The Six Bells

There are plenty of walks you can do around here, including circular walks to the surrounding villages, or the hour or so to Lavenham, where you can visit the Guildhall and Little Hall museums and wander through the streets of half-timbered houses. One of the area’s most impressive houses is Kentwell Hall, 20 minutes’ drive from the site: the 500-year-old house is still a family home, so you’ll see an eclectic mix of Tudor restoration and 21st-century living. There’s also a rare breed farm here and some gorgeous gardens with a maze, some topiary, film props and hidden animal sculptures. A couple of miles down the road from here is the National Trust-owned Melford Hall, where you can see inside the house and wander on the woodland trail through the grounds. Look out for drawings and sketches around the house by Beatrix Potter, who stayed here many times. If staying at a pub has inspired an interest in beer, you can find out a bit more about the production process on a tour of the Greene King brewery in Bury St Edmunds, 25 minutes away.