v  BURY ST. EDMUNDS AND LAVENHAM
v  CHOCOLATE LADY OF STEEPLE BUMPSTEAD
v  FLATFORD MILL AND VALE OF DEDHAM
v  ALDEBURGH 
v  RIVER DEBEN CRUISE
v  ‘ESSEX SUNSHINE COAST’
v  BLUE BADGE GUIDE FOR ONE DAY

Rural villages, lush green meadows, rich farmlands and sandy heathlands depicted by the famous painters Constable and Gainsborough.  We visit historic Bury St Edmunds, with its Dickens connections, and the delightful Suffolk countryside and peaceful coastline.  As a nice contrast we visit the ‘Essex Sunshine Coast’.  All this combines to give a holiday of particular charm and nostalgia for you to enjoy.

YOUR HOTEL  The Holiday Inn Hotel is set just to the south of Ipswich, on the edge of Constable Country, and is an ideal base for visiting all the attractions on this tour. Hotel facilities include leisure and fitness centre with indoor swimming pool.   All the bedrooms are en suite, and have television, telephone and tea/coffee facilities.  There are no lifts but ground floor rooms are available.

THURSDAY  Morning departure from your home area travelling to East Anglia and arriving late afternoon at Holiday Inn Hotel.

FRIDAY  This morning we discover the idyllic villages of Suffolk on our tour of Constable Country, including the birthplace of the famous painter at East Bergholt, an unspoilt village with many fine old houses and cottages.  The church at Dedham, with its 131ft tower, and the little hamlet of Flatford Mill, were favourite landscape subjects and you can soak up these scenes of rural England at first hand.  In the afternoon we visit the ‘Essex Sunshine Coast’ with bustling Clacton-on-Sea and more relaxed Walton-on-the-Naze, returning later to the hotel.

SATURDAY  This morning we have a ride to historic Bury St.Edmunds, famous for its Abbey Gardens and the Angel Hotel, where Dickens had Mrs Pickwick stay.  We have time to explore the town and obtain lunch.  From here we head into rural Suffolk and the village of Steeple Bumpstead.  Here we visit the Chocolate Lady and enjoy a delightful demonstration in the art of producing handmade chocolates.  On the way back we pass through the pretty villages of Cavendish and Clare, with their pastel coloured cottages, and we can also linger in Lavenham, one of our best preserved medieval villages with its many colourful and half timbered houses.

SUNDAY  Today’s jaunt takes us into the rural north of Suffolk to the time warp seaside town of Aldeburgh, little changed for many years. Later we have a break in Woodbridge and then head for Waldringfield on the River Deben.  Here we take a cruise with commentary on the river passing historic quays, little villages and enjoying the rural scenery.

MONDAY  After breakfast we leave and begin our homeward journey

 PRICE PER PERSON                                                 £295

 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT                                              NONE FOUR AVAILABLE

 PRICE INCLUDES:-  Pick up from local area or car parking on our premises (please state when booking as this is less time on the coach).  Executive air-conditioned coach travel with toilet & drinks facilities.  Half board accommodation.  All excursions.  All coach seats non-smoking.