The Windmill, Suffolk: A Stay to Remember and to Repeat
I have driven past this windmill for years and watched as Natalie and Steve transform it into one of the best self-catering places to stay in Suffolk. It’s on the doorstep of where I used to live in Cockfield and Thorpe Morieux when I was younger, so the road is one I know like the back of my hand. From the top of the windmill, you can even see my old home, which made this stay feel especially close to my heart. Natalie and I have been longing to meet and it’s only now, years later, that we made it happen!
There’s something very special about The Windmill in Suffolk, not least because of Natalie, who runs it with such warmth that you immediately feel at home. Ten years on from opening, it’s still absolutely immaculate, a real reflection of her eye for detail. Natalie, like me is a passionate traveller and hotel-lover and this is evident in the presentation of the windmill. As we chatted during my stay, I reassured her that I would always be honest in my reviews – and happily, the places she had booked based on my word have lived up to expectations (one of her favourites being Preidlhof). The Windmill is no different: beautifully kept, full of thoughtful touches and one of the most memorable places to stay in Suffolk.
Natalie’s thoughtful touches make all the difference at The Windmill. A bar of Green & Black’s chocolate sits by the bed, along with water and Elemis sleep spray to help you drift off. The bed itself is the most comfortable I’ve slept in this year – and I’ve slept in a few! Fluffy bathrobes and slippers are on hand, the kind you want to lounge around in from morning to night. In fact, when I stay again, for the first day, that is exactly what I will do!
The Windmill is a self-catering property that sleeps four, featuring a fully equipped kitchen with everything you need – including a Nespresso machine, dishwasher, washing machine, and all the essentials for a longer stay. There’s also a hidden music system and SKY TV for those who like a little home comfort alongside the sense of escape and of course superfast WiFi with no password needed.
On the middle floor of the windmill, you’ll find a glistening white bathroom, tiled with mother of pearl. It has a huge free-standing (and when I say huge, it takes 10 minutes to fill) egg-shaped bath and a large walk-in shower – a bathroom that feels indulgent, feminine and beautifully done.
The Windmill Suffolk
Step outside and you’ll find a garden with outdoor seating – a peaceful spot for morning coffee, or an evening drink before climbing up to the top pod. From there, the views are breathtaking, with the sunrise (with viewing balcony) on one side and the sunset on the other. You can’t help but just stand there, taking it in. Romance is absolutely the name of the game here with the best view in Suffolk.
Set in the Suffolk countryside, The Windmill is surrounded by wide open skies and rolling fields. You’re just five minutes from the medieval village of Lavenham and fifteen minutes from historic Bury St Edmunds, so there’s plenty to see and do in the area if you can bear to leave.
Two nights isn’t nearly enough. One disappears too quickly, and the next you’ll want to spend entirely in the moment, soaking up the calm and not leaving the windmill at all, in fact, I think four nights would be perfect.
Natalie and Steve have created something rare – a place that feels personal, polished and genuinely unforgettable. I would go so far as saying that The Windmill in Suffolk is better than many boutique hotels.
If You Go To The Windmill in Suffolk
Sleeps: 4, 1 bathroom, 2 loos
Style: Luxury self-catering windmill conversion
Location: Suffolk countryside, 5 minutes from Lavenham and 15 minutes from Bury St Edmunds
Facilities: Kitchen with dishwasher and washing machine, Nespresso coffee, hidden music system, SKY TV, robes and slippers, garden with outdoor seating
Highlight: The glass pod at the top with a sitting room, a wine cooler, a large television and sunrise and sunset views
Website: thewindmillsuffolk.com