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Melford Hall
An eclectic home, with stories of naval exploits and Beatrix Potter set in picturesque gardens.
Long Melford, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 9AA
Important notice
On Thursday 10 July Melford Hall will be closing 1 hour early at 3:30pm. Last entry to the site will be at 2:30pm and last entry to the house will be at 2:45pm.
Opening times for 13 July 2025
Asset Opening time Melford Hall 12:00 - 16:30 Garden 11:00 - 16:30 Parkland 11:00 - 16:30 Book Shop 11:00 - 16:30 Tea-room 11:00 - 16:00 MTWTFSS3012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031123OpenPartially openClosedWhole property
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £14.30 £13.00 Child (5-17) under 5s free £7.20 £6.50 Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) £35.80 £32.50 1 adult, 2 children £21.50 £19.50 Group (Adult 18+) £12.35 Group (Child 5-17) £6.18 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Assistance dogs only
Dogs are welcome on leads in the park and book-shop. Assistant dogs only in the house, garden and tearoom
- Bookshop
- Car park
- Electric vehicle charging point
Our closest electric charging point is at the Old School Car Park CO10 9DX.
- Tea-room
- Toilet
Blue Badge parking and drop-off available. Accessible toilet. Ground floor of the house and parts of the garden accessible.
- Accessible route and/or map
Accessible route
- Accessible toilet
An accessible toilet is available in the North Wing of the House
- Designated parking
5 accessible spaces are available in the car park by the visitor welcome gazebo
- Drop-off point
A shuttle bus is available to drop off visitors at the front door of the house and return back to the car park.
- Induction loop
An induction loop is available at Visitor Reception and in the Tea Room
- Level access to food outlet
Via a ramp
- Level access/terrain
- Narrow corridors
- Photograph album
Photograph album available of upstairs rooms
- Powered mobility vehicle available
Two off road powered mobility scooters are available to borrow. To book please call 01787 379228
- Ramped access/slopes
A ramp is available to access the ground floor of the house
- Steps/uneven terrain
- Transfer available
A shuttle bus is available to drop off visitors at the front door of the house and return back to the car park.
- Wheelchairs available
Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow from the house.
- By road
Entrance to car park and grounds opposite village green, off the A134 - 14 miles from Bury St Edmunds, 4 miles from Sudbury
Parking: free
- On foot
5 mile Railway Walk linking Long Melford with Lavenham. Walk takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes
- By train
Station Road, Sudbury, CO10 6SU is 4 miles away, approximately ten minutes by taxi to Melford Hall
- By bus
Mondays to Saturdays from Sudbury and Bury St Edmunds train station. Closest bus stop adjacent to The Bull Hotel. Local bus timetables: http://www.suffolkonboard.com/timetables_leaflets/timetables_by_area
Planning your visit
Events at Melford Hall
Discover our range of upcoming events from seasonal trails to educational talks.
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Summer of Play
Enjoy family time together at Melford Hall this summer. Whether you spend a sunny afternoon on the lawn playing garden games, discover our wild art station in the parkland or follow the secret word trail, we’ve got plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained and create great memories together.
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Group visits to Melford Hall
Book a group visit to Melford Hall in advance and you can enjoy benefits including group rates and a personal welcome from one of the team. Find out how to book and more.
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Visiting Melford Hall with your dog
Melford Hall is a one pawprint rated place. Here, you can find all the information you need about bringing your dog to this National Trust estate.
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Highlights
House
Imposing red-brick mansion in the Suffolk countryside, home to the Hyde Parker family for over 300 years.
Garden
Walled gardens with herbaceous borders, woodland corner and lawns with topiary, espaliered fruit trees and a reflecting pond.
Tea-room
Tea-room with indoor and outdoor seating, serving hot and cold drinks, cakes, ice creams, lunches and cream teas.
Second-hand bookshop
Bookshop stocked full of pre-loved books.
Parkland
Acres of parkland with walking routes that include views of the Suffolk countryside, village and resident cattle and sheep.
Banqueting House
17th-century octagonal Tudor banqueting house, set in the grounds overlooking the village green.
Spotlight events
Paint like Beatrix Potter Workshop
Have a go at painting with watercolours and invent your own Beatrix-style animal character front cover for a notebook to take home. Notebooks and all art material provided. This event is suitable for adults and children over 5.
Summer of Play
Enjoy family time together at Melford Hall this summer. Whether you spend a sunny afternoon on the lawn playing garden games, discover our wild art station in the parkland or follow the secret word trail, we’ve got plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained and create great memories together.
Guided parkland walks
Join us on a free guided walk through the stunning parkland of Melford Hall, held on the first Wednesday of every month. Stroll among ancient 800-year-old oak trees, uncover the park’s fascinating history, and discover both modern and ancient archaeology hidden within the landscape. Ever wondered where the phrase “By hook or by crook” comes from? Come along and find out, there’s so much more to learn on this short, enjoyable walk.
Talks and Tours at Melford Hall
Looking to learn more about Melford Hall? Why not join us for one of our monthly talks and tours? Find out more about the naval history of the Hyde Parker family or shine a light on the hall's impressive art collection at our Art by Torchlight tour. We also have a talk on Beatrix Potter and her connections to Melford Hall.
Things to see and do
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Things to see in Melford Hall
Explore Melford Hall, which was ravaged by fire in 1942 and brought back to life as a much-loved home to the family who have lived here for over 300 years.
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Explore the garden and park at Melford Hall
Explore Melford Hall and enjoy a gentle stroll around the garden or a brisk walk in the park. Then pause on the north lawn to enjoy the views of the wider estate and wildlife.
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Family-friendly things to do at Melford Hall
Walks, picnics and discovering Beatrix Potter stories in the house are just some of the things you can do on a family day out at Melford Hall.
Top trails
Trail
Melford Hall countryside walk
Enjoy views of open fields, gently rolling hills, beautiful vistas, distant churches and clear running brooks on a walk through Suffolk countryside.
Trail
Melford Hall Windmill Hill walk
Take in the Suffolk countryside on this circular walk, with hidden gems, woodland, open fields and spectacular views.
Trail
Melford Hall to Sudbury Mill walk
Enjoy an exhilarating walk from Long Melford through Sudbury's famed water meadows, passing old watermills before ending at Gainsborough's House and then his statue in Sudbury Market Place.
Trail
Melford Hall to Lavenham railway walk
Follow the route of the old Great Eastern Railway from Long Melford to Lavenham and look out for a wide variety of birds and even deer if you are lucky, in their natural habitat.
Eating
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Eating at Melford Hall
The tea-room at Melford Hall in Suffolk is the ideal place to treat yourself to a cuppa and a tasty treat before, during or after your visit.
Places to stay
Horringer Park Gates
Stay in this characterful Georgian cottage, once the home of the Ickworth estate gatekeeper.
Ickworth Keeper's Cottage
Escape city life in this Victorian cottage set on the Ickworth estate and surrounded by farmland.
Ickworth Gardens House
An idyllic stay on the Ickworth estate with a lakeside garden and homely interior.
Carpenters Cottage
A Victorian farm cottage set on the Ickworth estate and finished with an elegant décor.
The Round House
Cosy up in this folky rotunda deep in the woodlands of the Ickworth Estate.
Upcoming events
Event
Talk on the life and times of Beatrix Potter
Find out more about Beatrix Potter and her connections to Melford Hall and see some of the treasures left here by her.
Event
Guided Park Walk
Join a guided walk around the medieval parkland of Melford Hall where we will point out many points of historical interest.
Event
Discover Long Melford Walk
A 90 minute guided walk discovering some of the secrets of Long Melford village.
About Melford Hall
It’s fair to say that Melford Hall has had its share of trials and tribulations, but it’s thanks to many generations from medieval monks to the Hyde Parker family who still live here, that this home still stands.
Around every corner there’s a new twist in the story – from Beatrix Potter sketches to collections of naval paintings and Chinese porcelain – everything tells a story and everyone has left their mark.
Devastated by fire in 1942, it was nurtured back to life by the Hyde Parker family and it remains their much loved family home to this day. It is their stories of family life at Melford – from visits by their cousin Beatrix Potter through to our visitors today that make this house more than bricks and mortar.
History
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History of Melford Hall
Explore the history of Melford Hall and trace its evolution through the centuries, from its ownership by Benedictine monks to its royal connections and visits by Beatrix Potter.
Support us
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Volunteer opportunities at Melford Hall
Want to help make sure that visitors have the best possible visit to Melford Hall? Find out what’s involved in being a volunteer and how you can apply to join the team.