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Explore the surrounding Suffolk countryside
There are lots of interesting places to visit during your stay here at The Crown. Here's some of our favourites in the local area to help you plan your break with us.
Nedging Hall Estate is a family-owned country estate in Suffolk. The Bildeston Crown and The Lindsey Rose form part of the Nedging Hall Estate collection. They're approximately three miles apart with beautiful Suffolk countryside between them. It makes for a wonderful pub-to-pub walk.​
Local Farm Shops / Parks
Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park
16 miles / 30 min drive
Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park is fun for all the family, home to 100 species & breeds from capybara to crocodiles, pigs to pelicans and even monkeys! You can hand feed some of the animals and get even closer with special animal talks and activities. There is an adventure play area, woodland walks and The Barn Restaurant and Coffee House.
The Suffolk Food Hall
16.7 miles / 32 min drive
A host of activities at Suffolk Food Hall ensure that you experience quality, local food. There is an internationally recognised farm shop, butcher, bakery, fishmonger, delicatessen, wine and beer merchant, greengrocer and chocolatier. You can extend you enjoyment with the home and garden department, take a walk along the river or stop for a coffee in the café. Open 7 days a week.
Bridge Farm Barns
2.1 miles / 6 min drive
Bridge Farm Barns is located in the pretty village of Monks Eleigh. It is a collection of unique, independent retail businesses and a tea room. It is still widely known as ‘Corn Craft’ as this is how it started life in 1970, it is a family concern that has grown from a small Corn Dolly making business to what you see today. On site is Brett Gallery, Bridge Farm Plants, Sarah’s Attic, Lavenham Falconry and the Outrageous Cake Company.
Hollow Tree Farm​
2.7 miles / 6 min drive
Hollow Trees Farm shop is open daily and stocks a range of fresh food that is all produced on the farm, from the vegetables they grow to the livestock they rear. You can enjoy a hearty home-cooked meal or a slice of cake in the Farm Café. Explore the farm trail – there’s animals to feed, tractors to pedal, tyres to swing on and slides to whizz down.
Colchester Zoo​
23.4 miles / 46 mins
Adventure awaits you at Colchester Zoo, home to over 160 species set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes. There are different habitats and animals from around the world to discover and even an African Plain home to white rhino, giraffes, ostrich, zebra and kudu!
Stonham Barns & Owl Sanctuary
14.5 miles / 26 mins
Stonham Barns Park is a bustling family complex filled with an abundance of attractions and activities to suit all, providing a wonderful family day out in the Suffolk Countryside. With a vibrant shopping village filled with a plethora of unique shops for all your shopping needs.
The Suffolk Owl Sanctuary operates a facility for the care and rehabilitation of owls from the region. The sanctuary is open to the public all year. You can also get up and close personal with a Meerkat encounter.
Heritage & History
The Food Museum
9.4 miles / 21 min drive
The Food Museum is set in 84 acres of countryside in Stowmarket. With 17 fascinating buildings to explore and 40,000 objects from war-time recipes to a full steam powered mill engine, there will be no time for boredom. There is always something going on at the Food Museum, all kinds of events, including workshops, demonstrations, family activities and live performances.
Kentwell Hall
11.1 miles / 25 min drive
Kentwell Hall is a stately home in Long Melford. Standing majestically in its own parklands, Kentwell Hall is surrounded by an idyllic moat. You can also explore a traditional working farm which is home to rare breeds of pigs, sheep, cows, horses and goats. There are many events throughout the year showcasing its Tudor heritage.
Wattisham Station Heritage Museum
4.9 miles / 10 min drive
Wattisham Station Heritage Museum is open on the first Sunday of each month from April until October, from 11am until 4pm. It is recommended that you allow 2 hours for your visit. The museum and aircraft workshop is located within Wattisham Army Base, which is an active military base and as such visitors have to adhere to the stations security requirements. You must pre-book your visit otherwise you will not be allowed on the station.
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Kersey Mill
3.8 miles / 8 min drive
The Mill building, Maltings and elegant Georgian fronted Mill House are surrounded by 18 acres of grounds. Kersey Mill is complimented by a host of diverse local businesses which are independently owned. There is a gym, pilates studio, art studio with arts and crafts, florist, beauty salon, boutique clothes shop and a lovely café.
Gainsborough’s House Museum
10.5 miles / 26 min drive
Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury. The museum opened to the public in 1961, in 2019 the house commenced a refurbishment with £10m invested into the site. There is a beautiful garden at the heart of Gainsborough’s House which includes a Mulberry Tree that is over 400 years old. There is a gift shop and The Watering Place café is open daily from 09:30am to 5pm.
Flatford Mill
13.4 miles / 30 min drive
Flatford lies in the heart of the beautiful Dedham Vale. This charming hamlet was the inspiration for some of John Constable's most famous pictures, for example, the Hay Wain or Boat-building near Flatford Mill among many others. Wandering beside the River Stour or looking at Flatford Mill and Willy Lott's House you can feel as if you are actually walking through one of his paintings.
Days Out
Hilly Ridge Alpacas
1.9 miles / 6 min drive
A great experience for everyone from family, couples to children of all age groups. The alpaca experience consists of a lovely relaxing walk, then off to the field with the mum and babies, then take up the challenge of the Hilly Ridge Obstacle course. Experience lasts for 90 minutes.
Helmingham Hall Gardens
17.1 miles / 35 min drive
Helmingham Hall was completed in 1510 and is surrounded by a moat, serene gardens and a deer park. There are two rose gardens and a stunning walled kitchen garden. On the other side lies a herb and knot garden. The old coach house is where you will find Wrights Café which prides itself on its quirky atmosphere , friendly service and its field to fork bounties that an estate like Helmingham Hall has to offer.
Bury St Edmunds
15.2 miles / 33 min drive
Bury St Edmunds is surrounded by countryside with 1000 years of history to explore. It has beautiful outside spaces and a great mix of independent and high street favourite shops. It is known as Suffolk’s foodie capital and is home to Greene King who have been brewing beer in Bury St Edmunds for over 200 years. It is a dog friendly town with many places welcoming our four legged friends.
Lavenham
6.1 miles / 13 min drive
Lavenham is one of the most important and best-preserved Medieval villages in England. It has an expansive market square surrounded by iconic Medieval and Tudor halls and a thriving community with independent shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants. Harry Potter fans are in for a treat as Lavenham Guildhall was transformed into Harry Potter’s parents derelict house and De Vere House played the part of Godric’s Hollow.
Southwold
43.9 miles / 1 hr 21 min drive
Southwold is a charming north Suffolk seaside town on the Suffolk Heritage Coast. Almost an island, being bounded by the North Sea to the east, by the River Blyth and Southwold Harbour to the south-west and by Buss Creek to the north, there is just one road in and one road out. There is a working lighthouse, colourful beach huts, an award winning pier, busy harbour, cliff top cannon and of course the beach. Southwold is also home to Adnams, you can book brewery and distillery tours around this iconic site.
Aldeburgh
35.7 miles / 1hr 14 min drive
Aldeburgh is world renowned thanks to its connection with Benjamin Britten, the founder of the Aldeburgh Festival, which takes place in June every year. There is a lovely promenade and pebble beach where you will find fisherman’s huts selling the daily catch. The town has a rich history and several famous vessels were built here – Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind and the Virginia Company’s Sea Venture to name but a few.
Our team are always on hand to recommend things to do and places to visit during your stay.
Check out our luxurious rooms, outside dining areas and restaurant that we have on offer you during your time with us.