ARC Thorpeness

• Sleeps: 20
• Bedrooms: 8
• Bathrooms: 8
• Minimum stay: 2 nights

ARC Thorpeness was once a magnificently imposing water tower that dominated the sweeping Suffolk coastline. In 1929, the Grade II-listed building was transformed by the celebrated architect William Gilmour Wilson, to become an ultra-luxurious holiday home with the most spectacular views in Thorpeness.

This is a special retreat that’s built for togetherness and shared memory-making, inspiring stories to retell long after you’ve returned home. Sleeping up to 20 guests across five sumptuous floors, up to two well-behaved dogs are also welcome – so you won’t have to leave anybody off the holiday guest list.

There are plenty of places for everyone to gather, both inside and out. The state-of-the-art kitchen not only boasts high-end appliances and a wine fridge, but a large, sociable island for keeping the designated chef company. Break bread at the dining table, designed for long, laughter-fuelled meals with enough comfortable space for everyone.

If the evening sun is shining, the outdoor kitchen comes complete with a premium pizza oven and a South African-style braai, for sizzling suppers devoured in the dining pergola. When it’s finally time to turn in, make your choice from eight elegant bedrooms, each with flexible sleeping configurations to suit groups of every description.

How will you spend the rest of your time? Enjoy a movie in the dedicated cinema snug, lead your own yoga class in the lounge studio, or simply steal yourself away awhile, with a glass of wine and a good book for company. You’ll find two 52” TVs with Apple Firestick apps to settle around, too – ideal if your group has mixed TV-show tastes.

You’ve also got the option of making your way up to the jaw-dropping fifth-floor living room, which spans the entire former water tower. Here you can feast your eyes on those ever-changing, 360-degree views of the Suffolk Heritage Coast, across the village and out towards Aldeburgh.

Outside, meanwhile, awaits a beautiful landscaped garden that’s home to a heated pool and an eight-seater wood-fired hot tub… al fresco treats to be savoured even on chilly days.

At a glance

• An architect-designed conversion of a Grade II-listed water tower, with spectacular 360-degree views of the Suffolk Heritage Coast.
• The retreat sleeps up to 20 guests, with 8 bedrooms that can be configured to different group requirements.
• Sociable spaces include a cinema snug and yoga studio, with a large kitchen island and a magnificent fifth-floor living room with incredible coastal views.
• Outside awaits an al fresco kitchen and dining pergola, with a heated pool and wood-fired hot tub.
• The beach is just a few steps away, with plenty of opportunities to shop, sightsee and dine in Thorpeness.

Features

• Dog Friendly
• Family Friendly
• Hot Tubs
• Large Groups
• Seaside Breaks
• Swimming Pools

More information

If you can bear to leave your new-found sanctuary, there’s plenty to explore just a few moments away. Thorpeness was developed in Edwardian times, as an exclusive resort inspired by J. M. Barrie’s magical, much-loved tales of Peter Pan. Part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there are picture-perfect beaches to relax on – as well as tennis courts for exerting some energy! – just beyond the gates.

Rich in eye-catching mock-Tudor architecture, Thorpeness highlights include the iconic “house in the clouds”, and the Meare: a shimmering, man-made boating lake with tiny islands named after Peter Pan stories. Stray a little further afield to visit wildlife reserves and take winding nature trails, in an unforgettable stay that promises to delight and enthral.

Things to note

Up to two well-behaved dogs are welcome to stay, for an additional charge per dog. The retreat is not suitable for stag or hen parties. A high chair and crib can be provided on request. Unfortunately, as the retreat is a Grade II-listed building, step-free access cannot be accommodated.