As usual, in our discussions regarding where to go for half term, we travelled the virtual globe before ending up at a location two hours from where we live. We very soon discounted going abroad, mainly because Dougie has to go to work on the Wednesday, right in the middle of the week’s break. So it seemed easier to stay in the UK and, with happy memories of our trip to the Cotswolds last October, we began to whittle the choices down. We explored Wales, Dorset, Devon, Scotland, Shropshire and all places in between before choosing a region we had last taken Rory to when he was about two or three: Suffolk.
I found a hotel with inter-connecting rooms (hoorah!) so that we can all have our privacy but still be together. I know I bang on about connecting rooms but for families they are such a boon and too few hotels offer them. I appreciate Rory is 16 now and is perfectly able to sleep in a separate room and, indeed, has done on many occasions, but it’s much nicer all being together, sharing the complimentary biscuits, and so much easier to wake him up in the morning without having to wander down corridors in my dressing gown or ringing him on the internal phone when he takes an age to pick the receiver up.
So what should we be doing on our three-night trip? Should we head North-East to the coast and see Southwold (again) or Aldeburgh? How about the royal burial site at Sutton Hoo  to tie in with our recent visit to the stone ship in Sweden? Our hotel is near Ipswich so we are very close to the Essex border and Constable Country. I gather there are walks we can take which encompass Flatford Mill and other spots which inspired the artist’s work.Then there’s Woodbridge or Colchester?
It would be great to get some suggestions from you. The last time we visited we took Rory to the beach at Clacton where he went on all the kiddy rides and watched the RNLI lifeboats going out on practice runs. I wonder what will float his boat this time around?
I am jealous. Anywhere in England in Autumn sounds wonderful to me right now! 🙂 Hope you get lots of interesting suggestions!
It's good to open it out to everyone. I got some great ideas for Sweden!
Not having ever been to Suffolk, I can't be much help, but I've wanted to go to Sutton Hoo for a while now. Partly because Son#1's name is Sutton (family name) and mostly because it looks really fascinating – love Viking-y things. (Oh, and well done on finding the hotel rooms – they are harder to find than hens' teeth!)
Oh, of course! Your son! Well I will definitely go there.
And yes, delighted to find the connecting rooms. Even family rooms aren't ideal as everyone is in together and often not possible for over 12s anyway.
Back again – I just glanced at the Sutton Hoo page at the National Trust website and noticed that they're saying you'll hear the 'sights, sounds, and smells' of AD625 – how can you deprive your readers of finding out what AD625 smelled like?
Smell-a-blog! How can I not do that for you, dear reader. Takes me back to a visit to Jorvik museum in York – plenty of odours there too.
That was 'experience', not hear…sorry, it's late in Korea…
Get to your bed, woman!
Mind you, I wouldn't have noticed!
Hey, the Cotswolds are only on my doorstep! How could that not swing it for you?!
Do pay attention, Steve. We did the Cotswolds last year! You gave me suggestions of where to go then – all those hyphenated villages?
Welcome to Suffolk! I've been scratching my head for a few minutes wondering what to suggest – we tend to head to the coast or enjoy pottering on walks but most of those ideas would be more suitable for May to September. Also not sure if your holiday is pre or post the Wednesday work day. On October 26 Cineworld Ipswich open their new IMAX with the new Bond film. Ipswich Town are playing at home on Tuesday (v Derby) and on Saturday (v Sheffield Wed.) An evening game under the floodlights can be good experience but ITFC haven't won at home since 31/3/12 so need a change of luck. There's a marina and restaurant at Shotley Gate with walks and views across to Harwich and Felixstowe docks (but again nicer on a summer evening). Lavenham is a beautiful old town. Sutton Hoo can be combined with Woodbridge. If you go to Constable country then our neighbours own a lovely restaurant called the Boathouse Restaurant at Dedham (google it). A nice special treat (we went for m-i-l's 70th birthday). Heading into Essex I like walking on the Naze headland at Walton-On-The-Naze and quite a bit to do on Walton Pier (10pin bowling etc.). If I think of anything else I'll post again.
How did I forget you were Suffolk-based! I will have to print this page out or scribble the suggestions down then discuss with the boys. I suppose a lot will depend on the weather so we need to have a few ideas lined up which we can swap around where necessary. We only have two full days but do plan to try and fit thing in on the way there and back.
Thanks so much for all this info. Very grateful, Troy.
I've just done a bit more in google to check some of the grand Houses, Somerleyton, Kentwell etc. and they all seem to be closed after the end of September. However have found that Kentwell Hall have 'an award winning' scary evening experience see http://www.scaresville.co.uk which looks interesting but moments ago was the first I'd ever heard of it.
That's great to know these houses will be shut – avoids a wasted journey. I keep forgetting we are going out of season. Have just looked at Scaresville – bloomin' heck, that would terrify me, running around the woods like something from the Blair Witch Project! I'm tempted not to tell Rory about that attraction!!
You're an absolute star, though, doing all this for me. That's what makes blogging so enjoyable – the contacts and online friendships made. Fantastic.
You're very welcome. Website http://www.visitsuffolk.com has lots of ideas. Tourism is quite an important part of Suffolk's economy (ie. spend lots whilst you're here). Look forward to reading all about your break in due course.
Troy has said it all!! We lived there for a while, and I was born and lived just south of Dedham (lovely old village) so am thinking about where you could go. I just love the Suffolk coast. Aldeburgh, Thorpe Ness, Southwold… they are all gorgeous in any season. I wonder exactly where you are…Woodbridge is a nice little town too, where you can find nice book shop, (with cafe!!) and a dear little cinema where going to see a film is a totally different experience from the normal places. I loved Framlingham too… north of Ipswich, where there is a castle… you can google it to see when it's open. Constable Country is wonderful too, with Dedham crammed full of lovely old shops and tea rooms. Antiques! Nayland is good for Antiques too…
Have a wonderful time… I am most envious. Would love to be doing that! xxx
Hello ladybird mother! Lovely to hear from you again. I must come over to your blog, it's been ages!
We're based v close to Ipswich so all of these suggestions are possible. Thanks to you and Troy I have a number of ideas and will look them all up to see what I fancy. More than anything I think we are looking forward to relaxing together as a family. It will be great whatever we do.
I don't know much about Suffolk, but you can find a list of museums on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_Suffolk, and here http://www.suffolkmuseums.org/suffolk1/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=showhtml&id=location and there are some really cool ones.
If I was taking my boys, I'd go to Landguard Fort but it seems many shut at the end of October so you may not have that much choice if you want to do some culture (as they say).
Have had a look through the list. Thanks, Sarah, that's so helpful. I had been looking at other tourist websites but the wiki one is really comprehensive! Landguard Fort looks interesting – a bit like the fort we saw in Sweden That's certainly a possibility and I've now got a few ideas for places to go if weather poor.
One of my best friends lives in Bury St Edmunds which is a lovely and historic town, if that's any help? Other than that, I'm afraid my knowledge of Suffolk is fairly limited!
Don't worry, CQ, I have loads of ideas now and not enough time to fit them all in.
I'm from that part of the world – well, Essex – and my brother lives near Woodbridge and has two teenagers, so I know the area pretty well. Are you taking bikes? Depending on the weather, Rendlesham Forest http://www.forestry.gov.uk/rendlesham is one of their favourite places, as it has fantastic biking tracks and is pretty big, so you can avoid everyone Again, if it doesn't rain (too much!) Sizewell beach is nice, and it's freakily exciting to be so near a nuclear power plant. I love Dunwich Heath http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunwich-heath/, which is NT – fabulous wind-blown cliff-top walks, or along the beach to The Ship pub in the village. Great pubs with outdoor river-front seating: the Ramsholt Arms near Woodbridge and the Maybush at Waldringfield. Embarrassed to admit still haven't been to Sutton Hoo, kids still a bit small, but meant to be fab. Woodbridge itself is nice to wander round – good delis and clothes shops for you, and a cinema too! Cripes, why haven't I done a blog post??!!else! Bike hire available.
Sorry, that got mangled – Depending on the weather, Rendlesham Forest http://www.forestry.gov.uk/rendlesham is one of their favourite places, as it has fantastic biking tracks and is pretty big, so you can avoid everyone else! Bike hire available.
You're so kind, fififlores. All this fabulous info! We're not really a biking family so may pass on the first idea but, funnily enough, I did wonder what it would be like to see Sizewell.
Woodbridge is certainly close to our hotel so I think we may visit there, particularly as it's near Sutton Hoo and that's still top of my list anyway. Haven't discussed this with the family though – they may have other ideas!
Thanks again for all your help. Everyone has give me much food for thought.
I agree about the connecting rooms its makes it so much more seamless and there is no in and out and banging of doors. Suffolk sounds wonderful, I'll be interested to see what you choose. One of our most amazing trips in England – with a baby and by ourselves both- was following the source of the Thames from a little burbling hole in Cirencester right through to its end in London. Might be more of a summer thing though as you can swim along the way.
Seamless. That's just it. Feels like being in a suite of rooms – you can keep the doors open and share things as a family. Often Dougie will wander into Rory's room to watch TV with him if I'm getting ready. So much easier to do. Also with Rory being an only child, I don't want him stuck away on his own. I suspect with more than one child, you need to keep an eye on the little blighters too.
Your trip from Cirencester to London sounds a delight,