Brook Cottage | A luxury cottage retreat on the banks of the river Stour in romatic Dedham

We don’t think you will find a retreat with much more English charm than this! The historic Brook Cottage, sat on the side of the River Stour, is a great destination for couples hoping to escape to the countryside from the city. You can get there, from London, in 90 minutes, and then lay back in luxury by its open fire, and under its oak beams.

Step through the cottage’s sweet little front door and into a world away from city living. Brook Cottage is around 600 years old and has kept plenty of its original features. The lounge ceiling is on the low side so tall people will have to watch their heads. People were a little shorter in the 15th century!

This Grade II listed bolthole is ideal for countryside fans and anyone acquainted with the famous landscape paintings of John Constable. The artist grew up and went to school in Dedham, the home of Brook Cottage and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in its own right.

The cottage has three bedrooms, with two double beds and a single. It sleeps up to five adults and would be ideal for four adults and one child, due to a low ceiling in the third bedroom. Take note – the stairs in this cottage are steep and the staircases are curvy and therefore may not be suited to anyone with limited mobility.

Downstairs, there is a lounge, with two sofas, and an open fire for cosy winter nights. There is a small but perfectly formed kitchen, with everything you need to cook up a delicious meal, and a nice garden view. And Brook Cottage’s adjacent dining room has a patio door leading to a small courtyard garden and a seating area – perfect for an evening meal or a few hours of peaceful reading. The garden is lit with fairy lights, making it twinkle.

You can park behind the cottage while you off-load your luggage, or on the street outside the cottage. There is a free public car park in the village, which is a six minute walk away from Brook Cottage.

The cottage sits in the high street of Dedham, an erstwhile prosperous ‘wool town’ and now a thriving village with galleries, tearooms, restaurants, pubs, boutiques and a magnificent church. It is home to the Munning’s Museum, where Sir Alfred Munnings RA lived and painted and now his home and studio are open to the public. John Constable painted many of his landscape paintings in the area and the landscape was the inspiration behind his artwork

It is still a great place for art lovers. Just opposite Brook Cottage is the Dedham Art and Craft Centre in an old church where there is a range of great gifts, including handmade items by local creatives. Constable Country is also a treat for walkers and nature lovers. The River Stour meanders lazily through the gentle landscape, offering a natural haven for birds and wildlife. You can hire rowing boats in the summer, from the Boathouse Restaurant, and row from Dedham to Flatford Mill and back, or an electric boat for a more relaxing river trip.

This property is no longer available but please click on the link below to view a similar romantic holiday cottage in Dedham.