Woodbridge: An ideal place for short breaks in Suffolk

Suffolk Coast and Heaths is a lovely Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, located on the southern coast of East Anglia. It runs practically the entire length of the Suffolk Coast, but if you are looking for somewhere to base during a short break in Suffolk that isn’t Centre Parcs, I recommend Woodbridge. Read on to find some recommendations for where to stay and what to do!

Woodbridge

Woodbridge is a charming, small port and market town in the southern area of the AONB. It can be reached from the A12, a more scenic route of country lanes, or by rail on the Greater Anglia train line.You might expect a town centre to be a hub of activity, but at 2:30pm on a Bank Holiday Saturday in May, it was a ghost town. Never have I seen such a deserted town on a Saturday afternoon, nor have I struggled so much to find somewhere to eat. The three pubs surrounding the town square in the western part of town are all dog-friendly, but do not serve food between 2pm and 6pm. A crucial error we made was that we didn’t realise that Woodbridge had a whole high street a five minute walk away, which has a range of places to eat – I’m sure somewhere would have been dog friendly!

At least the town square and St Mary the Virgin church have a historical charm worth visiting!

Accommodation

If you’re looking for a countryside retreat, a lovely option is Thatched Farm Holiday Cottages. There are two holiday cottages at the location in the middle of nowhere, though it is just a short drive from the centre of Woodbridge town. We stayed in Bluebell Cottage, a small, dog-friendly self catering accommodation, with breakfast included. Our host had supplied towels, shower gels, teas and coffees prior to our arrival to help make us feel more at home.

We were asked to keep Ted on a lead as we explored the grounds for the benefit of the wildlife that reside there, although there is not dog proof fencing to keep him in the area anyway. Kindly, our host allowed us to bring Ted into the breakfast area with us, since we reassured her that he would behave, and he did. Thatched Cottage requires its guests to select their breakfast options the night before, so on the first night I opted for scrambled egg with smoked salmon on a toasted muffin, and the second, since it was a weekday, I went for fruit, yoghurt and museli. Both were delicious.

If you’re looking for a little more luxury, you could stay at Ufford Park Hotel, again, less than a 10 minute drive from the centre of Woodbridge.

Things to do

Sutton Hoo

The attractions in the local area are what makes Woodbridge and ideal location for any short breaks you take in Suffolk. Just a 10 minute drive from the town is Sutton Hoo. It’s a National Trust location: the site of a Saxon burial ground and the place where the famous Saxon helmet was discovered. It was a perfect place for a dog walk in the morning, with four different walking routes. The best part of the walk was definitely the bluebells that were in bloom throughout the forest. I love wildflowers, and the spread was so vast, it was as if the forest floor was covered by a thin blue blanket.

Read more about What to do at Sutton Hoo

Framlingham Castle

A little further away is Framlingham Castle, a 20 minute drive from Woodbridge. I love me a castle,

before we began our historical adventure, we popped into Castle Inn, the dog-friendly pub just outside the walls, for a bite to eat. Lunch was quite pleasant: we had sport on the TVs, clean floors, and delicious food. I can’t remember what Dan ate, but I had a super tasty bacon, brie and cranberry sandwich, with salad and chunky chips, which I would definitely recommend!

Entrance to the castle itself is £11 for an adult, but with family deals available. However, the castle is run by English Heritage, so is free for EH members. Once we entered, we were somehow transported to some sort of Game of Thrones, Medieval, Comic Con fusion of a festival, with people wandering in full armour and capes, huge striped tents full of 13th Century memorabilia, and the unmistakable scent of meats. We had no idea that we would walk in on a Medieval festival, so it was a lovely surprise for us, especially since it was a one day event!

Dogs are allowed everywhere in the castle except the café, so Dan and I decided to take Ted up to the battlements for a wall walk. Although the castle is now mostly in ruin, some of the more interesting aspects of the architecture remain, including chimneys, fireplaces and arches. There is a one way system to the walk, and as soon as we reached the top, I spotted a grand building in the distance that looked vaguely familiar – of course it was Framlingham College, the private school! Perhaps we would have seen Ed Sheeran’s house if we looked hard enough!

There’s a little more to Framlingham Castle than just walls. The old workhouse is still intact, and is now used as a museum, café and shop. In the museum, there are some interactive exhibits relating to the Tudors (since the castle is where Mary I was proclaimed queen), the Victorians (since the castle was also used as a workhouse), and a lovely display of 18th, 19th and 20th century artefacts from the local area.

Flatford

Some say Suffolk, some say Essex, but either way, a visit to Constable Country can not be turned down. Flatford is arguably the most picturesque location near to Woodbridge. It’s got flowers, a canal, and pretty, little houses, so what better way could anyone end a Bank Holiday weekend in Suffolk?

Flatford Mill is another National Trust location, historically connected to the painter, John Constable. Constable lived locally to Flatford, so the mill and its surrounding buildings were a source of inspiration for one of England’s most famous artists. Plus, it is a clear favourite with dog walkers; I have never seen so many dogs in one place.

We could instantly see why it’s such a popular location. Bridge Cottage, housing some shops, a café, and Constable paintings, is the perfect backdrop for a stroll along the River Stour. I love a thatched cottage anyway, but this one was a portal that transported us back to the 18th Century right at the beginning of our walk.

A little further down the river is Flatford Mill, you know, the famous Constable painting? However, I had no idea it was the mill while we were there. Unfortunately, it’s not accessible to the public, so we had to view it from the outside. The red brick building and its wisteria climbers are stunning, and directly opposite the entrance is a brick wall around the river, a lovely spot to give Ted a chance to see the water.

I thought that Flatford Mill might be a perfect location for a wedding, or at the very least a romantic countryside walk, especially since it has such a significant history – it was actually owned by John Constable’s father. What better backdrop for a loved-up couple?

Jimmy’s Farm

If you’re planning a short break in Suffolk with the kids, there is a brilliant dog-friendly farm nearby. Jimmy’s Farm is about a 25 minute drive from Woodbridge and is great for little ones and big ones!

Read more about Jimmy’s Farm, Ipswich – the best family farm yet?

Other things to do

• Woodbridge Tide Mill museum
• Bentwaters Cold War Museum
• Ride the Mid Suffolk Light Railway
• Head to Ipswich for the day

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