The 2012 Summer Olympic Games and the 2012 Paralympic Games are fast approaching, and it is sure to be an incredibly popular event attracting visitors from the world over, so it would be wise to make your travel and accommodation plans as soon as possible.
As well as concerns of availability, hiring a hotel in London can be costly. Suffolk is just a short drive or train journey away from East London, and makes for a superb solution when searching for hotel and accommodation options outside of the capital.
There is plenty to see and do in Suffolk when you are taking a break from viewing, training for, or participating in the Olympic Games.
The following is a guide to the huge variety of hotel and accommodation options available to you when visiting Suffolk.
Ipswich is a wonderful metropolis that has not forgotten its roots, and is just over an hour away on direct trains from Stratford.
If you want to truly pamper yourself by indulging in the height of luxury then the Hintlesham Hall Hotel, Ipswich is the ideal choice for you. This Grade 1 Listed Elizabethan Manor House is located within 175 acres of rolling Suffolk countryside, and has a number of leisure facilities for guests to choose from. Here you will discover 33 bedrooms and suites of varying shapes, sizes and styles, casual dining available all day, Health & Beauty and other specialist treatments and a fully equipped gym complete with swimming pool. Guests can also spend a day out enjoying a round or two of golf on the adjacent championship size PGA golf course.
Alternatively, for a more cost-effective stay, the Novotel Ipswich Centre offers a full range of facilities expected from a full service hotel, and at value for money prices. Another great money-saving option is the Ipswich North Premier Inn, which is conveniently situated on the A14 and has 90 comfortable rooms as well as a ground floor restaurant, bar, and 24-hour room service.
One hotel definitely worth a visit to experience its unique character and charm is the Belstead Brook Hotel, Ipswich. This converted Jacobean Hunting Lodge has 88 lovely en-suite bedrooms plus the oak-panelled Manor Restaurant, and a fantastic Leisure Club featuring a swimming pool, a whirlpool, a steam room, a sauna, a solarium, weight training, cardio-vascular equipment and the ‘Body, Mind & Soul Therapeutic Spa’ – this is sure to be a much used facility amongst all you sports fans!
If you fancy a quiet and relaxing break in the country, staying at Kesgrave Hall, Ipswich will not be a disappointment. With its picturesque and child-friendly grounds, buzzing bistro restaurant, outside terrace for a spot of al fresco dining, private indoor dining facilities and stylish bedrooms, your stay here is sure to be peaceful and memorable.
Finally, there are two wonderful hotel options provided by the Best Western hotel chain – the Best Western Gatehouse, Ipswich, an elegant retreat in the form of a Georgian house situated within over 3 acres of mature grounds, and the Best Western Claydon Country House Hotel, Ipswich, a spacious modern country house Hotel which offers excellence as standard and is conveniently situated only minutes away from the A12 to London.
Hotel Accommodation for the 2012 Summer Olympics – Coastal Hotels in Suffolk
Life doesn’t get much better than a spending a summer break in Sunny Suffolk – one of the driest counties in the UK!
Suffolk offers a fantastic selection of Coastal Hotels, including:
The Crown & Castle, Orford – featuring exceptional views of Orford Castle from its pretty terrace, plus 18 light, stylish and modern bedrooms
The Brudenell Hotel, Aldeburgh – with 42 light and airy bedrooms, most of which have glorious views of the sea or the River Alde and its surrounding marshland in the traditional seaside town of Aldeburgh
Sutherland House Hotel & Restaurant, Southwold – a fascinating building, rich in history yet truly contemporary, with a first-class, award winning restaurant
The Jolly Sailor, Orford – a great 16th century pub, restaurant, Inn and Art Gallery all in one that fully welcomes children
The Waverley Hotel, Felixstowe – with excellent promenade sea-views from its bedrooms and a newly refurbished seafood and grill restaurant
The Ship, Dunwich – offering delicious home-cooked meals and 10 comfortable rooms (six at the inn itself and four in converted barns), some with marsh and sea views
The Fishers Hotel, Lowestoft – this small yet perfectly formed 3 star hotel is located on the south beach tourist route, just a few minutes’ walk from Pakefield Beach
The White Lion Hotel, Aldeburgh – overlooking Aldeburgh’s shingle beach, with cosy 38 bedrooms, some with sea views as far as the eye can see
The Swan Hotel, Southwold and The Crown Hotel, Southwold – both part of Adnams Hotels and each offering comfortable and relaxing stays plus famously good food. Having welcomed visitors since 1859, Adnams’ hotels are part of the fabric of Southwold, just like the Adnams Brewery
Hotel Accommodation for the 2012 Summer Olympics – Pub and Inn Accommodation in Suffolk
Suffolk Inns make for convenient, cost-effective and traditional stays, and also offer delicious home-cooked, locally sourced meals throughout the day plus a great selection of wines and ales.
The Suffolk countryside is a glorious sight to behold, and makes an idyllic location for you to spend your summer in.
Located at the centre of Suffolk’s beautiful countryside, conveniently close to Ipswich for journeying back to London, The Bildeston Crown, Bildeston is an historical 15th century coaching inn that has been creatively refurbished without losing any of its 600-year-old character. It has been awarded 3 AA Rosettes and 3 AA Red Stars, and has 12 En suite double and twin bedrooms to choose from.
The Olde Bull Inn Hotel, Barton Mills near Bury St Edmunds is over 500 years old and simply oozes with character & charm. You will find an informal public bar, an AA rated rosette restaurant with fine wines and 14 refurbished bedrooms, each with a unique boutique twist. The Olde Bull is conveniently located centrally between Newmarket (6miles), Bury St Edmunds (10 miles), Ely (12 miles), and Thetford (7 miles), and just 2 miles from Mildenhall.
Set on the Suffolk Heritage Coast between Southwold and Aldeburgh, The Westleton Crown, Westleton, is a converted coaching inn from the 12th Century. The inn retains its rustic character but with the added sophistication and comforts of contemporary living. Within you can treat yourselves to something from the indulgent menu, fine wine list and selection of Real Ales whilst relaxing beside the quietly cracking log fires before retiring to one of the 25 stylish bedrooms.
The Swan at Lavenham is an award-winning quintessential English country hotel and restaurant. The Swan’s 45 en suite bedrooms are historical in style, some with oak beams, inglenook fireplaces and original Medieval wall paintings, and the elegant Gallery Restaurant, with its warm, intimate atmosphere, serves the very best of modern English cuisine.
Finally, The Crown Inn, Stoke by Nayland, is a delightful village Inn with a good reputation amongst both tourists and regulars alike. The 11 rooms are quietly located to the rear of the property, overlooking pretty open countryside, and a full English breakfast is included. Stoke by Nayland is a picturesque village built on a hill above the Stour and Box river valleys, and definitely worth a visit during your stay this summer.
Hotel Accommodation for the 2012 Summer Olympics – Budget Hotels in Suffolk
London is notorious for its high prices and costly accommodation. For some hotel options that won’t break the bank, here are some of the more cost-effective accommodation choices in Suffolk:
The Greyhound, Bury St Edmunds – offering comfortable accommodation from just £15-00 per person per night!
The White Horse, Risby – located by the A14, this 500-year-old coaching inn with a large beer garden offers great value for money
Days Inn, Haverhill – this modern hotel offers a wide choice rooms and suites – all with the same quality design and at excellent rates
The Bell Hotel, Mildenhall – a friendly hotel with great facilities plus The Chimes Restaurant on-site
Hotel Accommodation for the 2012 Summer Olympics – Family-Friendly Hotels in Suffolk
You will be pleased to know that the vast majority of Hotels in Suffolk are family friendly, offering family suites, cot hire, children’s menus, large gardens plus everything you need to ensure your family break in Suffolk is as stress-free as possible.