Who doesn’t enjoy a bit of historical sight-seeing? The Dedham Vale, where Apple Tree Lodges are located, boasts plenty of historic buildings, from quaint Mediaeval cottages to red-brick Victorian edifices – but there are many more fascinating heritage sites slightly further afield, throughout Suffolk and Essex. Here
we’ve picked a few of our favourites that you might like to visit while you’re staying with us.

Willy Lott’s House (23 minutes’ drive)
If you’re an art connoisseur, then chances are you’ll recognise this Flatford property from the works of John Constable, most famously The Hay Wain. Now owned by The National Trust, this Grade I-listed farmhouse dates back to the 16^th century, and is named after its resident at the time Constable painted it. These days, the house is part of the Field Studies Centre, which runs a variety of residential and day courses in natural history and the creative arts . While you’re in this beautiful part of the world, do pop into the Flatford Tea Room and enjoy a scone and a cuppa while sitting next to the river.

Kentwell Hall (25 minutes’ drive)
This historic Grade I-listed Tudor manor house is set in more than 30 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland, and features plenty of original early 16th century
architecture along with later Classical elements. Kentwell Hall has long led the way in living history days – mostly Tudor life, but also other periods such
as WWII – which are fascinating for adults as much as children of all ages. Do check the website for details of these and other events, from outdoor theatre to vehicle rallies. 

Audley End House and Gardens (1 hour 7 minutes’ drive)
One of England’s grandest mansions, Audley End was originally built in the early 17^th century, and was built to the scale of a royal palace – three times its current size – with spectacular gardens and grounds. Reduced to a more manageable scale in the early 1700s, Audley End was ‘modernised’ in the 1760s by Robert Adam, at which point the grounds were re-landscaped by Capability Brown. Later, in the 1820s, much of the mansion was redecorated to restore its Jacobean character. It’s a wonderful place to learn about the lives of below-stairs staff during the Victorian era, plus there’s an exemplary walled kitchen garden dating from the same period.

Framlingham Castle (58 minutes’ drive)
You might know Framlingham Castle as Ed Sheeran’s ‘castle on the hill’ or you might not, but either way it’s a fabulous day out for all the family! It’s had quite the chequered history – Mary Tudor was proclaimed Queen of England here, but it actually became a poorhouse from the 1650s to 1839. Now managed by English Heritage, this late 12^th-century castle is the ideal place to learn about Mediaeval life as well as what it was like to be a pauper in the 17^th to 19^th centuries. Don’t miss the wall walk, but we wouldn’t recommend looking down!

Sutton Hoo (47 minutes’ drive)
Discover the true story behind the Netflix film The Dig, by visiting the place where it all happened. This National Trust heritage site offers a window on the world of Anglo Saxon Britain, and explains what the artefacts recovered from the Great Ship Burial can tell us about the culture of the period. From intricately crafted jewellery to everyday items such as cooking pots – and of course the iconic Sutton Hoo  helmet – you’ll see a wealth of finds from the richest source of archaeological evidence for this period of history.

*all travel times are approximate and will depend on traffic