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Old Drift House

Old Drift House

House sign

House sign

Dining Room

Dining Room

Middle Bedroom

Middle Bedroom

Kitchen

Kitchen

Back Garden

Back Garden

From the Garden

From the Garden

Village panorama

Village panorama

Playhouse and toolshed

Playhouse and toolshed

From the Front

From the Front

Kersey village splash

Kersey village splash

Uphill from the splash

Uphill from the splash

Kersey from the Church

Kersey from the Church

Local farmer lunching at The Bell

Local farmer lunching at The Bell

Pony in the Splash

Pony in the Splash

Beach at Aldeburgh

Beach at Aldeburgh

Rowing at Dedham

Rowing at Dedham

Paddling at Dedham

Paddling at Dedham

Coastal path at Felixstowe Ferry

Coastal path at Felixstowe Ferry

Back Garden

Back Garden

Old Drift House

Old Drift House

House sign

House sign

Dining Room

Dining Room

Middle Bedroom

Middle Bedroom

Kitchen

Kitchen

Back Garden

Back Garden

From the Garden

From the Garden

Village panorama

Village panorama

Playhouse and toolshed

Playhouse and toolshed

From the Front

From the Front

Kersey village splash

Kersey village splash

Uphill from the splash

Uphill from the splash

Kersey from the Church

Kersey from the Church

Local farmer lunching at The Bell

Local farmer lunching at The Bell

Pony in the Splash

Pony in the Splash

Beach at Aldeburgh

Beach at Aldeburgh

Rowing at Dedham

Rowing at Dedham

Paddling at Dedham

Paddling at Dedham

Coastal path at Felixstowe Ferry

Coastal path at Felixstowe Ferry

Back Garden

Back Garden

Old Drift House

Suffolk, IP7 6EB

Cosy character cottage for the perfect getaway

  • 15th Century Grade II thatched cottage
  • Dogs welcome
  • Only 1 1/2 hours from central London
  • Excellent restaurants within 10 minutes
  • Traditional English pub 200 yards away
  • Short breaks available all year round
    • Sleeps 8Sleeps 8
    • Bedrooms 4Bedrooms 4
    • Bathrooms 3Bathrooms 3
    • 1 Dogs Welcome*1 Dogs Welcome*
    • WiFiWiFi
    • ParkingParking
    • PC 5 star
    • Visit England 5 star graded
    • VisitEngland Gold Award
    • M1 Limited mobility: can climb a flight of stairs, but banisters or grip handles would make this easier
    • VisitEngland Rose Award 2022

Availability & Book Now

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From £900

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– Member Since 2006 –

Features

Sleeps 8

Sleeps 8

Bedrooms 4

Bedrooms 4

Bathrooms 3

Bathrooms 3

Dines 10

Dines 10

1 Dogs Welcome*

1 Dogs Welcome*

WiFi

WiFi

Parking

Parking

Enclosed Garden

Enclosed Garden

Pub (within 1 mile)

Pub (within 1 mile)

EV charging onsite

EV charging onsite

Child-Friendly

Child-Friendly

Extra baby kit

Extra baby kit

Outdoor play equipment

Outdoor play equipment

Babysitting by arrangement

Babysitting by arrangement

Barbecue

Barbecue

Fine dining (within 10 miles)

Fine dining (within 10 miles)

Bike storage

Bike storage

Private chef available

Private chef available

Catering available

Catering available

Credit cards accepted

Credit cards accepted

About & Contact

Cosy character cottage for the perfect getaway

Idyllic ‘chocolate box’ thatched cottage in the picturesque village of Kersey with its ancient ford close to the pub. 5 Star, Gold Award and Suffolk best self catering establishment.

A 15th Century Grade II thatched cottage steeped in character with a host of original features including exposed beams in every room, inglenook fireplaces, lead-light windows, bread oven, and old brick floors. The cottage garden is typically English, calm, secluded and quiet.

There are 4 double bedrooms (2 connected if required) with linen and towels provided, 3 bathrooms, sitting room with baby grand piano, dining room, fully fitted kitchen/breakfast room, laundry room, central heating, dishwasher, freezer, washing machine and dryer. Cot and highchair are available by arrangement. There is ample garden furniture, gas barbecue and 2 terraces for informal summer dining. Free WiFi, stereo, TV, and freeview. A garage with EV Charger provides car space or secure storage for bicycles, and there is plenty of safe parking on the drive or on the quiet road outside.

We welcome one dog at Old Drift House with an enclosed garden. We can provide a doggy bed, bowls, towels, etc. so you don't have to bring them.

Kersey is in Constable and Gainsborough country. Stand at Flatford Mill at the very spot where Constable painted The Haywain, and see a superb collection of Gainsborough’s work in Sudbury in the house where he was born. The Suffolk coast offers places too numerous to mention, but Aldeburgh and Southwold are worth exploring. Sutton Hoo reveals an ancient Saxon burial site, Lavenham (Guildhall and antique shops), Long Melford (Kentwell Hall and more antique shops), and Colchester (Roman remains) are worth visiting. Kersey is a walkers’ paradise, with several country pubs within walking distance and the village pub only 200 yards away. A health and beauty therapist can visit the house, and there are 3 golf courses nearby. Old Drift House is a lovely home from which to explore all of this, or to just stay put and relax in quiet and splendid comfort.

Location & Attractions

Select categories to explore all attractions

  • Food Food
  • Gardens Gardens
  • Heritage Heritage
  • Town Town
  • Visitors Attraction Visitors Attraction
  • Wildlife Wildlife

Old Drift House

Kersey
Nr Hadleigh
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP7 6EB

Food The Company Shed, West Mersea

Quirky seafood restaurant in a fishing shack famous for crab, lobster, fish, mussels, tiger prawns and more. Take-away or eat in, but take your own bread and wine.

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Food Hollow Trees Farm

Brilliant farm shop with vibrant cafe and farm trail for kids in Semer only 1 mile from Old Drift House. Events throughout the year - Halloween/Guy Fawkes/Easter/Christmas/etc.

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Gardens Beth Chatto

Created by Beth Chatto OBE at the family home in 1960. Total of 5 acres includes dry, sun baked gravel, water and marginal planting, woodland, shady, heavy clay, and alpine planting.

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Heritage Sutton Hoo Saxon Burial Site, Woodbridge

Famous Anglo-Saxon 6th and 7th century royal burial site with countless treasures, many on display and others in the British Museum. Most spectacular British archaeological discovery.

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Heritage Gainsborough's House, Sudbury

Dating from 1520 the house where Thomas Gainsborough was born is now a museum and art gallery. A large collection of his paintings, drawings and prints, and a lovely back garden.

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Heritage Kentwell Hall

Red brick stately home hosting historical re-enactments and events with parkland, gardens and farm. Only 8 miles from Old Drift House in Long Melford. CO10 9BA.

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Heritage Melford Hall

National Trust Tudor manor house once owned by Beatrix Potter family, with tearoom and extensive gardens. In Long Melford only 8 miles from Old Drift House. CO10 9AA.

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Heritage Ickworth House

Georgian Italianate palace with impressive Rotunda - an architectural marvel. Owned for 200 years by the eccentric and infamous Hervey family, but now with the National Trust. IP29 5QE.

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Town Lavenham

Medieval Suffolk wool town with famous Guildhall, church, antique shops and excellent restaurants. Well worth a wander.

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Town Bury St Edmunds

Picturesque, thriving market town that brings together the old and the new . Cathedral and Abbey gardens, and a host of venues for eating, drinking, shopping and relaxing.

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Visitors Attraction Suffolk Ski Centre, Ipswich

Outdoor dry ski slope for toboggan, ringos, parties, snow boarding and skiing. Fun day out.

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Visitors Attraction Flatford Mill

1733 watermill in East Bergholt where Constable painted The Haywain, now run by the National Trust. A great day out with walks and boat hire.

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Visitors Attraction Jimmy's Farm

As seen on TV. In 2004 Jimmy Doherty attempts to set up a pig farm with no experience at all. Now very successful with shop, butchery, nature trail, etc. IP9 2AR.

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Visitors Attraction Colchester Zoo

Rated 11 in the world and in the top 2 zoos in UK. Over 270 species in 60 acres of beautiful parkland and lakes. A great day out. Colchester, CO3 0SL.

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Visitors Attraction Bressingham Steam Museum

Museum and gardens with outdoor steam train. Bressingham, Norfolk, IP22 2AA.

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Visitors Attraction Banham Zoo

Spend the day with over 2000 animals in 50 acres of parks and gardens. Banham, Norfolk, NR16 2HE.

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Wildlife Needham Lake & Nature Reserve.

Lovely 13 hectare site in Needham Market ideal for a stroll, picnic or summer outing. Lots of wildlife and a surfaced path around the lake for walkers and cyclists.

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Reviews for Old Drift House

Meet the owner

Euan and Jill Black

Euan flew jet fighters in the RAF for 34 years and Jill was a teacher and Garden Designer who won a silver medal at Chelsea. Married over 50 years they have moved house 26 times following the flag, and Jill produced a book about their exploits called 'Living in the Slipstream' with the Foreword by The Duchess of Cambridge. They first offered Old Drift House as a holiday let in 2004, and their main purpose now is to make every guest feel special and to experience a real home-from-home. They provide a warm welcome with personal touches and spotlessly clean rooms ..... the rest is up to the guests.

3D Tour / Video