Church Cottage, Sweffling

The space

Church Cottage sits in the heart of a quiet Suffolk village and dates all the way back to the 16th century, originally two separate Tudor cottages that were joined together to form the home you see today. A further extension was added a couple of hundred years later. The result is a house full of genuine character, with exposed beams and low ceilings throughout, paired with everything you need for a comfortable modern stay.

There's parking for multiple vehicles on the driveway, though it is on the narrow side so a little care is needed. The entrance is around the left side of the property, leading into a kitchen diner. The dining table sits below a rear facing bay window looking out over the garden, a lovely spot for a morning coffee, with a small selection of cook books close by. The kitchen itself is a good size and nicely finished, with oak worktops, plenty of storage, an oven, induction hob, dishwasher, toaster, wine cooler and a fridge freezer. Coffee lovers are well catered for too, with a Sage grinder and espresso machine, alongside a separate Nespresso machine. Just off the kitchen is a utility room with a washer/dryer, next to the downstairs WC.

The kitchen opens into the atrium, home to one side of the double sided wood burner and a favourite spot for curling up with a book. As the name suggests, the atrium really is the heart of the house, with stairs rising to the first floor and the living room and dining room sitting either side. The dining room is set beneath a run of exposed beams, while the living room enjoys both front and rear facing windows that fill the space with light, along with the other side of the wood burner and a smart TV. There's also a desk if you need a spot to work from home during your stay.

Upstairs are four individually styled bedrooms and two bathrooms. Bedroom one, the Wonky Room, is the master and has a king size bed along with beautifully curved exposed beams. Bedroom two, the Slopey Room, also has a king size bed and takes its name from its sloping floor, a quirky feature of the building's original construction. Bedroom three is perhaps the most unique of the four, reached along the main hallway and down a step through a low doorway, opening up into a full size twin room with side facing windows, a lovely hideaway for children or adults. Bedroom four is part of the more recent extension and is set up as the children's room, with a single bed, rear facing windows over the garden and a cot bed (please bring your own bedding for this, as we're unable to supply any for health and safety reasons).

The first bathroom has a bath, basin and WC with rear facing windows, while the second, just next door, has a separate shower alongside another bath, WC and basin, also with rear facing windows.

Outside is where the cottage really comes into its own. There's a large garden with a covered patio for outdoor dining, a further seating area with a fire pit, and a hot tub for evenings under the stars (additional cost, please enquire for pricing, 1 week's notice required). Children have plenty of room to run around, while a gas barbecue and Big Green Egg make summer cooking easy.

The cottage is adjacent to St Mary's Church, in a village with history going back almost a thousand years, surrounded by beautiful countryside walks and rivers. It's also well placed for exploring the Suffolk coast, with Aldeburgh, Southwold and Orford all within easy reach, plus a great choice of country pubs nearby, some well known locally.

Church Cottage is a lovely base whether you're after a family holiday or a relaxed trip away with friends, offering something you don't often find: real history combined with proper comfort.