Harwich, UK
Dec 31st, 2006, 09:12 AM
#2
Dec 31st, 2006, 09:46 AM
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alcorjd - Will you have a car or depending on public transport?
Try www.visiteastofengland.com or www.visit-suffolk.org.uk for starters.
There is a ferry that runs from Harwich to Felixstowe www.harwich.net/ferry.html
Sandy
Try www.visiteastofengland.com or www.visit-suffolk.org.uk for starters.
There is a ferry that runs from Harwich to Felixstowe www.harwich.net/ferry.html
Sandy
Dec 31st, 2006, 09:50 AM
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The Ipswich Tourist Information office has a web page on Suffolk wool towns and villages. In the 15th century they sold cloth to the low countries, and became wealthy. They are about 30 miles by car from Harwich, and are beautiful. Nowadays people who live there are rich, and drive to a railway station to take trains to the City of London. The villages serve lunch in fine old pubs.
LAVENHAM
Lavenham is the most famous of the Suffolk 'Wool Towns'. Its narrow streets have been almost frozen in time, lined with characterful timber framed houses, gracefully twisted with age. The market place looks much as it must have done in the middle ages with its cross surrounded by the half timbered Guildhall and the homes of wealthy merchants.
LONG MELFORD
The impressive mile long main street is famous for its antique shops and is recognisable as the setting for 'Lovejoy' TV series. The village green is dominated by the magnificent church and nearby stand the superb Tudor mansions of Melford Hall, owned by the National Trust and Kentwell Hall, where historic re-creations, on selected dates, take the visitor back to everyday life in the 16th century.
KERSEY
One of the most picturesque villages in Suffolk. Set between two hills, one crowned by the church and the other by the remains of an Augustinian priory, the multi-coloured houses run steeply downhill to a water-splash and each bears some delightfully individual stamp. A massive Elizabethan door on tiny River House for example, or a horse's tail on an eave which shows where the horse doctor lived. The sheer size and magnificence of the Church of St Mary argues prosperity and a population far greater than the village possesses now.
CAVENDISH
One of Suffolk's most attractive villages and former ancestral village of the Dukes of Devonshire. The thatched cottages cluster around the village green, dominated by the tower of the church. The tower itself contains a room with a fire-place and shuttered windows.
CLARE
Another of Suffolk's beautiful villages. Many of the houses display the pargetry work (ornamental plaster coating) which is one of the specialities of the region..
HADLEIGH
A former wool town and once the 14th most prosperous town in the country, Hadleigh lies on a tributary of the river Stour which is spanned by the Toppesfield Bridge, a medieval 3 arched bridge. The town contains an unusually large number of houses dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries.
EAST BERGHOLT
Birthplace of John Constable who declared that he loved 'every stile and stump and every lane in the village'. The pretty village contains a surprising number of large elegant houses - Tudor halls, Georgian brick, Suffolk plaster with moss covered red tiles and creeper-clad porches - many built by the wool merchants that made the Stour Valley wealthy between the 13th and 17th centuries.
Ben Haines, London
[email protected]
LAVENHAM
Lavenham is the most famous of the Suffolk 'Wool Towns'. Its narrow streets have been almost frozen in time, lined with characterful timber framed houses, gracefully twisted with age. The market place looks much as it must have done in the middle ages with its cross surrounded by the half timbered Guildhall and the homes of wealthy merchants.
LONG MELFORD
The impressive mile long main street is famous for its antique shops and is recognisable as the setting for 'Lovejoy' TV series. The village green is dominated by the magnificent church and nearby stand the superb Tudor mansions of Melford Hall, owned by the National Trust and Kentwell Hall, where historic re-creations, on selected dates, take the visitor back to everyday life in the 16th century.
KERSEY
One of the most picturesque villages in Suffolk. Set between two hills, one crowned by the church and the other by the remains of an Augustinian priory, the multi-coloured houses run steeply downhill to a water-splash and each bears some delightfully individual stamp. A massive Elizabethan door on tiny River House for example, or a horse's tail on an eave which shows where the horse doctor lived. The sheer size and magnificence of the Church of St Mary argues prosperity and a population far greater than the village possesses now.
CAVENDISH
One of Suffolk's most attractive villages and former ancestral village of the Dukes of Devonshire. The thatched cottages cluster around the village green, dominated by the tower of the church. The tower itself contains a room with a fire-place and shuttered windows.
CLARE
Another of Suffolk's beautiful villages. Many of the houses display the pargetry work (ornamental plaster coating) which is one of the specialities of the region..
HADLEIGH
A former wool town and once the 14th most prosperous town in the country, Hadleigh lies on a tributary of the river Stour which is spanned by the Toppesfield Bridge, a medieval 3 arched bridge. The town contains an unusually large number of houses dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries.
EAST BERGHOLT
Birthplace of John Constable who declared that he loved 'every stile and stump and every lane in the village'. The pretty village contains a surprising number of large elegant houses - Tudor halls, Georgian brick, Suffolk plaster with moss covered red tiles and creeper-clad porches - many built by the wool merchants that made the Stour Valley wealthy between the 13th and 17th centuries.
Ben Haines, London
[email protected]
Dec 31st, 2006, 10:04 AM
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Agree wholeheartedly with Ben Haines, but you will need a car to take advantage of these villages. You could base yourself in Lavenham, and stay in one of my favourite hotels, the Swan http://www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk/.
Frankly neither Harwich nor Colchester (apart from the castle) have much to offer IMO.
Frankly neither Harwich nor Colchester (apart from the castle) have much to offer IMO.
Dec 31st, 2006, 11:06 AM
#6
I totally agree w/ Heimdall. Both about needing a car to tour about Suffolk, which is terrific but not so convenient for a one day (or day/night) stop over enroute to the cruise ship.
And also about Harich not having much to recommend. I only mentioned Colchester because there is enough to fill a few hours and it is on the rail line to Harwich.
And also about Harich not having much to recommend. I only mentioned Colchester because there is enough to fill a few hours and it is on the rail line to Harwich.
Dec 31st, 2006, 07:40 PM
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Having boarded a cruise ship out of Harwich and spending a lot of time in London, I'd suggest you just take your cruise ship's shuttle to Harwich the day of your cruise and spend four days in London, exploring.
Jan 1st, 2007, 11:07 AM
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Thank you to Ben Haines, Heimdall, JanisJ and TTess! We'll certainly take a look at the Swan hotel...looks as if we should rent a car (we Americans drive on the wrong side of the road, you know!). Probably stay two nights in London (we like to attend Sunday services at All Souls) and then head for 2 1/2 days in the country! Wonder if we could take the train to Harwich and rent a car there. Then we could drop it off on the way to the ship.
Jan 1st, 2007, 12:02 PM
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Alcorjd, that sounds like a good plan, but consider renting a car in Colchester rather than Harwich. You will have a better selection, and it avoids some backtracking. I often use Enterprise Rent-a-Car (they have a branch in Colchester) because they will pick you up and drop you off. You could arrange to have them pick you up at the Colchester train station, then drop you off in Harwich when you return the car. You will have to ask if they are willing to take you that far, though.
I think you will enjoy spending some time in the Suffolk countryside. Once out of Colchester, and off the A12 main road, you will be on quiet country lanes, where the driving will be easy. That area is known as Constable Country, and is one place you will see more English tourists than foreigners.
I think you will enjoy spending some time in the Suffolk countryside. Once out of Colchester, and off the A12 main road, you will be on quiet country lanes, where the driving will be easy. That area is known as Constable Country, and is one place you will see more English tourists than foreigners.
Jan 1st, 2007, 12:12 PM
#10
As Heimdall says - rent the car in a town like Colchester (or possibly Ipswich - depending on where you are headed)
As long as it isn't a Sat. afternoon or all day Sun. -- many non-airplort rental agencies aren't open on weekends.
As long as it isn't a Sat. afternoon or all day Sun. -- many non-airplort rental agencies aren't open on weekends.
Jan 1st, 2007, 12:14 PM
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Thanks, Heimdall. We'll look into Enterprise at Colchester. Is Colchester on the same train route from London to Harwich?? Sorry about my ignorance of the area...
I like the idea that we'll see more English tourists than foreigners (and I promise we'll try our best not to stand out -- except in our speech, of course!)
I like the idea that we'll see more English tourists than foreigners (and I promise we'll try our best not to stand out -- except in our speech, of course!)
Jan 1st, 2007, 12:22 PM
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I'm not sure about the train route (maybe Ben Haines can tell you). As far as I know the trains to Harwich go from Liverpool Street Station in London through Colchester. There are also trains stopping at Colchester going on to Ipswich and Norwich.
Jan 1st, 2007, 01:12 PM
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Janisj made a good point - insure the car rental company's opening hours are compatible with the time you need to be in Harwich to board the ship, or your plans may fall apart. The Enterprise branch at Colchester, for example, is closed on Sun & Mon (go to http://tinyurl.com/yc5fsn and type in Colchester).
Jan 1st, 2007, 01:15 PM
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From Colchester there are seperate trains that go to Harwich and Ipswich. Colcherster to Ipswich is 20 minutes and Colchester to Harwich 31 minutes.
Seperate trains depart London direct to either Ispwich or Harwich
Seperate trains depart London direct to either Ispwich or Harwich
Jan 2nd, 2007, 02:11 AM
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If you are driving round the area, like seafood, and want to go somewhere that local people love visit The Company shed for lunch. info here: http://www.waitrose.com/food_drink/w...d/0308086c.asp
It is run by a fishing family who sell some of their catch directly to 'eaters' - very basic facilities, it is literally just a plate of seafood at a formica table and you have to take your own drinks/bread/anything else you want, but fantastically fresh and delicious.
A wild and wonderful corner of Essex for you to see as well, very different to the more usual touristy haunts.
It is run by a fishing family who sell some of their catch directly to 'eaters' - very basic facilities, it is literally just a plate of seafood at a formica table and you have to take your own drinks/bread/anything else you want, but fantastically fresh and delicious.
A wild and wonderful corner of Essex for you to see as well, very different to the more usual touristy haunts.
Jan 2nd, 2007, 03:38 AM
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Harwich's historical significance does get overlooked (see the above posts...), particular its Mayflower connections. http://www.harwich.net/tour.htm gives you an idea of how to spend a few hours in the old town.
The trouble with the ferry across to Felixstowe is that it leaves you at Landguard Point, which makes onward travel a bit of a problem. Mind you, the fort itself is worth a visit. http://www.landguard.com/
Apart from that, the above advice about getting into Suffolk is good.
The trouble with the ferry across to Felixstowe is that it leaves you at Landguard Point, which makes onward travel a bit of a problem. Mind you, the fort itself is worth a visit. http://www.landguard.com/
Apart from that, the above advice about getting into Suffolk is good.
Jan 2nd, 2007, 03:58 AM
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nona1 - can you walk out to Mersa island or only access by car? Plan on eating here the next time we are in the area.
owain - Good point about where the ferry drops you off. Agree the fort is worth a look around and we have enjoyed walking in this area.
alcorjd - Thanks for starting this thread. My mum lives in Felixstowe and I return from the States each year to visit so always looking for new places to try out.
Sandy
owain - Good point about where the ferry drops you off. Agree the fort is worth a look around and we have enjoyed walking in this area.
alcorjd - Thanks for starting this thread. My mum lives in Felixstowe and I return from the States each year to visit so always looking for new places to try out.
Sandy
