrow it down to just one. With places like Lavenham, Aldeburgh, Southwold and more all displaying unique attractions and stunning scenery, there are several great areas around the county. Wherever you choose to go, you will find a place brimming with lovely landscapes, bustling market towns and plenty to do and see.
With pristine beaches and never-ending countryside, Suffolk is an excellent choice for a family holiday. You will find places to explore and adventure at every twist and turn here, perfect for a wholesome break. Whether you’re looking to spend some time outdoors, or would rather soak up the history and heritage in the quaint towns, there is something for all types of families in Suffolk.