The Engine House

Rooms

A large but unassuming black front door opens into the beautiful double-height kitchen with its delighful reclaimed tile floor. To one end of the kitchen is the retro-style snug or living area, which has a huge collection of interesting magazines, some books and games. It's perfect for curling up next to the wood-burning stove.

Upstairs from the snug is the mezzanine bedroom, where we slept. This is open on one side to the kitchen and has a lot of character; I loved the beautiful arched window behind the bed. Next door is the family bathroom with bathtub and a collection of artfully arranged curios. Along is the second double bedroom, which can be set up as a twin on request and has a small arched window and a cute vintage kids art table that looks like a paint palette.

We really liked the third and largest, the ground floor master bedroom, with its gorgeous turquoise sideboard tucked into one corner. The window behind the bed frames part of the garden, with some fabulous vintage prints from Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum. A polished concrete floor leads back to the ground floor shower room. 

Features include:

• Board games
• Central heating
• Coffee / tea making
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Terrace/balcony
• Toiletries
• Washing machine
• WiFi
• Wood-burner

Eating

Judging by the array of cook books on display, this is the home of someone who appreciates good food, and Suffolk has this in abundance. There are plenty of great bakeries (Woosters gets the thumbs up), farm shops, and a twice-weekly market in Bury St Edmunds for local produce. All the usual supermarkets are nearby.

The long kitchen-dining room is the heart of the house and has large double doors which open to the walled garden, which is perfect for an al fresco lunch or an aperitif on an early summer's evening; there are dining tables in both. You're well set up for self-catering (tea, coffee, sugar, flour and olive oil are waiting for you on arrival) but don't expect microwaves or air fryers here. This is a place to take it slow and savour the preparation as you saunter around the kitchen, radio on, taking time with the presentation. When the collection of plates, trays and dishes is this good, it would be criminal not to make an effort.

But if you want a night off, there are plenty of options for dining out. Bury St Edmunds has its fair share of Michelin-star restaurants plus all kinds of family-friendly eateries, and Sandy will send you a list of her favourites, such as Folk cafe (5-minute drive).

Features include:

• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Oven
• Toaster

Activities

• Explore cultural hub Bury St Edmunds – famous for its Cathedral and Abbey (the latter has gorgeous grounds too). The town also offers independent shops, local produce in the market (Wednesdays and Saturdays), and a good selection of restaurants, cafes and pubs
• Visit the stunning medieval wool villages – we particularly loved Lavenham, notable as a location for the filming of Harry Potter and The Witchfinder General
• If you love historic buildings, National Trust Ickworth is a stunner and well worth a visit; both this and Nowton Park offer great walks through expansive parkland (SW and S of Bury respectively)
• Head to nearby nature reserves Lackford Lakes (15 minutes) and Knettishall Heath (25 minutes) for dog-friendly walking trails; the latter offers river swimming in the summer months. Thetford National Forest, the UK's largest manmade lowland forest, is also 20 minutes away
• Bring your bikes and cycle the many bike paths that criss-cross this lovely flat county
• Take a day trip to Shingle Street beach and nearby Pump Street bakery – just an hour away
• We loved walking at dusk down the local lanes and seeing all the little muntjac deer in the gardens and park

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Historical sites
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Wildlife
• Wine tasting

Kids

The Engine House is a lovely place for a relaxed getaway for a family of up to 6, with a private walled garden and kid-friendly restaurants nearby. However, this is quite a grown-up home, and there are lots of special things on display, so it's not great for little ones who want to pick up everything; we think it's better suited to older children. You'll need to bring your own travel cot, and there's not much at the house specifically for children. 

Best for:

Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

One of the bedrooms upstairs can be set up as a twin and is on the same floor as the bathroom with a tub. There's a day bed that can be used as an extra bed if required.

Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour

• Hospital: 13 minutes

• Shops: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Engine House is on a quiet lane (just off the main road) in the large village of Great Barton, 5km northeast of the historic market town of Bury St Edmunds, in central Suffolk. It's about a 2-hour drive from London. 

By Air:
London Stansted (70km) is the closest airport.

By Train:
Bury St Edmunds is the nearest railway station (10 minutes' drive). It's about 2 hours from London, changing at Cambridge, Ely or Peterborough (from Kings Cross) or at Ipswich (from Liverpool Street). From Stansted, change at Cambridge.

By Car:
Most guests will self-drive to get around and make the most of the area. If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations.