Long Melford

This is undoubtedly one of Suffolk's most attractive villages. In fact, in a Spring 2008 nationwide poll by Savills, the estate agent, it came 7th in Britain as one of the most desirable villages.



As its name implies, the village has a long, long High Street, populated by charming independent shops, vibrant art galleries, antique centres, cafes, restaurants, and, of course, typical Suffolk Inns. So, given all of this combined with beautiful architecture and amazing countryside, it is no wonder that this is such a desirable place!

However traffic can be a bit slow moving at times!


(Street Fair Summer 2008)

A potted history
‘Melford’ is derived from ‘mill’ and ‘ford’, and ‘Long’ doesn’t need explaining to anyone who has attempted to walk the main street in Long Melford – all 2 ½ miles of it! The longest in England. There are many interesting sights in Long Melford, and it is well worth a visit in its own right. If you start at the the top of the village, with Holy Trinity Church (see above and below), that's the best place to begin. Like many in the area, Holy Trinity is a wool church of the late 15C. However the tower is a later addition (1903). The Church is light and airy and contains several noteworthy memorials and brasses inside. Just outside the Church is the brick hospital, founded in 1573 for 12 poor men and two poor women.



There are also two Tudor mansions in close proximity – Kentwell Hall and Long Melford Hall.



Kentwell Hall is a grand & romantic Tudor Mansion, rich in hostory and surrounded by a moat and wonderous gardens. Despite its granduer, Kentwell is a much-loved family home. It is open to the public for guided tours and re-creations, amongst other events. Please click on the link above for full details of this magnificent building.

Melford Hall is a large Elizabethan house, built of red brick around a quadrangle and ornamented with mitre-topped turrets. It is run by the National Trust and they organise many events at the Hall throughout the year so have a look at their display above.



For more Great National Trust sites, check out -
Lavenham Guildhall, Sutton Hoo, Dunwich Heath, Orford Ness Nature Reserve. Or check out the Suffolk Tourist Guide's further information on The National Trust in Suffolk.

At this end of the village, sloping down along the Green, is a delightful row of houses, some small, some Georgian, some Queen Anne, all with little gardens in the front and no two alike.

It is well worth parking the car up by the Church and walking down the Green past this row, past the old School house where there are frequent Book fairs and Antique Shows, and into the village. However the walk back to the car up the hill is another matter...!



When coming into the main part of the village from the north-west (ie Church end) you'll see The Bull Inn on the left.



This was built in 1450 and so has a fascinating history, including playing host to John Lennon in the 60s for a spell. Ambling along the lovely main street you'll pass numerous antique shops and pubs, several boutiques, restaurants and cafes.

One of the attractions of Long Melford today is it's thriving and growing hub of Art Galleries. In the past the village has been known as an antique centre and it still has several antique shops, but now the village has a reputation for being the place in Suffolk to go to see and buy works of art.

Although Aldeburgh and Southwold are more established for art in Suffolk, they are that much further away from London and Cambridge than Long Melford, making the village much more convenient to reach for art collectors.



There are several world class Art Galleries in Long Melford, and they all offer better value for money than London, so come and visit them soon!

For example The Jessica Muir Gallery, and the Lime Tree Gallery.

This thriving art scene has brought a new vibrancy to the village and there is a now a wider array of good quality shops from ladies boutiques to Fine Foods, as well as some remaining high quality antique shops.

Long Melford also has a vibrant community and every year they organise a street fair in July. It's always great fun and you can have a go at line dancing as well as all the other traditional Village Fete games -



Did you know that Francis Bacon was a frequent visitor to Long Melford in the 1970s? His lover's brother, David Edwards, owned Westgate House, which was an ideal escape for Bacon from the pressures of London. This lovely Georgian house has a large walled garden which played host to riotous parties, as Bacon enjoyed entertaining his friends from the East End. See if you can spot the Long Melford influence in Bacon's work!



After all this sightseeing you'll need some recuperation time over a nice beer or tea, so head for a typical Suffolk Inn in the form of The George and Dragon.

And then you'll need some retail therapy, and Long Melford really comes into it's own with Ladies fashions. There are several lovely boutiques in Long Melford and you're unlikely to leave the village empty handed!



One pair of shops worthy of note is The Cuckoo Flower & Cuckoo Flower at Home. In the former you will discover a vast array of beautiful jewellery, stylish handbags, scarves & accessories, indulgent toiletries, and a wide selection of unique gifts for all occasions. The latter proudly offers a fabulous range or indoor & outdoor furniture, glassware, and appliances.

There is also the great Willow Tree Farm Shop on the outskirts of Long Melford, selling first class seasonal and local produce such as cheeses & meats, and cakes & breads, plus much more.

If you've still got some energy after the long walk along the long high street then turn off the main street and head for the water meadows about 1/2 mile away. If it's been raining then the water meadows are likely to be seriously water logged, which is great fun if you've got some wellies and a water loving dog!



Long Melford is one of Suffolk's many gems. It has lots to offer the visitor, from historic buildings to contemporary fashions, and the food available throughout the Village - from the butchers to the restaurants and pubs - will keep you sustained throughout your stay.



Long Melford Accommodation

Long Melford Eating Out

See Long Melford's website for more information on this lovely village.