Suffolk’s Boats, Beaches & Gardens

From timeless seaside towns to archaeological wonders, this tour blends Suffolk’s highlights and hidden gems. From the pretty coast and a scenic river cruise to Ipswich Marina, delightful gardens and the county’s jewel: the atmospheric Anglo-Saxon site of Sutton Hoo.

Monday 16th – Friday 20th August 2027

Tour Price £825.00
Single supplement: £205.00

o Four nights dinner, bed and breakfast

o Full cooked breakfast

o Three course dinner menu

o Guided tour of Sutton Hoo

o Deben River cruise with refreshments

o Entrance to Beth Chatto Gardens

o Escorted throughout

o All coach travel

MON  We head off eastwards this morning, and make our way to Ipswich and the lovely  Salthouse Harbour hotel, our home for the next four nights.

TUE  Today we enjoy a tour along the picturesque Suffolk coast, starting with a visit to Southwold, famous for its colourfully painted beach huts and lovely pier, before continuing to the village of Thorpeness, which boasts pretty, mock-Tudor houses and the fairytale folly known as the ‘House in the Clouds’. We enjoy free time here for lunch before continuing to Aldeburgh, which exudes nostalgic seaside charm.

WED  This morning brings a guided tour of the world-famous Anglo-Saxon burial site of Sutton Hoo, the beautiful 255-acre estate where one of Britain’s greatest archaeological finds was made in 1939. We discover the story of the amazing 7th-century ship burial of an Anglo-Saxon king, view the award-winning exhibition and explore the full-size reconstruction of the burial chamber. (Please note: accessing the burial mounds requires a 10- to 15-minute outdoor, level walk. Less mobile guests can visit the exhibition, café and shop). This afternoon brings free time to enjoy beautiful Ipswich Marina, which neighbours our hotel. Perhaps take a stroll to admire the yachts and dip into the shops and cafes fringing the waterfront.

THU  This morning, we visit the Beth Chatto Gardens. Created from wasteland in the 1960s by plantswoman Beth Chatto OBE, this collection of informal themed gardens illustrates the principle of ‘finding the right place for the right plant’ and includes everything from a Gravel Garden of unirrigated plants to a shady Woodland Garden and serene Water Garden – all a joy to wander around. We then head to the lovely village of Waldringfield for a relaxing two hour cruise with tea/coffee and scones along the River Deben, one of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich havens on the Suffolk coast.

FRI  After this morning’s breakfast, we set off on our homeward journey, with stops en route, arriving back in the local area in the early evening.