48 Hours in Constable Country: From The Crown to The Red Lion

Nestled in the heart of the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the rolling landscapes that inspired one of Britain’s greatest artists, John Constable, are waiting to be explored. Start your journey with a stay at The Crown, Stoke-by-Nayland, and finish in the charming village of East Bergholt, that The Red Lion calls home.

AFTERNOON

Arrival & Riverside Ramble

Pull up at The Crown - a classic Suffolk pub with rooms and lodges in the garden, good food and a cosy bar to sit back with a book.

Begin your stay with a stretch of the legs on the Riverside Ramble; our local walking route right from the pub that meanders along quiet paths, through fields and alongside the River Box. Perfect for soaking up countryside views! 

After your wander, head back for an early drink from the well-stocked wine list or a pint by the fire.

EVENING

Dinner at The Crown

Settle into your bedroom, then return to the dining room for dinner. The kitchen champions local and seasonal produce - from East Anglian roasts to seafood specials.

Wrap up the evening with one of Turbo’s desserts and a nightcap in the bar.

MORNING

Drive to Constable Country

Wake up with a coffee and hearty breakfast before setting off further into Constable Country.

Make your way to Flatford, about a twenty-minute drive along country roads, the backdrop for many of John Constable’s most beloved works and a living landscape that hasn’t changed much since the early 19th century.

MIDDAY

Flatford Mill & Willy Lott’s Cottage

Start at Flatford Mill, a Grade I listed watermill owned historically by Constable’s family, and the setting for scenes in paintings such as Flatford Mill (Scene on a Navigable River).

From here, look across to Willy Lott’s Cottage - the iconic white house immortalised in The Hay Wain, arguably Constable’s most famous work!

Follow one of the National Trust routes around the site to get views from different vantage points.

AFTERNOON

Dedham & East Bergholt Village

After exploring the riverside scenes, take a wander (or a short drive) into the neighbouring village of Dedham, once Constable’s school route and now a small hub of independent shops, galleries, and cafés.

Then head back towards East Bergholt - Constable’s birthplace - for a stroll through the village lanes. Look out for a plaque marking the artist’s early studio!

EVENING

Dinner & Stay at The Red Lion

Round off your day at The Red Lion, East Bergholt - a traditional village pub with rooms perfect for unwinding after a day in the countryside.

Enjoy a seasonal dinner and perhaps a Sunday roast if it’s the weekend, in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Then settle into one of the five bedrooms.

MORNING

A Leisurely Farewell

Begin your final morning with breakfast at The Red Lion before taking a last wander through East Bergholt, breathe in the rural air, and maybe capture a few final photos of Dedham Vale’s timeless views.

To take a look at our stay packages and promotions at The Crown or The Red Lion, click on the pub name.