Did You Know These Famous People Lived in Suffolk?

Suffolk is most commonly known for its beautiful countryside and ancient history, but did you know that it also has been home to many hugely famous faces? Here Windmill Lodges gives you a look into the early lives of many superstars, where many of them grew up in the towns and villages of Suffolk.  Windmill Lodges’ luxury log cabins in Suffolk fit perfectly with its superstar residents, so book a fabulous holiday away with us and treat yourself.

June Brown

June Brown, or Dot Cotton from EastEnders as she’s otherwise known, was born in Needham Market in 1927 and was educated in Ipswich throughout her childhood. She first went to Miss Daisy’s in 1930, when she was just three years old, before moving to St John’s Church of England School. She then enrolled in Ipswich High School for Girls where she received a scholarship.

Archie Leach

Archie Leach, or Cary Grant as he’s most famously known, ran away at a young age to join an acrobatic troupe in Ipswich called the Pender Troupe. He was the youngest member of the group at just 13 years old.

Bill Nighy

Bill Nighy, the hugely successful actor, has a house in Aldeburgh and is often seen at Aldeburgh’s famous end of summer festival. Bill Nighy is known for his range of roles, from Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean, to Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter.

Delia Smith 

Celebrity chef Delia Smith married her husband Michael Wynn Jones at Stowmarket in 1971 and still lives in the area. She and her husband also have investments in Norwich City Football Club which they strongly support.

Twiggy

World famous model Twiggy lives in Southwold, and it was here that she was first found by M&S to feature in their adverts while she was relaxing at her local pub after a long walk on the beach with her husband. Dressed in a woolly hat and anorak and far from her usual glamorous self, she still caught the eye of the Executive Marketing Director for Marks and Spencer.

Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran was born in Hebden Bridge, but moved to Framlingham as a child where he attended Thomas Mills High School. He played at a number of small venues to try and get noticed, such as the Steamboat Tavern in Ipswich, before he rose to fame. Ed still visits Suffolk regularly, and recently passed his driving test at the Ipswich driving test centre on Ransomes Europark. Ed also frequently stops over in Framlingham, just 2 miles from our luxury log cabins, and is often found shopping in the co-op, or enjoying a pint at The Station!

Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn’s aunt and uncle lived in Erwarton, and she often travelled down from her birthplace of Blickling to visit them while growing up. She even visited it once with Henry VIII. She was buried at the Tower of London after she was beheaded, however it was rumoured that her heart was buried at Erwarton. In 1838 work was done on the church and a heart shaped casket was found filled with dust which was believed to be the remains of her heart. 

To view our stunning luxury log cabins and to check availability, visit our website.

Exploring Southwold

Southwold, just 40 minutes from our luxury log cabins, is a charming Suffolk seaside town that offers a huge array of things to visit and explore. From the Adnams Brewery to Southwold’s distinctive working lighthouse there is plenty to do on a day trip here, especially during the cold winter months where the town is filled with twinkling lights and warm cafes.

Windmill Lodges offers a scenic holiday in the rural countryside of Suffolk, which combines luxury, relaxation and comfort. Each of our beautiful log cabins comes with its own private hot tub, as well as a coal effect fire to keep you warm during the colder months. Perfect for families and couples, our lodges are fully equipped to the highest standards.

About Southwold

Southwold, a small town on the North Sea Coast, has a population of just 3,680 and is famously known for its harbour which remains one of the main fishing ports on the Suffolk coastline.

Southwold is also famous for its huge landmarks, including its lighthouse which was built in 1933, and stands at 31 metres tall. Guided visits take place at the lighthouse regularly, where you can climb the 113 steep spiral steps to the top of the lighthouse. This lighthouse is hugely important for Southwold’s fishing port, and plays a vital role in guiding the boats to shore each day.

Southwold’s biggest employer, Adnams Brewery, brings tourists from all over the UK to tour the huge brewery and sample their delicious beers and gins. The brewery is open during the winter months, throughout which they sell a range of both winter cocktails and winter spiced beer which have aromas of orange, cinnamon and chocolate.

Southwold Pier was destroyed in 1955 by a gale, but was rebuilt in 2001 to accommodate the thousands of tourists visiting the beach. This popular pier has a collection of modern coin operated novelty machines, which are favoured by children throughout the summer and winter. The pier’s small café is also open in winter, where you can enjoy a hot drink after a brisk stroll along the beach.

Things to do in Southwold

While staying in our luxury log cabins, Southwold is an ideal place to visit for a romantic stroll or family day out at the beach. Here you can enjoy cosy pub lunches, quiet costal walks and can browse in the independent shops which line the streets of the small town.

If you enjoy intellectual and historical days out, Southwold is perfect, with two main museums which boast a huge knowledge of its local history. Southwold Museum has a number of exhibits which focus on the local and natural history of the museum, which is informative and fun for the whole family to enjoy. The Amber Shop is a museum designed to tell the history of amber, and is the only amber museum in the whole of the UK.

Lovers of seafood and high quality food will find themselves surrounded by high end restaurants in Southwold, which serve fresh and local produce all year round. With local produce ranging from lobster to rollmops, you can all try something new while here.

For an exciting adrenaline rush, the Coastal Voyager provides a high speed experience which shows you the stunning view of Southwold from the sea. During this high speed tour you may be able to see porpoises, seals and dolphins if you’re lucky. If you prefer something a bit slower, there are also cruises which take up to 3 hours and 30 minutes, during which you can see heron, cormorants and many other types of seabirds.

The Electric Picture Palace is an old fashioned cinema which was opened in 2002 to show the style of the early 1900’s. With just 66 seats, you can watch a large variety of films here in both black and white, and colour.

Just six miles from Southwold is the Henstead Exotic Garden, which is hidden behind a 200 year old cottage and ancient yew hedge. This exotic garden covers over an acre of land, and is surrounded on all sides by hedges, backing onto a 12 acre woodland full of wildlife.

For more information on our available log cabins, visit Windmill Lodges.

Days Out in Suffolk With A Difference

Windmill Lodges is the perfect holiday destination for couples, families or groups of friends as we offer fully-equipped self-catering accommodation in gorgeous log cabins that are furnished to the highest standards. For those of you who enjoy trying new and adventurous things, here we have highlighted some of the exciting places to visit around our stunning lodges. If you are visiting our log cabins to celebrate something special, such as a birthday or anniversary, then these activities are sure to make your short breaks in Suffolk something to remember.

Adnams Brewery

For an informative and interesting tour around one of Britain’s most famous breweries, why not visit Adnams Brewery and Distillery? For obvious reasons these tours are for the over 18s only, but they make a fantastic day out for couples or groups of friends. These tours run daily and take about one hour, and are followed by a tutored beer tasting session which lasts 30 minutes. Following this you will be able to go to the Adnams Cellar and Kitchen Store, where you can try a selection of their products – and collect a free bottle of beer! The tour costs just £12 per person, and is only a 40 minute drive from our scenic lodges.

Go Ape at Thetford Forest

Go Ape is perfect for families looking to try something different, as you get to climb up to 12 metres in the sky. For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, they have Segways available for you to navigate your way around the forest. Go Ape was the winner of the Suffolk Tourism Awards for the Best Tourism Experience in 2011, so is most definitely worth visiting with your young ones. This takes just over an hour to drive to from our lodges, so we advise that you plan to spend the whole day there to make the most of it.

Oasis Camel Park

Oasis Camel Park is perfect for animal lovers of all ages, and is the only specialist camel park in the UK. Here they host daily camel information talks, photo sessions and even training sessions. For an extra charge they are available to ride, along with donkeys and llamas. This is just a 25 minute drive from our complex and costs only £7.95 for adults. It closes on the 1^st November, but will reopen again in March, so if you come to stay with us again next year it will be well worth visiting.

Beacon Rally Karts

Suitable for anyone over the age of five, Beacon Rally Karts allows adults and juniors to experience an exciting off-road journey. Here they have 3 different sized tracks to suit all ages, ranging from 150 metres to 570 metres. To visit Beacon Rally Karts from your lodge it will only take 25 minutes, so it is the ideal place to go for those not wanting to travel too far.

Discover Newmarket

If you are interested in horse racing then Newmarket is a wonderful place for you to visit, and is just an hour’s drive away. Discover Newmarket offers the opportunity to go for a behind the scenes tour to see the horses and to learn more about how they are trained and brought up. Here they have many different types of tours, one of the best being their National Stud Tour, where you can see the foals, mares and stallions.

Sailing Barge Cruises

There are numerous cruises available within a short drive from our lodges which can guide you through the beautiful rivers of East Anglia. Perfect for a romantic getaway, you can even have a 5* dinner on some of the cruises, whilst admiring the sunset. Some of these cruise boats are available to hire for private events, so you can even host your own party while sailing with them.

Short Breaks in Suffolk - To book your stay with us visit our website.

Top Activities for Teenagers in Winter

Windmill Lodges brings you six exciting places to visit over the cold but festive period with young teenagers. These attractions will suit all members of the family, and will make sure you have a fun-filled time at our winter holiday lodges. From adrenaline inducing go-karts, to jumping the day away at the new Jump Street, these places will ensure an enjoyable and unforgettable day out.

Suffolk Ski Centre

The Suffolk Ski Centre, Wherstead, Ipswich, is the perfect place to go as it offers a host of winter sports (albeit on dry slopes), such as toboggans, ringos, skiing and snowboarding, as well as facilities such as golf and high ropes climbing. This is just over half an hour’s drive away from our stunning winter holiday lodges, and there is enough to keep you and the kids entertained for the whole day. They also have “The Lodge” bar and restaurant, where parents can either sit and watch their children, or where the whole family can warm up after a wonderful day on the slopes.

Anglia Indoor Kart Racing

For rainy or snowy days when outdoor activities aren’t possible, Anglia Indoor Kart Racing, Ipswich, is an excellent place to visit with your teenagers. With karts for children of seven years and upwards, the whole family can enjoy a day here. This is best suited for teens over 16 who are able to use the adult karts, which can reach up to speeds of 40mph. Again, this is a 30 minute drive from our log cabins.

Jump Street

This brand new attraction in Colchester is a bit of a drive away, which will take about an hour to get to from the lodges, however it is well worth this. With trampolines covering the floors and walls, you can literally fly through the air. Here you can play dodgeball, basketball, freestyle jump, flip into the foam pit and have a go at bouncing high enough to jump onto a wall. The minimum age for Jump Street is five years old, and it is best to book in advance to guarantee your place there.

Play2Day Lazer Tag

Suitable for six years upwards, your young teens will love this fast-paced adventure game. You can expect to run through a dark 2 level arena, with only the light of your lazer gun to guide you. Full of hiding spots you’ll need to stay on your toes to avoid losing points. Up to 18 people can play at once, and you will be split into two groups. The more you shoot people, the more points you win, but whenever you get shot by someone you will lose these precious points. You’ll find Play2Day Lazer Tag at Martlesham Heath near Ipswich.

Rollerworld

Here you can combine roller-skating with a day-out in Colchester. They have a RollerDISCO on some days as well, so you can skate to some of your favourite tunes. Lessons are available for our less confident skaters, and there is also a quasar for those who prefer to keep their feet firmly on the ground. Your teens can relax after a busy afternoon in the Roller Café, where fast food and fizzy drinks are sold.

Colchester Leisure World

Whether your teens are interested in swimming, the gym, sports or socialising, Colchester Leisure World has something for everyone. On weekends they have a giant inflatable to have a go on, as well as a crazy river to drift around. They also have slides to whizz down if you are feeling adventurous. For the boys, there are football matches to take part in on their Astro Turf, which are either 5-a-side or 11-a-side.

If you are interested in booking one of our log cabins this winter, visit Windmill Lodges to check availability.

Winter Events to Enjoy During Your Stay at Windmill Lodges

This season enjoy a tranquil stay in our luxury wooden lodges, all with heated family hot tubs available for year round use, including during the colder months. Windmill Lodges has highlighted just a few of the winter activities in the surrounding area, for the whole family to enjoy. Whether you are staying with us this year, or planning a break away with us next year, these activities are the best in Suffolk and should not be missed.

Aldeburgh

The Christmas lights will be switched on in Aldeburgh on Saturday 12^th December, which will help put you in the Christmas spirit. Here there will be mulled wine, live music, mince pies and the shops will be open until late to help you get all your shopping done in time for Christmas. This festive evening will be completed with fireworks on the beach, and is sure to be a hugely popular event for families in the area. Aldeburgh is a 35 minute drive from our luxury lodges, and you and your family can enjoy a fantastic day out visiting the high street’s fascinating independent shops.

Snape Maltings

Father Christmas will arrive at Snape Maltings by boat at 2pm on Sunday 13^th December, where you and the youngest family members can visit Santa in his grotto on land, and enjoy festive music while you wait. His grotto will be in House and Garden, and all charitable donations will go to support Macmillan Cancer Support. Within the Snape Maltings Concert Hall there will also be a performance of Alice in Wonderland, A Christmas Spectacular. This performance runs through from Friday 4^th December to the Sunday 13^th December, and is a family treat with the glitzy costumes and lively music.

Framlingham

While staying with us in our luxury winter lodges, you can enjoy a charming range of activities in Framlingham, which is just a ten minute drive away. The town’s shop windows will be transformed, and the market stalls will be open on Tuesdays and Saturdays, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to stock up on winter delights. Several church services will be held in the town throughout the festive period, to celebrate the meaning of Christmas.

Beccles

Beccles is a quaint town with a gorgeous quayside where you can take a walk to discover the beautiful winter countryside. The Christmas lights in Beccles will be turned on from 5.30 pm, on the evening of Friday 27^th November, with on-stage live music and fairground rides for your children to enjoy. Here, there will also be two reindeers for you to pose with, or if you prefer, you can join in with the Suffolk Samba as they cheer everyone up with their take on Brazilian music. For something more traditional you can visit the beautiful St Michael’s Church for carol singing.

Kentwell Hall

The Dickensian Christmas at Kentwell Hall is ideal for families with young children, as here they can learn about Victorian life while getting involved. The house will be prepared for Christmas, and you can enjoy homemade lunches and teas in the Stableyard Restaurant. You and your children can also be taught how to make Victorian style Christmas decorations, which may make the ideal winter gift. This is an all-day event, and is just over an hour’s drive, but makes for a lovely day out for all the family.

Woodbridge

At Woodbridge this year you can visit Santa at his grotto in Notcutts from Sunday 22^nd November to Tuesday 22^nd December, where Santa will be available from 11am until 4pm every day. Tickets, which can either be pre-booked through the Woodbridge Rotary Club or bought on the day, are £6.50 per child, which includes a present. All the money from this event will go to charity and will be shared between Riding for the Disabled (Hollesley branch) and the East Anglian Children’s Hospices.

Ickworth

Ickworth House is open all year round, and is transformed at Christmas to become a magical and festive place. Here they will be hosting Christmas pudding and mince pie workshops in their historic kitchen, alongside wreath and Christmas tree making workshops. They also have a greenery gathering walk where you can meet the locals and gather winter greenery, including ivy and holly, which you can then use at home to give your house a festive touch. Young children can experience a story telling session with Father Christmas, before having a singalong and receiving a gift made by the elves. They can also visit the basement here to find all the hidden gingerbread men.

To book your festive holiday in one of our luxury wooden lodges, visit Windmill Lodges.

Firework Nights Out in Suffolk

Windmill Lodges puts the spotlight on five spectacular firework shows to visit this year with your family and friends. These are all within 45 minutes of our beautiful self-catering log cabins, and are suitable for young children, so the whole family can get involved. If you are interested in staying with us next year over this period, these are a few ideas of what you can expect to see in the surrounding area, as all the events tend to be run annually.

Heveningham Hall

This year Heveningham Hall is hosting a huge show for all ages to enjoy, featuring fireworks, a funfair, live music and even spark fire dancers. This is a 1920s themed fire show with acrobatics, fire stunts and gangsters. Based on the famous Cirque Du Soleil, it is guaranteed to be breath-taking. Heveningham is only a 30 minute drive away from our wooden cabins, so it is easily accessed. This event, on Saturday 7th November, starts at 5.30pm, and there will be a variety of food and drink to choose from, including a hog roast, fish and chips, candy floss, and, for the adults, there will be mulled wine to get you into the winter spirit.

Framlingham 

Pageant field, Framlingham, will be lit up on Saturday 7th November during their incredible fireworks display, featuring special effects, sparklers and an enormous bonfire. Entry costs £6 for adults and £4 for children on the night, and is just a nine minute drive from our self-catering log cabins. This is ideal for families with young children, as you will easily be able to get them to bed afterwards without the need for a long journey home. You might even be able to see these fireworks from our wooden lodges, making for a magical evening whilst you enjoy a soak in our family hot tubs.

Christchurch Park

Slightly earlier than some of the other events, Christchurch Park hosts a huge Halloween themed night on Saturday 31st October. Here, your children can transform themselves into terrifying creatures to take part in the biggest fancy dress party the park has ever thrown. There will also be a funfair here, with lots of food and a licenced bar for the adults. This night will be made extra spooky by the zombie procession, which will travel through the park. The park opens at 6pm, and closes at 10pm, and is just a 30 minute drive from our lodges. Leave yourself plenty of time to get here. Parking gets very busy due to it being a hugely popular occasion.

Stonham Barns

On Friday 30th October, Stonham Barns will let off fireworks to music, during which your children can take part in many Halloween themed games, such as a fancy dress and pumpkin carving competition. The best pumpkin and costume will win a prize, so make sure you’re creative. This is just a 15 minute drive from our log cabins, and starts at 4pm.

Felixstowe 

Enjoy a stunning view of the sea while the sky is lit up above you during the annual Felixstowe Firework Show on Sunday 1st November. This year the football club has teamed up with the carnival team to bring you a dazzling 20 minute show, all fired to music. Here you can enjoy an array of delights including a funfair, food and sideshows. The gates open at 4.30pm, and the fireworks begin at 6.30pm, and due to Felixstowe being just a 30 minute drive away from our gorgeous self-catering log cabins, you’ll be home in time to put any young children to bed.

To visit us during this fun filled season, go to Windmill Lodges  to check our availability.

Enjoy a Spooky Break at Windmill Lodges

If you are staying in our self-catering log cabins over the October half term period, you can look forward to visiting many ghostly Halloween themed places. We’ve listed a variety of events across Suffolk, from terrifying mazes for teens and adults, to tea parties for your little ones. If you missed a Halloween stay in our cabins this year, however, there’s plenty of time to book one of our lodges and enjoy the fun next year!

Pleasurewood Hills

For thrill seekers of all ages, this amusement park offers a brilliant day out, with rides of all sizes to suit all members of the family. Pleasurewood Hills is about an hour’s drive from your countryside lodge, but it is well worth the journey for families with younger children. If you’re staying in our lodges around this time, they have a haunted house and host many scary events throughout the last week of October.

Suffolk Food Hall 

Suffolk Food Hall has beautiful, unobstructed views of the River Orwell and is the perfect place to go for a peaceful lunch or dinner. But from the 28th October until the 31st October, it will be transformed into a spooky dining room where your children can expect to be fed foods such as blood jelly and worm burgers, while indulging in a spectacular tea party. Throughout the evening your children can carve pumpkins, play spooky games and take part in a fancy dress evening for only £11.50 each. This is suitable for children from the ages of 3 to 10, and all must be accompanied by an adult.

Jimmy’s Farm

Jimmy’s Farm has activities for the whole family to enjoy, including a witches and wizards treasure hunt which takes place every day throughout the last week of October. One of Jimmy’s Farm’s most memorable Halloween events is their “Fast and the Furriest” race, which is well worth seeing. This famous farm is just 40 minutes away from our stunning self-catering log cabins, and is guaranteed to be a fun-filled day out for the family.

Kentwell Hall

Scaresville at Kentwell Hall is one of the most chilling events around. Although it’s a fairly long journey from our log cabins, for those of you who enjoy being startled it is a perfect way to spend your Halloween while staying with us. At Scaresville you will spend a full hour inside the haunted village which you walk through, with no breaks in between. This is not suitable for under 14s, however Kentwell Hall also host an event called Halloweenies which runs throughout the day and is suitable for all young children. Here they can take part in activities and competitions, both indoors and outdoors.

Languard Fort 

A lovely day trip for you and your family could be to Languard Fort in Felixstowe. This is scenic and peaceful and is about a 45 minute drive from our self-catering log cabins. On 31st October the fort is transformed into a Little Fort of Horrors, where you and your children can explore the tunnels, watch the fire show and take part in a zombie shooting game, among many other exhilarating events on the day as well. This is suitable for children of all ages, and it costs £30 for a family ticket.

Alder Carr Farm 

This farm is just a 30 minute drive from our log cabins and is ideal for families with young children. Here you will be able to carve pumpkins, have your face painted (and transformed into something spooky), ride a pony and much more. For those of you who go in costume, there will prizes given out; so make sure you look as creepy as possible. Entry is £4 each, and this covers the price of all activities except for face painting and refreshments.

To book your spooky holiday away with us, visit Windmill Lodges