Page 608 - Aldeburgh Festival 2022 FINAL COVERAGE BOOK

Half-timbered medieval cottages in Lavenham, Suffolk - Credit: Getty
Images/iStockphoto

This thriving village boasts a strong community spirit – and there are a
number of independent shops, restaurants, hotels, cafes, pubs,
tearooms, and even some art galleries for those who want to be near
culture. Just some of the village’s highlights include The Swan, The
Angel, award-winning ice cream parlour Hadleys at Lavenham, gift

shop Posy which is known for its fudge, and The Lion House Gallery.

Lavenham is near the A114, providing links between nearby Hadleigh
and Bury St Edmunds, and its closest train station is Sudbury which is
just a 15-minute drive away. The village has its own primary school,
Lavenham Community Primary School, with nearby Thomas
Gainsborough School providing secondary education.

Kirton

Nestled between Ipswich and Felixstowe, James Cobb of Wainwrights
can’t get enough of this peaceful location.

“I believe Suffolk offers some lovely little nuggets of outstanding
natural beauty, and Kirton is one of my favourites. A small population
of just over 1,000 residents – Kirton offers some beautiful walks
through forests and over fields, and even past some stunning original
cottages which are hundreds of years old,” he explains.