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Flatford
SuffolkDiscover the views that John Constable painted in the hamlet of Flatford, set within the Dedham Vale countryside
Flatford, East Bergholt, Suffolk, CO7 6UL
Opening times for 8 September 2025
Asset Opening time Cottage 10:00 - 16:00 Car Park Dawn - Dusk Kiosk 09:00 - 17:00 Shop 10:30 - 16:00 Tea-room 10:00 - 16:00 Constable Exhibition 10:00 - 16:00 Rowing Boat Hire Closed MTWTFSS12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293012345OpenPartially openClosedCars
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Per Vehicle £6.00 Motorcycles
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Per Vehicle £2.00 Mini Buses & Large Camper Vans (6m & over)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Per Vehicle £9.00 Cars towing Caravans (6m & over)
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Per Vehicle £9.00 Booked Coaches
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Per Vehicle £12.00 Unbooked Coaches
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Per Vehicle £14.00 Rowing Boat Hire
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Per Hour £23.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Bookshop
- Car park
- Dogs allowed
Dogs are welcome at Flatford, and all of our walking trails are suitable for dogs. Please keep your dog on a lead at all times as there are grazing livestock and ground nesting birds in the area
- Shop
- Tea-room
- Toilet
Blue Badge parking and drop-off point. Accessible toilet. Level access to tea-room. Accessible countryside path.
- Accessible toilet
- Changing Places
Large Changing Places facility located adjacent blue badge car park, with hoist and changing bench. This facility is open when the tea room is open.
- Designated parking
5 accessible spaces available.
- Drop-off point
- Induction loop
- Level access/terrain
- Powered mobility vehicle available
One powered mobility vehicle available to borrow from visitor reception
- Wheelchairs available
One manual wheelchair available to borrow from visitor reception
- By road
- South of East Bergholt well signposted from the B1070.Parking: 200 yards from Bridge Cottage in the National Trust car park. Capacity is limited at the moment and the car park may fill quickly on busy days. Prices: National Trust members free; £6 per car; £2 per motorbike; £15 per coach (£12 if pre-booked). Motorhomes and minbuses £9 - sorry no overnight parking. Please note that the car park machine does not accept contactless transactions. Pay by phone available. Limited space for cars with caravans or trailers.Sat Nav: Postcode CO7 6UL
- On foot
- Flatford is accessible from East Bergholt, Dedham and Manningtree Station. The St Edmund Way and Stour Valley Path both pass through Flatford, linking the hamlet to many other local communities. Manningtree Railway Station is 1.75 miles, Dedham is 1.5 miles and East Bergholt is 1 mile. OS Explorer Map 196, "Sudbury, Hadleigh and the Dedham Vale" is the best route finding map.
- By train
- The nearest railway station is Manningtree which is 1¾ miles from Flatford by footpath or 3½ miles by road. Cycle hire available from Manningtree Railway Station.
- By bus
- Frequent services from Colchester and Ipswich bus stations to East Bergholt via Manningtree Railway Station.
Planning your visit
Events at Flatford
See what events are coming up at Flatford, including Nature Days and seasonal trails.
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Group visits to Flatford
Find out how to book at group visit to Flatford to discover the scenes that made John Constable famous on a guided tour, followed by a relaxing bite in the riverside tea-room.
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Visiting Flatford with your dog
Dogs are welcome at Flatford. Please read this guidance to find out where you can take your dog and what safety advice you'll need to follow.
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Highlights
Countryside
Traditional Suffolk countryside as painted by John Constable, with riverside meadows, woodland, fields and miles of paths.
River Stour
East Anglian river meandering through Flatford Hamlet, with riverside seating, launching for water craft and walking paths.
Flatford Tea-room
Riverside tea-room serving drinks, cakes, ice cream, lunches and cream teas, with indoor and waterside seating areas.
Gift shop
Shop filled with gifts, homewares, books, local produce and gardening accessories and gifts inspired by Flatford.
Flatford hamlet
Historic buildings that can be viewed from the outside, including Valley Farm, Willy Lott’s House, Flatford Mill and The Granary.
Bridge Cottage
17th-century thatched cottage, telling the story of those who lived and worked at Flatford.
Second-hand bookshop
Bookshop stocked full of pre-loved books.
Constable Exhibition
Exhibition exploring the life and work of John Constable, explaining how he found inspiration in the Suffolk countryside.
Spotlight events
Take to the water
See Flatford from a different perspective by hiring out one of our rowing boats. Spot the wildlife that lives on the River banks and glide alongside the ducks and swans that call the river their home.
Things to see and do
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Things to see and do at Flatford
There is plenty for all to enjoy on a visit to Flatford. Take a self-guided trail or join a tour and discover the locations of major paintings by John Constable.
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Family-friendly things to do at Flatford
Discover what family-friendly activities are on offer at Flatford in Suffolk, from walking by the River Stour, nature trails and geocaching.
Eating and shopping
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Eating and shopping at Flatford
Treat yourself to a cuppa and a tasty treat in the Flatford tea-room and find the ideal gift for you or a loved one in the shop.
Places to stay
Thorington Lodge
A cosy gate lodge on the side of a 17th-century Suffolk farmhouse.
Thorington Hall
A striking eight-bedroom farmhouse with fine historic detailing throughout.
Upcoming events
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Heritage Open Day - Thorington Hall
Thorington Hall is a beautiful, rambling timber framed farmhouse in the heart of the Dedham Vale. This is a rare chance to visit as the house is normally let as National Trust holiday home. When you visit, marvel at the wooden carving on the...
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Seasonal Ranger Walks
Discover the seasons highlights through the eyes of our Ranger team as they take you on a journey across Flatford.
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Botanical Casting Workshop
Spend a relaxing few hours in the Granary at Flatford learning about botanical casting. Workshop leader Becky will lead you through the process of casting flowers and foliage into plaster so you can create your own beautiful and permanent...
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Constable Ambisonic Workshop: Composing the Landscape
Experiment with music technology to record the sounds of Constable country, and turn them into musical performance. Lead by sound artist Frazer Merrick, you’ll explore a range of equipment to record sound and then spend the afternoon using the...
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Christmas Craft Fayre
The Bourne Valley Crafters bring their festive Christmas fayre to Flatford. They have invited a talented group of local crafters and designers to bring their wares, so you will be able to browse from a beautiful range of crafts, including...
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Christmas at Valley Farm
Step into a traditional country Christmas at Valley Farm. The main hall of this ancient building will be decorated with greenery and there will be a cosy log fire to warm your hands. Mince pies and mulled wine will be on sale and our...
About Flatford
Flatford lies in the heart of the beautiful Dedham Vale. This charming hamlet was the inspiration for some of John Constable's most famous pictures, for example, the Hay Wain or Boatbuilding near Flatford Mill among many others. Wandering beside the River Stour or looking at Flatford Mill and Willy Lott's House you can feel as if you are actually walking through one of his paintings. Our informative exhibition will give you an insight into Constable's life at Flatford. While you are here, enjoy exploring the countryside on one of our circular walks or hire a boat and row along the river.
History
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History of Flatford
Flatford is home to a number of unique buildings which all have individual histories. Read on to discover more about the history of this special place.
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John Constable at Flatford
Discover the life of John Constable and his family. Stories of a happy childhood, heartbreak and success in the art world help to paint a picture of what his life was like.
Our work
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Our work at Flatford and the Dedham Vale
Learn about the work we do all year round at Flatford and the Dedham Vale, from ensuring traditional farming methods continue, to growing fresh produce in the kitchen garden.
Support us
Flatford needs you!
The National Trust has launched a brand-new electric, wheelchair-accessible shuttle at Flatford, making it easier for everyone to enjoy one of the most iconic landscapes in Constable Country. We’re looking for friendly, reliable volunteers to help operate the shuttle so it can run more regularly and help make the new service available to even more people. Could you lend a hand – or know someone who might?
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Volunteer opportunities at Flatford
Do you have some spare time and want to help us look after this special place that Constable loved to paint? Find out how you can apply to join the volunteering team at Flatford.
