EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

Constable went to school in DEDHAM , just upriver from Flatford Mill. It's one of the region's most attractive villages, with a scattering of ancient timber-framed houses strung along the wide main street. The only sights as such are St Mary's Church , an early sixteenth-century structure which Constable painted on several occasions, and the Sir Alfred Munnings Art Museum , in Castle House (Easter-July & Sept Wed & Sun 2-5pm; Aug Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun 2-5pm; £3), just south of the village on the road to Ardleigh. A locally born academician, Munnings is barely remembered today, but in his time he was well-known for his portraits of horses.

There is a limited bus service from Colchester to Dedham, but this only runs in the early evening. To get there in the morning, catch the more regular bus from Colchester to Stratford St Mary, from where it's a mile and a half walk east to Dedham. Dedham has one of the smartest hotels in the area, Maison Talbooth (tel 01206/322367, ; £150-200), which occupies a good-looking Victorian country house about fifteen minutes' walk southwest of the village on the road to Stratford St Mary. Dinner can be had close by at Le Talbooth (tel 01206/323150), an expensive, but top-notch restaurant in an ancient timber-framed house down by the River Stour. Alternatively, there's Dedham Hall (tel 01206/323027; £70-90), an old manor house set in its own grounds on the east side of the village off Brook Street - be sure to ask for a room in the house itself. The restaurant here is very good too (closed Mon). You can also stay in the heart of Dedham itself at the Marlborough Head pub (tel 01206/323250; £50-60), where a handful of very pleasant rooms are available above the bar, and excellent, moderately priced food can be had from an inventive and wide-ranging menu.