House on the Hill is a delightful, first floor apartment in a Victorian building above a lady’s clothes shop in the heart of the market town of Framlingham. Overlooking the quiet market square, you are in the centre of this ever-popular Suffolk town, which was made famous by the Ed Sheeran song, ’Castle on the Hill’.
Visitors to Framlingham can enjoy the many pubs, restaurants, independent shops, and cafés right on the doorstep. This historic market town was once voted as ’one of the most desirable places to live’, as featured in the Country Life magazine, and with a perfect blend of culture, history, and stunning architecture, it is easy to understand why. If you are staying here whilst attending a wedding or function, there’s even a trouser press for your use.
There are many excellent networks of walks and cycle routes meandering through the pretty Suffolk villages, both country and coastal. The National Trust owned Sutton Hoo is only a 20-minute drive away, and the nearby Dunwich Heath is within 25 minutes. A 25-minute drive away is the port of Felixstowe and its beaches with the passenger foot and bike ferry leaving from Landguard Fort to historic Harwich and Shotley. Suffolk boasts many country estates for visiting including, Helmingham Hall, Crows Hall and Hevingham Hall. Nearby is Snape Maltings, which is famous for being Benjamin Britten’s concert hall, and only 30 minutes car drive is the seaside town of Aldeburgh. Also worth a visit is Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge, and the RSPB Nature Reserve at Minsmere, and approximately 35 minutes away is the coastal town of Southwold and the village of Walberswick.
The Latitude Festival is 30 minutes car drive away and is held annually at Henham Park, while the Constable Country villages of Dedham and East Bergholt are about 35 minutes’ drive. The towns of Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich and Colchester are all within easy reach for a great day out. Close by you can visit Framlingham Castle - the famous ‘Castle on the Hill’, Shawsgate Vineyard, Bruisyard and Helmingham Hall, along with Easton Farm Park. The coast is a short drive away, a stretch of Heritage Coastline where cycling, hiking and simply taking in the views is the perfect way to slow down and relax. Beach 14 miles. Shop, pub, and restaurant 50 yards.
Although set in the fictional Essex village of Danebury, Detectorists has actually been filmed in Suffolk throughout season one to three. Most of the scenes were filmed in and around the rural town of Framlingham.
Framlingham is most famous for its spectacular Norman castle where Mary Tudor became Queen of England in 1553 but next door might be more familiar to Detectorists’ fans: it’s where you can find St Michael’s Rooms, which play a starring role as the Scout Hall where the Danebury Metal Detecting Club meet. You can nip in for Zumba, Craft Creations sessions or to learn tap.
If you fancy a drink in the Two Brewers pub, it’s going to involve visiting two alehouses: The first, which serves as the exterior of the Detectorists’ favourite watering hole, is at at Framlingham, the second is a few miles away at Great Glemham, which is used for the interior shots and perhaps see the pumps which were used during filming which served two fictional beers, Magpie and Treasure Trove . Sadly, Mags’ shop Crystal Encounters is no more.