Long Melford is one of Suffolk's most attractive villages. It has a long, long High Street, populated by charming independent shops, art galleries, antique centers, cafes, restaurants, and, of course, typical Suffolk Inns.

‘Melford’ is derived from ‘mill’ and ‘ford’, and ‘Long’ doesn’t need explaining to anyone who has attempted to walk the main street in Long Melford – all 2 ½ miles of it! The longest in England. There are many interesting sights in Long Melford, and it is well worth a visit in its own right. If you start at the the top of the village, with Holy Trinity Church (see above), that's the best place to begin. Like many in the area, Holy Trinity is a wool church of the late 15C. However the tower is a later addition (1903). The Church is light and airy and contains several noteworthy memorials and brasses inside. Just outside the Church is the brick hospital, founded in 1573 for 12 poor men and two poor women.

There are also two Tudor mansions in close proximity – Kentwell Hall is a romantic, completely moated, mellow redbrick Tudor mansion in a tranquil parkland setting. There are lots of events going on at the Hall, and you can have a guided tour of the house, which has been fully restored and is now a private residence. Melford Hall is a large Elizabethan house, built of red brick around a quadrangle and ornamented with mitre-topped turrets. It is run by the National Trust.

At this end of the village, sloping down along the Green, is a delightful row of houses, some small, some Georgian, some Queen Anne, all with little gardens in the front and no two alike. It is well worth parking the car up by the Church and walking down the Green past this row, past the old School house where there are frequent Book fairs and Antique Shows, and into the village. However the walk back to the car up the hill is another matter...!

When coming into the main part of the village from the north-west (ie Church end) you'll see The Bull Inn on the left. This was built in 1450 and so has a fascinating history, including playing host to John Lennon in the 60s for a spell. Ambling along the lovely main street you'll pass numerous antique shops and pubs, several boutiques and restaurants, with enough cafe's to keep you going along the way!

After all this sightseeing you'll need some recuperation time over a nice warm beer or tea, so head for a typical Suffolk Inn in the form of The George and Dragon (of course!)