Tried and Tested: 25 Seckford Street, Woodbridge

Welcome to the latest edition of the Best of Suffolk ‘Tried and Tested’ blog series, featuring the utterly stunning 25 Seckford Street in Woodbridge.

As your truly local, independent holiday cottage letting agency, we go above and beyond to ensure our knowledge of our fabulous collection of stylish places to stay in Suffolk is top-notch.  Our Tried and Tested blog series sees members of the Best of Suffolk dream team, their families and friends ‘try and test’ our properties to provide first-hand experiences of our stays.

From the property itself to recommendations of things to do nearby and knowledge of where’s good for food – we ‘try and test’ it all.  In this edition, Abi (our Marketing Manager), and her friends (Mich, Katherine and Aaron) tried out 25 Seckford Street for a long weekend celebrating a birthday and the Eurovision song contest.  Here’s how they got on!

25 Seckford Street, Woodbridge

25 Seckford Street is a gem of a period townhouse perched amongst the historic buildings around Woodbridge’s picturesque Market Hill.  Refurbished to uncompromising contemporary standards, it delivers that ‘wow’ factor in every room.  Enjoy the well-crafted kitchen with electric range cooker – perfect for in-house dining.  Relax with the elevated views through the ancient oaks to the distant creek.

Soak up the traditional charm of the stylish master bed and stunning bathrooms, or curl up on the sofa in either of the two sitting rooms with wood burners, the smart TVs and lose yourself in the Sonos sound system.  Set over four floors, there’s room for everyone.  Spectacular in the summer, welcoming in the winter, 25 Seckford Street is the ideal base to explore the attractions of this delightful corner of Suffolk, if you can bring yourself to venture out!

VIEW & BOOK 25 SECKFORD STREET

Location, Location, Location!

25 Seckford Street is in a very prestigious location in the heart of Woodbridge, just around the corner from historic Market Hill and close to the bustling Thoroughfare with independent shops, cafes, and galleries.  Fen Meadow is close too, great if you have children in your party as it’s predominantly a grassland meadow with a play area, cycle speedway track and small wood.

Woodbridge has an excellent range of markets, cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops as well as an independent cinema called The Riverside and the famous Tide Mill, a rare example of a tide mill whose water wheel still turns.

Woodbridge is ideal for those who enjoy sailing and is great for cycling and walking.  The historic market town is conveniently located for exploring the Suffolk Coast and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  The picturesque town of Aldeburgh is a short drive away, as is RSPB Minsmere, the fascinating historic burial ground of Sutton Hoo recently featured in the Netflix hit The Dig, the Bawdsey Peninsular and Quay with unspoiled small sandy beach.

25 Seckford Street: First Impressions

You know what it’s like trying to organise a group of friends to get away for a weekend.  On the rare occasion you’ve all got the same dates available (and after the past year of not being able to see each other all that much), you want to make sure your stay is extra special!  The weekend of this Tried and Tested stay just so happened to coincide with my birthday and the Eurovision song contest, so a perfect combination for a weekend away.

My good friend Mich and I arrived on the Friday and were eager to get inside and see what 25 Seckford Street had in store for us.  We parked easily on Seckford Street following the instructions on the Best of Suffolk arrival details, found the keybox and opened the front door to a most welcome sight….

The 25 Seckford Street Welcome Pack was a delicious bottle of Shiraz and some particularly tasty Viennese whirls.  They were accompanied by the Best of Suffolk welcome file which told me everything I needed to know, such as how to access the heating settings, Wi-Fi details and where to find…everything!  I love that the visitor’s book at 25 Seckford Street has its very own ‘Morris the Seagull’ on it too!

25 Seckford Street most definitely has the wow factor from the moment you walk in the door.  The modern kitchen with range cooker, the wonderful view from the sitting room to Fen Meadow behind, the four floors to explore…you get that child-like excitement of wanting to see what’s next.

The property is spacious, incredibly clean, beautifully finished, and particularly well-equipped.  We felt like we had checked into a swanky hotel!

Pimms O’Clock

As it was a special occasion, after unpacking we decided to rustle up a jug of Pimms and set about our evening.  The kitchen at 25 Seckford Street is a fabulously social space.  Housing the dining table, as well as having lots of surface space and a frightfully efficient electric range cooker, it has been thoughtfully put together to create an ideal dinner party space.

You Will Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties

The well-equipped kitchen provided me with everything I needed to whip up honey, soy and ginger salmon, sesame stir fry vegetables and naked noodles.  We sat ourselves down at the dining table and tucked in.

Our meal complete, the dishwasher came in handy as it meant we could relax rather than having to do the washing up.  We finished the Pimms and talked until the wee hours, before heading to bed.

Luxurious Master Bedroom

Prepare to be well and truly spoilt during your stay at 25 Seckford Street!  This gorgeous bedroom could be straight out of Bridgerton.  An absolute treat for a weekend away, and the crisp white linens and comfy beds give that luxury hotel feeling.

Flexible Second Bedroom

The beauty of 25 Seckford Street is that the second bedroom can be made up into a king or a twin.  This makes it ideal for a group friends, exactly like our party, as well as two couples or a family with children.  Both bedrooms effectively have their own private facilities as the top floor bedroom has an ensuite shower room and the bathroom is just across the landing from the impressive master bedroom.

Breakfast Al Fresco

After a fabulous night’s sleep we decided to enjoy a spot of breakfast al fresco.  It’s not very often you get outdoor space in a four-story townhouse, and the garden at 25 Seckford Street has been done very well.  The raised decked area flows straight out of the ground floor sitting room and gets the sun in the early evening.

Artizan Coffee

We decided to head into Woodbridge’s bustling centre in search of a decent coffee and were not disappointed.  A huge choice awaited us, and we decided to opt for Artizan, an independent coffee shop on Gobbitt’s Yard, just off the Thoroughfare.  Be careful though, they also sell a tempting selection of handmade chocolate truffle cakes!  The rum flavour I can wholeheartedly recommend!

Woodbridge Independent Shops

The beautiful thing about Woodbridge is the sheer number of quirky, independent shops.  It’s the ideal destination if you could easily while away the time in a book shop, a cookshop, or a vintage or retro shop.  There are also an impressive collection of antique shops should you enjoy taking a trip down memory lane.

Bakery

In addition to thoroughly enjoying ourselves pottering around the shops, we also were on a mission to collect some fresh bread for lunch.  We found The Cake Shop on the Thoroughfare and picked up a freshly baked baguette.

Local Produce

In addition to our fresh bread, we also picked up some local sausages, farmed and produced just down the road in Bury St Edmunds!  Very easily done when shopping in Woodbridge, you’ll find an incredible selection of local Suffolk suppliers and can prepare to be truly spoiled for choice.

Woodbridge Train Station

After our shopping spree we met our friends Katherine and Aaron at Woodbridge train station.  The great thing about Woodbridge is that it is easily accessible by both car and train.  You can be there in under an hour and a half from London and 25 Seckford Street can be easily reached on foot in between 5 and 10 minutes depending upon how quickly you walk!  Greater Anglia operates the route from London Liverpool Street via Ipswich.  It’s also a particularly picturesque route so your holiday can start the moment you step onto the train.

Locally Sourced Lunch

It was back to the very welcoming 25 Seckford Street to whip up a locally sourced, delicious lunch.  The kitchen/dining room really is the ideal space for a social lunch, and to catch up over a bite to eat.  The dining table in the kitchen can seat four guests very comfortably, so whether you’re hiring 25 Seckford Street as a couple, a group or as a family, there’s plenty of room for you to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner.

After lunch we made full use of the comfortable sitting room and had an afternoon playing board games in very comfortable surroundings.  It was soon time to get ready for our evening celebrations.

A Soak in the Tub

One of the absolute highlights of 25 Seckford Street has to be the incredibly luxurious Victoria and Albert freestanding bath.  Filled with plenty of hot water, bubbles, and accompanied by a glass of your favourite tipple and a good book its the ideal way to spend a relaxing afternoon!

Eurovision 2021

As a complete Europhile, and known for hopping on a plane for a weekend in a European city, it was decided we would celebrate my birthday with a Eurovision party.  Fancy dress, European bunting, and Eurovision bingo kept us entertained for the evening.  Little did we know then about the unfortunate ‘nul points’ for the United Kingdom’s entry, but it didn’t stop our fun.  The comfortable sitting room at 25 Seckford Street was ideal for an evening in with friends.  A comfy sofa, the cosy wood burner and the kitchen on hand to refresh glasses meant we could celebrate in style.

Sunday Brunch

25 Seckford Street is so ideally located, you can reach pretty much all of Woodbridge within a few minutes.  We opted for a treat breakfast at Honey and Harvey on the Thoroughfare.  Delicious coffee and an equally tasty breakfast menu served in modern, stylish surroundings.

Woodbridge Riverside Walk

With full tummies, we decided to head off for a 7k walk along the river.  The circular walk started at Woodbridge train station, crossing over the track and took in in the estuary of the River Deben, Martlesham Creek and then returned to the town itself through Fen Meadow and Seckford Street!

Along the way, there were plenty of points of interest.  Birdwatchers will be delighted by the rare and quality of birdlife you can see from the trail.

The Sisters, Andrew Baldwin

Along the walking route, we were treated to a sculpture by Andrew Baldwin.  ‘The Sisters’ is a fairly recent addition to the Woodbridge waterscape and was commissioned by Woodbridge Boat Yard.  It celebrates the contribution of Molly and Ethel Everson; two tough, resilient women who now watch over the river Deben once more.

The Red Lion, Woodbridge

All that fresh air and exercise meant we have most definitely earned a treat meal out.  An exciting part of any holiday is choosing where to eat.  During this Tried and Tested stay, pubs, restaurants and cafés had re-opened for indoor dining again.  We selected The Red Lion, at the top of the Thoroughfare.  Thankfully we had booked a table online, as this popular pub gets busy.  Easily reached from 25 Seckford Street within a few minutes and offering a delicious menu, we were not disappointed!

If I Had More Time, I Would…

…Visit one of the many Galleries in Woodbridge

….Visit Woodbridge Tide Mill

Woodbridge Tide Mill is a rare example of a tide mill that still produces flour.  The wheels and stones turn, grinding the grain as they have done for many hundreds of years.  This living piece of history is one of only a handful in the world still producing flour.  Book online for a weekend visit and experience history through visual insights, unique computer-generated imagery and children’s activities to discover how the grain and flour move around the Mill.  Most days you can even see the huge oak water wheel turning.

…attend a ‘Sundeck Sunday’!

This summer, Woodbridge Festival of Art and Music is (hopefully!) putting on a series of riverside events.  On selected Sundays between May and September, Sundeck Sundays will be taking place at The Boathouse, which overlooks the iconic Tide Mill, the historic Sutton Hoo Anglo Saxon burial site (where the Netflix film The Dig is set), and the River Deben.

What Do Other Guests Think?

Richard and Barabara from Leeds have discovered the joy of holidaying in Suffolk!  Isn’t it time you did the same?

The Verdict: 25 Seckford Street

25 Seckford Street is an absolute gem of a property.  From the moment you open the door it has that ‘wow’ factor.  Conveniently located to explore Woodbridge on foot, with the rest of Suffolk on your doorstep.

No expense has been spared making 25 Seckford Street a luxurious home-from-home.  The hotel quality linens, the fluffy bath sheets, the indulgent freestanding bath – spoil yourself with a weekend away to Suffolk.  Ideal if travelling from London, Woodbridge is a perfect weekend destination for couples, groups or families – there really is something for everyone.

The flexible accommodation at 25 Seckford Street means it can accommodate a variety of party make-ups, and is equally well-suited for families, couples and groups.  The welcome pack and overall high-quality standard of finish and cleanliness meant the holiday started as soon as we arrived.

A celebratory weekend in Woodbridge at 25 Seckford Street was an absolute success, thoroughly enjoyable, and highly recommended!

Why not take a look at availability, and secure your break to 25 Seckford Street today?

VIEW & BOOK 25 SECKFORD STREET