Dating back to 1250, this idyllic cottage has bags of charm. It’s in the town of Hadleigh, so shops, restaurants and cafés are just a short walk away, along with cycleways across the countryside and a meandering riverside walk.

Hide away from the world in a timber-clad bolthole where Tudor windows let in plenty of sunlight during the day. By night, it’s time to get a fire crackling in the fireplace and snuggle up with a glass of wine on the sofa. Antique, rustic furniture has been hand-selected to keep the medieval feel to the cottage, including cast-iron pans suspended from the wooden beam in the kitchen. Heading up the narrow staircase to bed, you’ll find a sound sleep beneath the old roof beams.

Home truths:
*There is no garden with this home, but there is a courtyard to sit out in
*This old home with narrow stairs is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility
*The welcome basket includes local bacon, organic eggs and tomatoes from your host's garden when in season, local bread and locally sourced fruit where possible
*There is a wild pond in the host's garden which has been designed to encourage amphibians and grass snakes
*There is private, off-road parking with this home