Little Thorington
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Little Thorington, Suffolk
Please note that one of the bedrooms is under repair in October 2026, and so Thorington Hall is available with one less bedroom and sleeping 14 for this short period of time.
Stay at one of Suffolk’s oldest and most intriguing houses. With intricately decorated Tudor roses on the west staircase and signatures of previous owners mysteriously etched into the windows, Thorington Hall is a luxury farmhouse with stacks of charm.
There’s lots of space, inside and out – perfect for big families and groups looking for a getaway with a difference. Upstairs you’ll find big, bright bedrooms and below, a spacious kitchen and large reception areas. There are log burners fit for cosy evenings along with modern facilities too. Outside there’s a large, enclosed garden with an orchard, stables and a badminton net.
You can’t beat Thorington for a beautiful setting and there are walks straight from the front door. You’ll be in the Dedham Vale National Landscape, an area of outstanding natural beauty, and can join the Stour Valley path nearby to explore the surrounding countryside and old villages on foot.
The Dedham Vale area has very dark skies, so you’ll have the chance for some exceptional stargazing during your stay. There might even be an event at the recently-opened Thorington Street Dark Sky Discovery Centre across from the hall, part of a project bringing together professional astronomers, a local grass roots committee and the National Trust. The DarkSky Campaign is working to reduce light pollution further so the area can be recognised by DarkSky International (find a leaflet with more information here).
The picturesque hamlet of Flatford is just a 15-minute drive away. It was the inspiration for some of John Constable's most famous paintings, including the The Hay Wain and Boat-Building near Flatford Mill. Walking through Flatford feels like stepping into one of his paintings, and there’s an exhibition dedicated to his life here. You can hire a boat to row on the River Stour and wander through the family-friendly RSPB wildlife garden.
Colchester is half an hour’s drive away. This city has over 2,000 years of history to discover – including Roman vaults, a Norman castle and the working waterwheel at Bourne Mill – alongside independent shops and plenty of places to eat.
Ground floor layout
Entrance hall with the East Staircase and lobby leading to a cloakroom and shower room. Farmhouse kitchen with a range cooker. Large utility room. Snug with wood burning stove. Dining room with woodburner, which leads to the hall for the West Staircase and a twin bedroom ('Bedroom 8 – Penrose') which can be a king-size bed on request.
First floor layout
Large sitting room. Bathroom with freestanding slipper bath and walk-in shower. A king-size bedroom with en-suite shower room ('Bedroom 1 – Rosier'). A bedroom with super king-size, four-poster bed, with en-suite shower room ('Bedroom 2 – Strutt'). A super king-size bedroom ('Bedroom 3 – Partridge').
Second floor layout
A twin bedroom ('Bedroom 4 – Umfreville') which can be a king-size on request, with en-suite shower room. A twin bedroom ('Bedroom 5 – Heigham'). A king-size bedroom ('Bedroom 7 – May').
Garden and outdoor space
Private enclosed garden on three sides of the house. The front garden is formal, while the side and rear gardens are rambling orchard. There is plenty of outdoor seating, with tables, chairs and benches for 16 guests. Grass badminton court at the rear. Storage for bicycles and equipment is provided in the outbuildings.
- Wi-Fi, available
- Garden, available
- EV charging, not available
- Fridge, available
- Freezer, available
- Microwave, available
- Open fire / wood burner, available
- Television, available
- DVD, available
- Washing machine, available
- Dishwasher, available
- Tumble dryer, available
- Cot & high chair, available
Not accessible
Access: The accessibility guide is for guidance only. For up-to-date information, please call the team on 0344 800 2070.
Due to the age of the property floors are uneven, there are varying levels and steps throughout. Staircases have narrow irregular treads and wider than standard balustrades so care must be taken. Attic rooms have sloping ceilings with restricted head heights and sloping floors.
Heating: LPG gas central heating.
Telephone: Incoming & outgoing calls, operated on an honesty payment basis.
*WiFi: We are pleased to provide free WiFi at this cottage which is supported by BT. Please note that intermittent connection problems can sometimes occur and should not be relied upon.
Parking: Private parking for eight cars.
Garden: Private enclosed garden on three sides of the house. The front garden is formal while the side and rear gardens are rambling orchard. At the rear is a grass badminton court.
Offers: Holiday cottage guests have free entry to all National Trust properties during the period of their stay. Full details in the confirmation email upon booking.
Please note: Preservation restrictions dictate heating level limitations in the west wing of the building to protect the timber structure.
The East staircase bannister rails are at wider spacing than new regulations - children should be supervised. The twin rooms on the second floor are not recommended for younger children due to the uneven stairs.
We do not offer stairgates due to the historic stairs which we cannot drill into and are all too wide.
Due to the historic nature of Thorington Hall and the windows being listed, it is not possible to fix window restrictors.
Guests will benefit from a late Sunday checkout of 4pm at this cottage
Logs: Logs for the woodburners are provided for the first evening.
Outdoor storage: Storage for bicycles and equipment is provided within the grounds.
Your top three questions answered
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Check-in is at 4pm, unless otherwise stated in your booking confirmation. Sorry, but we won't be ready for you to arrive or drop off your things any earlier. Check-out is at 10am. Enjoy a late check-out of 4pm on Sundays. Read the full FAQs to find out more.
The standard inventory includes most things you'd need to cook or bake, some cleaning supplies to get you started and bed linen and towels, unless otherwise stated on the webpage or your booking confirmation email. Read the full inventory to find out more.
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