Pictures of Flatford

in the county of Suffolk

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About Flatford

On arrival in Flatford there is little to prepare you for its overwhelming beauty, but you should not be surprised, for this after all is Constable Country, an area made famous by the great landscape painter and which features in so many of his pictures.

Flatford Mill now belongs to the National Trust, it stands in a beautiful location beside the River Stour and with its bridge and Willie Lott's Cottage, it presents a timeless scene of pastoral enchantment which has captivated artists since John Constable first painted it in the early part of the 19th century.

The mill was Constable's childhood home and the place he probably loved best. The entire area seems to have remarkably escaped the hand of time, with little happened to disturb the serenity and overall tranquillity of the landscape.

Nearby, lies Flatford Bridge Cottage, a thatched cottage of the 17th century. This is another attractive cottage painted by the great artist, it now houses a rich exhibition of his life and times as well as providing pleasant tea-room facilities. Visitors can take tea in the river-side garden, there is a shop for souvenirs, and boats for hire.

The National Trust owns Flatford Mill and much of the land around here, and we have the trust to thank for its wonderful atmosphere of peaceful perfection. From Flatford Bridge Cottage there is access by foot to scenically beautiful Dedham Vale, considered by many to be the very heart of Constable Country.

Flatford Mill, Valley Farm and Willie Lott's Cottage are all used for arts courses, with visit's only allowed by prior arrangement.

The National Trust operates I hour guided walks, these depart from Bridge Cottage and take in the full romantic "Constable" experience visiting the sites of his most famous works of art.

This is truly a pretty, rarefied place that no visitor to Suffolk should miss.

Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.

Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Flatford

Flatford Mill	(0.5 miles, 0.7 km)	Pictures
Bridge Cottage	(0.5 miles, 0.7 km)	Pictures
Dedham Art and Craft Centre	(0.8 miles, 1.4 km)	Pictures
High Woods Country Park	(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Beth Chatto Gardens	(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction S)	Pictures
Colchester Castle	(6.4 miles, 10.3 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Jimmy's Farm	(6.5 miles, 10.4 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Bourne Mill	(7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction SW)	Pictures
St. Botolph's Priory	(7.1 miles, 11.5 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Colchester Zoo	(7.4 miles, 11.9 km, direction SW)	Pictures
Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich	(9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction NE)	Pictures
St. Osyth Priory	(11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction S)	Pictures
East Anglian Railway Museum	(11.1 miles, 17.9 km, direction W)	Pictures
Landguard Fort, Felixstowe	(13.4 miles, 21.5 km, direction E)	Pictures
Dedham Vale	(13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction NW)	Pictures

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Recommended towns near Flatford

Dedham, in the county of Essex (0.9 miles, 1.5 km)
There are two things that immediately strike you about this enchanting village, the first is the opulence of the beautiful 15th-century church, and the second is the fascinating view of the River Stour, which, like the church, has featured in Constable paintings.
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East Bergholt, in the county of Suffolk (1.4 miles, 2.3 km, direction N)
This enchanting village gained lasting fame as Constable's birth place. It also has a very unusual medieval bell cage.
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Manningtree, a Historic Market Town in the county of Essex (2.3 miles, 3.7 km, direction E)
The town shows fine examples of weavers cottages and walks through the town reveal fine Georgian facades behind which are Tudor and Elizabethan houses.
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Mistley, in the county of Essex (3.0 miles, 4.9 km, direction E)
Mistley lies on the south bank of the River Stour not far from Manningtree, to which it is joined via a tree-lined walk along the river which is oddly called The Walls.
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Polstead, in the county of Suffolk (5.9 miles, 9.5 km, direction NW)
This delightful village has all the charm of a picture postcard. Almost overlooking the main village street and the village pond is the beautiful church dedicated to St. Mary which has the only medieval stone spire in Suffolk.
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Greenstead, in the county of Essex (5.9 miles, 9.6 km, direction SW)
Greenstead Church is said to be the oldest wooden building in the world. Well worth a visit..
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Nayland, in the county of Suffolk (5.9 miles, 9.6 km, direction W)
The heady beauty of Suffolk has been the inspiration of artist's for centuries and the village of Nayland, in the hear of Constable country is no exception.
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Colchester, a Historic Market Town in the county of Essex (6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction SW)
Interestingly, this is England's oldest-recorded town. It has stood on the banks of the River Colne amid fine Essex countryside throughout some of history's most tempestuous times.
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Kersey, in the county of Suffolk (8.1 miles, 13.1 km, direction NW)
Quintessentially English village of a style for which Suffolk is renowned. Winding streets full of exquisite properties, some dating back to Tudor times.
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Fingringhoe, in the county of Essex (8.3 miles, 13.4 km, direction S)
Delightful Fingringhoe is home to one of the most outstanding Nature Reserves in the country. It was formed out of a disused gravel pit near the estuary of the beautiful River Colne and today it is the premier flagship of the Essex Wildlife Trust.
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Ipswich, in the county of Suffolk (9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction NE)
This is a town that can trace its history back to the Stone-Age, it has been a successive settlement throughout the ages and has...
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Brightlingsea, in the county of Essex (9.7 miles, 15.7 km, direction S)
A medieval port on the Colne estuary, Brightlingsea was once an associate member of the Cinque Ports. The history of the town goes back to Roman times and it's industry has always been linked to the sea.
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Marks Tey, in the county of Essex (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction SW)
Its location is ideally suited to anyone wishing to explore fine Essex countryside, coast and the beautiful town of Colchester, Britain's oldest recorded town.
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Harwich, in the county of Essex (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction E)
The great seafarers of centuries have left the shores of England, these include Raleigh, Drake, Frobisher and Admiral Lord Nelson, all of whom brought glory for England.
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Dovercourt, in the county of Essex (10.9 miles, 17.6 km, direction E)
These days Dovercourt is part of Harwich, it operates as a coastal resort town with a pleasant sandy beach backed by a sea wall. The beach has been awarded the E.U. Blue Flag indicating its cleanliness and safety for families with children.
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Nearby travel help

Manningtree Station	(1.3 miles, 2.1 km, direction SE)
Mistley Station	(3.2 miles, 5.1 km, direction E)
London Stansted Airport	(33.3 miles, 53.6 km, direction W)
M11 Junction 8	(35.2 miles, 56.6 km, direction W)
M11 Junction 9	(36.1 miles, 58.1 km, direction W)
Cambridge Airport	(39.6 miles, 63.7 km, direction NW)
Flatford to London	(57.9 miles, 93.1 km, direction SW)

Hotels & Accommodation in Flatford

Hotel Name	Approximate distance from Flatford center
Ramada Colchester	(3.9 miles, 6.3 km, direction SW)
Hotel Elizabeth Copdock	(5.8 miles, 9.4 km, direction NE)
Best Western The Rose & Crown Hotel	(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SW)
Wivenhoe House Hotel	(6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction SW)
Riverside Hotel	(6.5 miles, 10.5 km, direction SW)
George Hotel	(6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction SW)
The Red Lion Hotel	(6.6 miles, 10.7 km, direction SW)
Hintlesham Hall Hotel	(6.8 miles, 10.9 km, direction N)
Best Western Stoke By Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa	(6.8 miles, 10.9 km, direction W)
Swallow Belstead Brook Hotel	(7.2 miles, 11.7 km, direction NE)
All hotels in Flatford