The Orchard Close Art House

• Sleeps: 6
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 1.5
• Minimum stay: 1 night

On the outside, The Orchard Close Art House is an unassuming 1960s semi-detached Suffolk home. Yet on the inside, a world of fascination and wonder awaits!

Beautifully renovated in mid-century style, the interiors sing with personality and colour. Owners Mark and Sarah have creatively upcycled much of the furniture and accessories you’ll discover here, from curtains and crockery to wood and paving. Mark is also a celebrated artist, so you’ll find plenty of his original paintings adorning the walls, along with a book that tells their unique stories.

But the piece de resistance is the incredible Insect Circus Museum, once a “warm-hearted and witty” travelling attraction, now housed in a room all to itself. Here, guests can browse the marvellous costumes, puppets, toys, and ephemera that brought joy to audiences around the world.

(The museum also brought joy to antiques expert Drew Pritchard, who on his TV show Salvage Hunters, declared it “one of the most joyous and unexpected experiences not only of my buying and antiques career, but of my life!”).

Perfect for small families and groups of friends, the house sleeps up to six guests in two double bedrooms and a bunk room with two adult-sized beds. Well-behaved pets are welcome to stay too, for a small additional charge.

There’s no TV or Wi-Fi available at the house, so your stay will be blissfully free of digital distractions. Instead, unwind together in the welcoming open plan living space, which also boasts a small stage and a fun dressing-up box for impromptu performances! Fire up the record player (a diverse variety of records is provided) for the perfect background mood, or crack open a game to keep everyone entertained.

Meanwhile, retreat facilities include a compact, well-equipped kitchen with a microwave and a washing machine, and an upstairs bathroom with a bath and electric shower. Oh, and a separate toilet means there won’t be any awkward morning queues.

At a glance

• An art-led, mid-century-styled retreat set in the village of Great Livermere, six miles from Bury St. Edmunds.
• Unique elements include original works of art and the TV-featured Insect Circus Museum, which is available for guests to browse at their leisure.
• Three bedrooms (two double rooms and one bunk room with two adult-sized beds) sleep up to six guests.
• Full self-contained facilities include a well-equipped kitchen and bathroom with separate WC.
• The walled patio garden features dining furniture and a special rain-proof throne – an ideal reading spot!
• There is an award-winning pub less than a mile’s stroll away, and plenty of scope for birdwatching in the village.
• Reach Norwich, Cambridge, and Ipswich in less than an hour’s drive.

Features

• Dog Friendly
• Family Friendly

More information

There’s a comfortable dining area indoors, or on balmy summer evenings simply head through the patio doors and dine in the walled garden instead. Here you’ll also find a special rain-proof throne – an ideal spot for getting lost in a good book, whatever the weather.

If you decide to head out and explore, the rural village of Great Livermere is full of birdlife and creative inspiration, being the childhood home of the ghost-story author M.R. James (his last story ‘A Vignette’ is set in the village itself… read it if you dare!).

Take a short stroll to the award-winning local pub – The Bull – in nearby Troston, or drive to the historic market town of Bury St. Edmunds, just six miles away. You can visit Norwich, Cambridge, and Ipswich in less than an hour, too, potentially making your stay at The Orchard Close Art House almost as rich and eclectic as the retreat itself!

Things to note

Well-behaved pets are welcome to stay for a small additional charge. Please note that there is no TV or Wi-Fi at the retreat, but a 4G phone signal is available – as is a wealth of indoor entertainment, so you’ll never be bored!