I think it’s well established by now that I love a picture perfect English village. I’ve written about my favourite villages in other counties such as Cambridgeshire and Rutland, but Suffolk is one of my favourite areas in the whole country and there are stunning villages aplenty. It’s the kind of place you drive through and nearly always end up crashing because you’re too busy staring at all the houses! Another quirk of the area is Suffolk Pink – it’s actually a thing to paint your house pink in Suffolk, which I love.

So, here are 10 of my favourites.

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1. Coddenham

Situated just outside of Ipswich, during Roman times Coddenham was once the largest settlement in all of Suffolk. It’s now quaint and beautiful and the perfect place for a countryside walk with lots of walking trails all around.

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2. Lavenham

Known as the prettiest village in England in a number of polls, Lavenham is one of the most famous perfect places in the area (so get there early, it gets busy). It’s packed full of incredible Tudor houses and if you want a treat, you can stay in some of them as hotels or B&Bs. The village is also even home to the house used as Godric’s Hollow, the home of Harry Potter!

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3. Orford

Famous for its castle, Orford is a beautiful village with an abundance of postcard houses. Interestingly, it’s also home to Orford Ness, a shingle spit which you can ride out on on a boat – and bizarrely also the spot where missiles were tested during the Cold War!

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4. Cavendish

Nestled in the Stour Valley, Cavendish is known for its village green – home to yet more Suffolk Pink cottages. It’s beautiful on a sunny day with the church in the background.

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5. Long Melford

This village is special because it’s home to not 1, but 2, stunning stately homes – Melford Hall and Kentwell Hall. It also has a brewery, an incredible church and of course, the obligatory bucket load of cute cottages.

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6. Horringer cum Ickworth

Home to Ickworth Hall, this village is another one perfect for a long walk with a lovely area of surrounding woodland. The church is also pretty special and even better – you can combine it with a visit to Lavenham (above) as the two are close by.

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7. Earl Soham

This is one of my favourites as it’s on the way to what was my Granny and Grandpa’s house, so it brings back fond memories of visiting as a child. I love the little cottages by the church!

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8. Kersey

Kersey is a village where the main street has a ford across a stream. Its principal claim to fame is that a coarse woollen cloth called Kersey cloth takes its name from it…oh and it has Suffolk Pink houses aplenty too. Another beauty to add to the list!

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9. Stoke-by-Nayland

Another gorgeous village, sitting right in the south in Dedham Vale, is Stoke-by-Nayland. It’s got one of the most beautiful churches in the area, and some stunning ancient Tudor buildings.

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10. Hadleigh

Hadleigh is famous for its wonderful Guild Hall building and towers, which are totally stunning and really unique. It’s also been consistently voted one of the best places to live in Suffolk, and the whole of England.

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So, what do you think of Suffolk’s villages? I am totally in love with all of them and can’t wait to explore even more as I get distracted driving around. And if you’re interested in visiting Suffolk, please check out my other posts on the area:

• An Ultimate Guide to Suffolk
• Woodbridge, Sutton Hoo & Framlingham
• Long Melford
• The Suffolk Coast
• Lavenham, Bury St Edmunds & Ickworth
• Dedham Vale (post coming soon)

Thanks for reading – stay safe and happy travelling!