Woodbridge

Ancient Anglo-Saxon kings once sailed up the River Deben to this spot, and you can still feel that maritime heritage in every corner of this Suffolk market town. Woodbridge sits where the river curves inland, its tide mill one of the few working examples left in Britain. The town centre feels properly lived-in rather than touristy - independent shops line the Thoroughfare, and locals still use the weekly market that's been running since 1227.

Framlingham Castle dominates the surrounding countryside, just a short drive north. This 12th-century fortress with its intact walls and 13 towers is where Mary Tudor was proclaimed Queen of England. The village signs at Monewden, Cretingham and Brandeston show off Suffolk's talent for folk art - each one tells a local story in carved and painted wood.

The Mere offers decent fishing and peaceful walks, while Lodge Wood provides proper woodland trails for those wanting to stretch their legs. Tudor Bridge Remains mark where the old crossing once spanned the Deben, though the current bridge does the job just fine.

Getting here is straightforward - the A12 runs nearby, and Ipswich is only 8 miles southeast if you need a bigger town for supplies or transport links. The surrounding farmland rolls gently between patches of ancient woodland, creating that quintessentially Suffolk landscape of hedgerows and church spires.

Staying at one of the nearby parks puts you right in the heart of this area. You're close enough to walk into Woodbridge for dinner, yet surrounded by enough countryside and historic sites to fill a proper week away from it all.