A long weekend in Essex/ Norfolk/ Suffolk

[dillite]

I am looking at booking a long weekend in either one of those counties- or even elsewhere- the only criteria is that it needs to be no further than a 2 hour drive away from Kent. Is there anywhere in those areas that you have been to and could recommend? When it comes to activities and all that, I am am open minded- it can be a village location with fields/ park to walk in or a beach/ historic town. I have been looking at Norwich and the surrounding areas- but not knowing what's nearby it's hard to pinpoint the exact location, if you know what I mean?

So if you have been somewhere that could be described as a hidden gem or you just simply loved, please be so kind as to share those places with me.

My Essex recommendations would be Burnham on Crouch and Bradwell on Sea.
I quite like Walton on the Naze but it's not for everyone.

Aldeburgh and southwold. Lovely places with fabulous accommodation and lots to explore. Southwold pier is fascinating.
Been for weekends at these places a few times and always enjoyed them.

What kind of things would you like to do? Those are three big counties with a lot of variety.

Norwich is a nice city, easy to walk around. The cathedral ks beaitiful, the castle museum is also good.

Coast - north Norfolk is lovely (although I don't know it well enough to recommend a precise place). Or in Suffolk, you have Southwold and Aldeburgh - again, lovely places. We go to Southwold for the day often, and either eat at the Harbour Inn or get fish and chips from the harbour. You can also do tours of the Adnams brewery and gin distillery - not that I have as ds is too young.

Inland, Lavenham and the surrounding countryside is lovely, with lots of nice walks. Long Melford and Clare, and the area around there - all nice. Dh was living near there when we met so lots of good memories for me - it really is lovely though, imo.

You’ll struggle to get to Norfolk in less than 2 hours! I live on the boarder of Essex and Suffolk, and it takes just under 2 hours to get to Ashford, and a little less than that to get to Tunbridge Wells (we visit both quite regularly).

Dedham, Essex
Woodbridge, Suffolk
Lavenham, Suffolk
Long Melford, Suffolk
Clare, Suffolk
Frinton, Essex
Finchingfield, Essex
Castle Hedingham, Essex
Manningtree, Essex

I like to go for long walks- this time my dog's coming with me, so I am being mindful that I will need to find places to visit, like country houses or gardens, that are dog friendly. Have a pub lunch/ dinner afterwards. No crazy nightlife or anything. I wasn't sure about Norwich as I wasn't sure how dog friendly it would be?

Southwold sounds like a recommended place, I shall look into it.

rice I am relying on Google maps here and it was showing Norwich as 2-ish hour drive away. I know that I should know better than to rely on those estimates, but I was being optimistic.

Bradwell has some lovely walks. I think one of the pubs (Kings Head) allows dogs www.essexlifemag.co.uk/out-about/walks/circular-walk-around-bradwell-on-sea-1-5738571
Also a pebble beach

Burnham on Crouch has some nice walks too. It's a town so has more shops/pubs etc compared to Bradwell.

Southwold is lovely for a long weekend. A bit further than 2hrs but not much. Walberswick is also lovely and very dog friendly.

OP I have sent you a PM...

Dedham on the Essex/Suffolk border is lovely. Flatford Mill, Constable country, lots of lovely walks from Flatford into Dedham village, tea shops, great pub. Probably a couple of hours from Kent.

Or definitely Southwold or Aldeburgh. There’s Walberswick and Snape Maltings nearby, Minsmere nature reserve, Dunwich beach and it’s long lost medieval port and town. You might struggle to do it in two hours but it would be worth it.

Thank you to you all. I have found a place that's about an hour's drive away from both Southwald and Alderburgh, this way it will be possible to visit both plus Bury-St-Edmonds. I've decided to leave Norwich and surrounding areas for another trip, once where I can spend 3-4 nights there.

I know that area well. Where is your place to stay?

Ooh, I live twenty minutes from Southwold, you’re probably not far from me! PM me if you’d like any help.

cotton it's a cottage in Framligham.

Framingham is lovely. Check out the charity shop where they sell Ed Sheehan jewellery (I think! It was Ed Sheehan something). There is a lovely second hand book shop too. And it is where the Detectorists was filmed.

Framlingham, sorry.

It's the St Elizabeth Hospice Charity Shop.
Ed's mum Imogen makes the jewellery.
The hospice does amazing work. They looked after my late DP with such care. It will soon be two years since he died there.. 😔 😔 😔 😔

Framlingham is great. You can easily access the coast. I prefer Aldeburgh to Southwold but they are both lovely. you can do a lovely walk from Aldeburgh to Snape Maltings along The Sailors Path. There's also a lovely. walk from Dunwich across the heath to a pub called the Eels Foot Inn (think its dog friendly).

Thank you so much for your recommendations, I have noted them all down and will be making a list of places to visit- it's only a 3 night stay so obviously won't be able to visit everything- I guess I will just have to make another trip.

Elderflower I am so sorry to hear about your DP

Framlingham castle is dog friendly.
Woodbridge is nice for a walk too.
Have a great time.

Suffolk escapes.

There are dog friendly pubs in Halesworth and Bungay. Bungay has an interesting Church and Castle.

The Harbour Inn is dog friendly, that’s why we go there! Enjoy your trip. If it’s a nice day, the Abbey Gardens in Bury are small but lovely 😊 If you park in the Ram Meadow carpark you walk through them to get to town.

This is a great lot of pub walks with a dog for Suffolk, various lengths and it’s the dog friendly pubs.....
www.essentialsuffolk.com/pub-walks-with-darcy/