Flatford

Explore Flatford as a family. Whatever the weather, there are always things to see and do. Perhaps you will see a skein of geese flying over, or swans gliding along the river? If you are very lucky, you may even spot an otter in the river!

The John Constable Exhibition is open. Visit our John Constable Exhibition to find out more about the life and work of this famous British artist. Follow the steps down from the car park, cross the road and you will find the exhibition opposite in the disabled parking area.

This Flatford and Constable walking trail is featured on ITV's Britiain's Favourite Walks: Top 100. This is a moderate, 4 to 7 mile walk that explores the picturesque Stour Valley and Dedham Vale, made famous by the 18th-century paintings of John Constable, England’s foremost landscape artist of the time.

Find out about the pretty hamlet of Flatford which includes Bridge Cottage, Flatford Mill, The Granary, Valley Farm as well as the Lock and the Dry Dock. Valley Farm is open for occasional events.

Walking in John Constable's footsteps as you take a wander through the places in Flatford that inspired his most famous paintings.

Our tea room has reopened and will initially be serving a range of hot and cold drinks, hot and cold snacks and light meals. Our outdoor seating is now also accessible. We look forward to welcoming you back and thank you for your support, which helps us care for Flatford.

Our natural world and places of historic beauty are at serious risk. Give to help protect and together, we can help nature recover, bring people closer to it, and ensure our shared history continues to inspire us all. Thank you for your continued support.

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Get to know John Constable. Learn more about his childhood and working life, his wife, children and later years.

Meet John Constable's family and get to know his parents, brothers and sisters.

Follow the Mill's history through from the Domesday Book to the present day.

The role of The National Trust in the Dedham Vale is to enable traditional mixed farming to continue, to preserve key aspects of the working landscape, and provide public understanding of the importance of Constable and that landscape.

We're excited to be working in partnership with the Essex Cultural Diversity Project and artists Laurence Harding and Liz Harrington to celebrate the 200th anniversary of John Constable's most iconic landscape painting: The Hay Wain. Read more about the project here.

Turn back the clock 500 years and stay in one of Suffolk's oldest buildings, just down the road from Flatford and the iconic Dedham Vale countryside. Accommodating up to 18 people, Thorington is the ideal place for a celebration in the country.

Stay in the gate lodge of Thorington Hall. This little lodge occupies the oldest part of the farmhouse and retains much of its original character. The cottage has a rustic theme throughout including a living room with stone floors, exposed beams and a cosy log-burner and cobbled courtyard garden.

Add a touch of luxury to your stay at Thorington Hall with your own private chef. Tilly can produce a celebratory feast for you and your guests, a delicious breakfast hamper or home-cooked meals waiting for you in your fridge, making your holiday extra special. View her menus here.