The Old Monkey
Bags of Character in a Quirky Little Bolt-Hole
This lovely place will really appeal to a lot of my guests, especially those on shorter breaks who always ask how far is the nearest pub, restaurant, shop, walk, cycle route – because this place really ticks all those boxes. The Old Monkey also boasts an open log fire
Bags of Character in a Quirky Little Bolt-Hole
This lovely place will really appeal to a lot of my guests, especially those on shorter breaks who always ask how far is the nearest pub, restaurant, shop, walk, cycle route – because this place really ticks all those boxes. The Old Monkey also boasts an open log fire
The Experience
Bags of character in a quirky little bolt hole with a romantic log fire and great walks, this lovely place will really appeal to a lot of my guests. Especially those on shorter breaks who always ask how far is the nearest pub, restaurant, shop, walk, cycle route – because this place really ticks all those boxes.
Cottage Walk Through
The entrance to ‘The Old Monkey’ is on the side of the ancient House which was once a pub called The Kings Arms. As there were a few Kings Arms around it got the nickname ‘The Old Monkey’ to set it apart, there is a nice courtyard with bench seating.
The Old Monkey is a tiny but very cosy cottage and a romantic little place to stay. It has every modern convenience but still retains masses of original charm and character with its ancient wattle and daub walls, a wealth of beams, tiny steep staircase, lovely lime wash painted walls and a cosy open log fire with a comfy sofa to enjoy it from.
The main room with its open log fire has a pretty antique farmhouse table to enjoy meals in front of the fire.
The contemporary galley style Kitchen makes the preparation of meals very easy and is complete with a pretty Belfast sink, microwave, washing machine, electric hob and oven.
There is a modern shower bathroom located on the ground floor (please note that we do not provide towels – sorry) and central heating in all rooms.
The stairs winding up into the bedroom (we do provide bed linen) from the main room, give away the age of the building and people with mobility problems should not book this cottage – for the able bodied it is just another part of the lovely character of The Old Monkey. Please note that because of the steep stairs this cottage is not suitable for Babies or children.
The bedroom has a high arched ceiling displaying the beautiful ancient beams, it has a snuggly double bed, not a kingsized one.
We also supply a lovely breakfast basket containing eggs, tomatoes, butter, bread and milk, all local produce if possible – season permitting. The cottage also contains tea, coffee and olive oil, salt and pepper. When you contact us to make Arrival Arrangements you can let us know if you have any dietary requirements to avoid food wastage.
There is free on street parking is available outside or opposite in a quiet Cul-de-sac
The Gardens
There is no garden at The Old Monkey, just a place to sit out in the courtyard.
Outside
You are on the edge of the small Historic Market Town of Hadleigh, shops start a couple of hundred yards away. There are several pubs and unique little shops and a Co-Op supermarket. Hadleigh has over 200 listed historical buildings in it and the church was painted by John Constable.
Just around the corner from the cottage is a footpath taking you along the old railway line which is now a rambling / cycle route out into the countryside.
There is a pretty riverside walk round Hadleigh.
Green Credentials
The Old Monkey dates back to 1250 and was renovated during the 1990s utilising timber and bricks from the standing building. The interior and exterior walls have been coloured with traditional lime wash where possible. The furniture is all old/antique and hopefully did not use any polluting energy to produce.
All rugs are old and pre-date modern chemicals.
Our welcome basket includes local Suffolk bacon, organic eggs and tomatoes from our garden when in season, very local bread and locally sourced fruit where possible.
Situated within a town, our guests generally explore on foot and many are shocked to find the car unused after a five day stay!
We have a wild pond within our own garden that encourages a plethora of amphibians, grass snakes and insects that feed the local bird population, listen to the night time hoot of the owls.
We encourage recycling and have made every effort to reduce/eliminate usage of plastic.
Our well-seasoned fire wood and kindling is all sourced within 5 miles and often from our own garden having been stacked outside to support the local invertebrates.
Local Area
You are in the pretty river valley that starts in Lavenham which is regarded as England’s Best Preserved Medieval Village and is full of stunning houses, a Guildhall Museum, wool church and many good pubs and restaurants including the famous Great House and The Swan Hotel. The pretty little riverside villages of Brent Eleigh, Monks Eleigh, Chelsworth and Bildeston all lie along this river valley and are beautiful places to explore.
Flatford Mill, where Constable painted ‘The Haywain’ is just a short drive down the road and is somewhere we all love to go to, especially in Summer when we hire a rowing boat there and row down river to have a lazy picnic day.
This area is amazingly rural and untouched by city life, with tiny single track lanes leading nowhere or to a pub, footpaths galore and tiny Medieval Villages where time seems to have stood still.
If you are staying for more than a weekend then a day out at the unspoilt Suffolk Coast is always a lovely trip.
The coast starts just 30 minutes away near Ipswich and our favourite beaches and places on the coast are between 50 – 70 minutes away, places like Pin Mill, Nacton, Levington, Orford, Aldeburgh, Dunwich, Southwold and Mersey Island.
The nearby Medieval Villages of Long Melford, famed for its setting for the Lovejoys TV series, Nayland, sitting prettily on the river Stour, Polstead, with its bluebells woods and impressive views over the Box river valley are all close by and there are many more tiny villages with lovely walks and Pubs to explore.
This is an area where you feel a million miles away from city life and can really relax and enjoy just being part of it.
Standard Inclusive Features
Kitchen: All cottages are complete little homes and facilities include modern central heating, refrigerator, hobs, oven and / or microwave, toaster, crockery & serving dishes, cutlery, many utensils, fire-extinguisher, lots of pots & pans, glasses & mugs, kettle, coffee maker, teapot, kitchen towels, oven gloves, olive oil, salt & pepper, sugar, herbs, tea, fresh and instant coffee, washing up liquid, cloths, general cleaning materials, etc.
Bathroom: Soap, towels are not provided (sorry), bath mats, shaver point, toilet brush, toilet roll.
Bedroom: Cotton bed linen, wardrobe with coat hangers / chest of drawers, iron, ironing board, hairdryer.
Living room: If your cottage has an open fire or stove then a basket with firewood and a bucket with coal will be provided free and more will be available at cost and there will be firelighters provided, TV, books, games, magazines, local brochures, OS and other maps, folder with our special ‘What To Do’ Insiders Guide to the local area.
Baby: Cot and high chair provided in cottages accepting babies (please bring babies bedding).
Dog: Water bowl and treat per dog is provided in cottages accepting pets.
Bikes: Unfortunately bikes are not provided at this cottage but if you call the office you can pick some up from The old Grove Farm which is just 15 minutes away and cycle round the lovely countryside there.
Well behaved Dogs are always welcome, please refer to All About Bringing Pets for charges, rules and how this cottage may suit your pet.
Facilities
- Barbeque
- Bed Linen Provided
- Bikes Provided
- Central Heating
- Clothes Airer or Washing Line
- Clothes Washer
- Cooker and Hob
- Dog Friendly
- Freezer-compartment
- Fridge
- Ground Floor Shower
- Ground Floor Toilet
- High Chair Provided
- Internet Access
- Iron and Board
- Microwave
- Open Fire or Wood Burner
- Shower, Walk In
- Smart TV
- Television
- Travel Cot Provided
- Village
- Wifi
Location
Trainline Journey Planner: Click Here
London Liverpool Street station – Ipswich station = 1 hr
Taxis – Ipswich Cab Co 01473 256666 or Avenue Taxis 01473 257777 – 20 mins to cottage
What the Guests Say...
:
Lovely stay in The Old Monkey. Yet another perfect Grove Cottage. Lovely walk down the old railway line and across the fields.
What a darling cottage – so cosy and comfortable and everything necessary and more! Great CD collection too – thank you and hope to return.
Great short break, real village, lovely people. Lavenham is stunning. Lots of dog friendly place. The cottage is beautiful and has everything you need and more. Thank you guys.
We enjoyed our stay in The Old Monkey, sad to leave.
We’ve enjoyed our stay in this lovely cottage. Spent two days here and didn’t venture too far from Hadleigh!
Thank you for a wonderful stay. We had the best weekend! The cottage is beautiful and has everything we could possibly need 🙂
Four days of wonderful walking with our little dog. We enjoyed The Old Monkey, just right for what we needed – the welcome basket was very thoughtful – thank you.
Hadleigh is a wonderful place to stay. We enjoyed the local walks, the food and local beers. The cottage is beautiful and we felt quite at home. Thank you for the basket, the eggs were amazing!
Hadleigh has been an excellent base for exploring the Suffolk countryside. The Old Monkey is a perfectly idyllic and comfortable ‘home from home’. Thank you for the welcome groceries – very useful! A very good relaxing break. Thanks again.
We had a lovely weekend in The Old Monkey, it’s a great, cosy cottage. Many thanks for the treats and supplies on our arrival, they came in very handy. We had some great walks in the surrounding area, great weather and overall a good weekend. Many thanks.
We were lucky enough to have booked the hottest week so far this summer! We have visited so many places and done so much. Thanks so much, we will be back. Oh and do try and take the bikes out, we went along the old railway – great fun!
The Old Monkey – what a find! Delightful base for our expected explorations in the rain The rain didn’t materialise but The Old Monkey lived up to our initial impressions – we loved ‘coming home’. The welcome basket was most appreciated – thank you.
The perfect escape from busy lives and three children! The Old Monkey was the perfect cosy and comfortable retreat we needed. Enjoyable circular railway walk in the sunshine and perfect to finish the day with a log fire on the comfy sofa. All in all, a wonderful break.
A fantastic week at The Old Monkey – perfect start to some summer sunshine! Nightingales heard in abundance at Constitution Hill, foxes and deer in dapple sunshine at Kersey – fantastic!
Thank you for a wonderfully relaxing weekend away from London. We loved the charm of The Old Monkey, it’s so cosy and welcoming. We would love to come back, there are so many places to explore close by. It’s a beautiful part of the country. Loved the open fire!
Lovely mini break in Hadleigh. Some lovely walks around. The Old Monkey was perfectly cosy and just what we were looking for, we’ve had a lovely weekend, thanks.
A beautiful cottage to spend a cosy weekend in. We had a lovely time spending most of it relaxing beside the open fire. It has been a great weekend and we will definitely return in the future. Many thanks.
Loved The Old Monkey. Cosy and just right for 2 + dog.
Thanks so much for the lovely cottage. We’ve had an amazing time here. Very warm and welcoming -:)
Very happy with the cottage – would recommend it and Grove Cottages.
Lovely warm and welcoming cottage with every facility you could need. Great log fire and welcome basket – thank you.
Very relaxing break in a beautiful cottage – thank you.
Wonderful stay, cannot wait to come back. Everyone so friendly. Beautiful little cottage – log fire wonderful – welcome basket lovely.
Thank you for the most relaxing break we have had in a very long time, due to the hard working city life and the kids HaHa! We loved the features of the beautiful cottage and it held all our needs, the welcome basket was fantastic, and the log fire a sight for sore eyes. Thank you Old Monkey, fond happy memories will stay with us.
Divine!
Had a lovely relaxing 5 day stay. Love this area. Many thanks – loved the welcome hamper.
A lovely cosy cottage stay! We look forward to returning in the future. Many thanks.
Lovely little getaway to spend our wedding night, cosy, warm and with all amenities you need! Perfect for two – gorgeous x
We adore open fires, so this was perfect for us, we loved it. Love all the exposed wood, the brass bed. Beautifully stylish, fabulous big open fire to cosy up by. Loved it and would totally recommend it.
Lovely quaint cottage, lovely village, lovely people – what more do you want?!
All in all a very good week, we have thoroughly enjoyed our stay here. Thank you.
Just what we needed for a short break, to explore this glorious part of England!
Warm, cosy, quaint. A place to relax and leave the world behind.
We loved this cottage. So cosy and calm with beautiful surroundings – just what we were looking for.
Beautiful cottage, wonderful stay. Thank you so much we can�t wait to come back and stay again.
Had a lovely well needed few days of rest. Loved the cottage as soon as we walked through the door. Have already recommended to family and friends and will be planning a return visit soon! Branched out to Dedham which is a must again, the small row boats were lovely! Thank you so much!
Lovely!
Everything was lovely and clean, all that we needed was here.
A flying visit to this lovely cottage. We wish that we could stay for longer!
We have enjoyed a restful few days in your lovely little cottage. A particularly pleasant walk across the fields to Kersey and excellent lunch outside in the glorious sunshine at the pub. Thank you Steve for the welcome basket.
Fire was all set when we arrived. One match and we had a roaring fire. Most luxurious duvet and warmest bed ever. Lovely cottage full of character. Lovely village and lovely people.
Had a lovely long weekend at the Old Monkey, appreciated the information books. Lovely walk around Hadleigh. Would highly recommend this delightful cottage it has such a cosy and warm feel to it.
Lovely, cosy, well thought through cottage.
Our fourth consecutive summer holiday at The Old Monkey! Such a cosy little gem.
Very relaxing � so much so we didn’t do much in the end!
Exceeded expectations in every way. What a wonderful atmospheric place and so relaxing. Welcome hamper filled with only quality items was a very nice touch � we don�t want to leave.
A very cosy cottage, lots of nice walks and some great places to visit and eat out.
Lovely town, lovely town, would like to visit again.
We had such a lovely time at The Old Monkey. Just Lovely!
The Old Monkey is a beautiful little cottage in a beautiful part of the country. We loved our stay and I’m sure we will be back!
Really cosy, happy little cottage. We had a great time.
Delightfully restored cottage � fabulous �bolthole� for a dark January weekend.
We have had a brilliant time exploring the countryside by day and sitting by the fire eating and drinking at night.
We came here to celebrate my partners birthday and to escape the drudgery of working life. This was a perfect retreat to relax and rejuvenate, thanks to Katherine for making such a nice welcome and a peaceful stay.
The Old Monkey made a lovely base for our first visit to Suffolk and left us wanting more
This was the most relaxing weekend we could have asked for � stunning cottage, very cosy and warm even in the awful rain.
A wonderfully stay and very atmospheric hide away in this charming place � very comfortable and welcoming. Every village has it�s delights. This was the best value, in terms of the comforts and supplies, historical quality of the cottage and the quality of facilities.
We have had a really lovely weekend at Old Monkey to celebrate our second wedding anniversary � the open fire made the cottage really cosy and it�s a great base for nice local walks. We especially appreciated the attention to detail in terms of decor, welcome basket and music playing when we arrived. Fab thanks!
Accommodation perfect. Everything we wanted. Lots of accessible footpaths for dog walking
Perfect cottage for the weekend break. Exactly described from the website.
A cosy weekend break to relax and enjoy the country and come back to a lovely fire.
Wonderful cottage – cosy & snug. Rayleigh is a lovely town too.
Perfect, romantic weekend. The snow made it perfect !
Quirky little cottage very cosy and welcoming.
Very sympathetically restored which makes this cottage a relaxing feeling of a time gone by. The log fire just finishes it off.
First visit to Suffolk, Hadleigh – a friendly town with choice of eateries. Old Monkey quaint and quirky. Great walks for our Jack Russell.
A delightful, cosy cottage. Perfect in every way. Even for our four legged friends.
Wonderfully charming cottage, i very warm welcome, and a lovely place to relax.
Cosy and characterful cottage, warm welcome, lovely, relaxing stay.
Cosy and characterful.
Fantastic time, as last year. Adorable little cottage.
A lovely cottage and town. Excellent holiday cottage. Welcome basket outstanding. Lovely shower and well stocked kitchen. Gorgeous fire and so much character.
A lovely quaint hideaway with a particularly beautiful bedroom.
Very enjoyable stay. Wonderful area. Suggestions on the local villages very useful.
We had a brilliant time and appreciated the small touches such as the fireplace, music and welcome basket. Defintely will return.
We had a fantastic, relaxing stay at The Old Monkey. The cottage is full of character and set in the pretty village of Hadleigh. There were many places to visit nearby. Lavenham was a real favourite and with miles of beautiful walking countryside on our doorstep, we were spoilt for choice. We would definitely return to this cottage.
warm, friendly, beautifully appointed cottage – full of atmosphere, and perfectly situated for exploring Constable country and all of Suffolk. Roaring log fire difficult to take myself away from! A perfect place.
Once again a perfect haven away from everything.
Cosy, comfortable, convenient venue for exploring the Suffolk area.
Great little cottage. Very quiet and relaxing. Lovely village and Hadleigh – everything you’d need and good base to explore a lovely part of the country.
Wonderful bolt hole with real character. Just the ticket for unwinding.
A beautiful cottage with special touches, a real tonic for us.
Lovely area with plenty to see and do.
The Old Monkey – a cosy little bolt-hole that really is as cosy, comfortable and welcoming as the site suggests.
What a beautiful place to stay! Great walks, fantastic views and great dog friendly pubs and shops!
Beautiful old world cottage in an exceptional location.
Cottage was quirky and local people were friendly.
Wonderful cottage, so relaxing and perfectly equipped.
Wonderful stay in the heart of a beautiful slice of old England !
A very comfortable stay at this lovely little cottage. Full of character.
A great find !
The website doesn’t do this lovely little cottage justice. It’s even more beautiful in reality.
A lovely cosy cottage – perfect for exploring Constable Country.
Well equipped cottage. Friendly people. Pretty and interesting area – lots to see. Lovely walks nearly, especially railway walk.
We stayed at The Old Monkey on a cold wet weekend in February. The cottage was wonderful – romantic with the log fire and very cosy. Hadleigh (a short walk away) has some lovely local shops. Do come.
A cosy and homely cottage that more than made up for the cold, February weather.
Beautiful cottage, beautiful surroundings, Hadleigh is a must see! The perfect setting for our first valentines together. Excellent hosts. Will definately be using Grove Cottages again. Big Thankyou!
Lovely cottage full of character and a great base to explore Suffolk from. Warm welcome received on arrival.
Welcoming fire, cosy and comfortable atmosphere – instantly felt right at home!
Lovely character cottage.
A lovely romantic cosy cottage, perfect for a romantic weekend away.
A lovely cosy cottage and a great break away from it all.
Enjoyable small break in a small cottage with lots of character and charm.
What a wonderful cottage in a lovely location ! Very relaxing.
We had a wonderful stay – a really sweet little cottage that was perfect for a weekend away – I’m only sorry we didn’t have longer !
The Old Monkey is compact and quirky. Nice and central to all the attractions. The George Pub has to be the most friendliest pub I have ever been in!
Lovely cottage, beautiful surrounding countryside.
Hadleigh is an undiscovered gem of a place and The Old Monkey is the ideal spot from which to enjoy the town and its villages.
Gabriels is a lovely cottage with lots of space and all the goods you need for a super stay!
A warm welcome and a lovely little garden! The Anchor at Nayland was really excellent, as described on your website.
We have had a lovely week at the Old Monkey. The cottage is cosy and characterful and a great base to explore the country. Everything is on your doorstep!
Lovely cottage with everything you might need – including garden and parking!
The Old Monkey is well situated and very quiet – an ideal location for exploring and walking.
Fantastic cottage, ideally placed for exploring south Suffolk – the cottage was clean, warm and had a real sense of country luxury. We loved our week there!
We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the cottage. We had a lovely warm welcome from Catherine. The breakfast basket was superb. The lit open fire on arrival was delightful.
A welcome change from normal life. Have loved relaxing on the comfy sofa in front of the roaring fire.
Home from home – a relaxing week in ancient surroundings.
The Old Monkey has bags of character and just what we wanted! The local information was invaluable and we loved our day out to Dunwich.
Fantastic cottage – really cosy and functional – welcome retreat from the city – lovely hosts.
Cosy & Quaint – just what we needed to escape the city!
A relaxing break in this fantastic time machine. A winning formula!
We have had a very relaxing stay at The Old Monkey; our requirements were simple – get away from home, relax, unwind, log fires, walks to pubs, lovely countryside, warm welcome. It ticked all those boxes. Thank you very much.
We went for a long lovely, but cold and wet walk and it was great to come back to such a cosy cottage, with a lovely open fire. Thanks for a much needed break!
The cottage is magical, full of charm and character. I received a very warm welcome. Lots of useful information in the cottage. 2 days of peace and tranquillity in beautiful surroundings. 10 out of 10.
Wonderful, quaint cottage. Very cosy and comfortable with everything you could need. Location is great with quiet surroundings. Great log fire! 10/10 Met all our expectations – our first time away was a wonderful experience. Thank You!!
The most delightful cottage and town with such a warm feeling of character. The whole Grove Cottages experience has been excellent and we will certainly use them again for a repeat visit to Suffolk. A*, 10/10
Just what we needed, exactly what we were after, The Old Monkey is great ! We shall definitely be booking a grove cottage again !
The Old Monkey is absolutely SPLENDID!!
Friendly people, lovely countryside and excellent pubs with great food. A character cottage to stay in. We would come back here, that’s a fact!!
Lovely cottage, beautifully kept & well presented. Very pleasant to arrive to a lit fire – thanks! Thoroughly enjoyable stay with bright sunshine – and snow!
We have had a lovely time. The Old Monkey was perfect for us and we loved Hadleigh. The lit fire, Miles Davis playing & some fresh local supplies were a very much welcomed surprise. Very special. Thank you.
Fantastic cottage, great for a romantic break and great location. Could not ask for more. Thank you!
The Old Monkey is a quiet,cosy retreat for 2. Great for a autumn/winter break. Hadleigh has some lovely buildings and great walks with plenty of pubs.
Such a lovely cottage with a wonderful atmosphere. We have had a very relaxing stay. We didn’t venture too far, preferring to stay locally and walk in to Hadleigh.
Gallery