George Orwell; Benjamin Britten; Arthur Ransome; PD James; Ruth Rendell: just some of the literary and musical heroes who once made the county of Suffolk their home.

As literary festival and concert season gets underway, why not stay in a holiday home with a difference, one with rich literary or musical links?  What could be more inspiring than curling up with a good book in George Orwell's family home, or catching a concert whilst staying in the converted windmill where Benjamin Britten wrote his most famous operas?

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin….

Where? Montague House, Southwold

What? Sleeps 7 in 4 bedrooms, price from £855 per week

Claim to fame: Once the family home of George Orwell and where he wrote 'A Clergyman's Daughter'.

Conveniently located on Southwold's High Street, renowned for its independent shops, boutiques, galleries, delicatessens and bakeries, this Georgian House is where George Orwell lived from time to time and where in 1935 he wrote 'A Clergyman's Daughter'.  Born Eric Arthur Blair, the author based his pen name on the reigning King George, whilst Orwell comes from the river Orwell, which runs through Suffolk's county town, Ipswich. Today, the house offers clean, comfy surroundings, the perfect base in which to enjoy Southwold's numerous retro charms.

Southwold holds its annual literary festival, Way with Words, between 9th – 12th November.

How to book: Suffolk Secrets, www.suffolk-secrets.co.uk T. 01502 722717

Where? Millers Cottage, The Old Mill, Snape nr. Aldeburgh

What? Sleeps 2 in 1 bedroom, price from £520 per week.

Claim to Fame: Where Benjamin Britten wrote his most famous operas, where E.M.Forster, John Piper and W.H. Auden came to stay.

Part of the Old Mill dating back to 1797, this old windmill was restored in 1937 by the UK's greatest modern composer, Benjamin Britten into his home and writers studio and where he wrote his most famous opera, Peter Grimes. 

Living here with his partner Peter Pears, the building was the meeting place for many great writers, musicians and artists of the mid 20th century including E.M. Forster, John Piper and W.H. Auden.

Creators of the Aldeburgh Festival in the 1940s, Britten and Pears soon found that the Jubilee Hall in Aldeburgh was too small for the audiences they were attracting and began looking for a larger concert venue. Living at The Old Mill, they looked down over the derelict Snape Maltings in its beautiful riverside setting and set to work to convert the Maltings into the world-famous concert hall it is today. You can read more of The Old Mill's history here. 

Today, Miller's Cottage has been lovingly restored Miller's Cottage to create a wonderful holiday cottage all on ground floor level, and is full of charm and character including pamment flooring, flint walls as well as all mod-cons including wi-fi.

For larger groups, the adjacent  Garden Cottage, (sleeps 2 in 1 bedrooms), newly refurbished, can also be rented from £396 per person per week.

Enjoy 'Britten Weekend', October 27th – 28th at Snape Maltings, including a concert by the BBC concert orchestra.

How to book: Suffolk Cottage Holidays, www.suffolkcottageholidays.com T. 01394 389 189

River View, Pin Mill

Sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms, price from £642 per week

Claim to fame: Arthur Ransome based two his books in the Swallows and Amazons children series here, and the place where his famous boat, the Nancy Blackett is moored.

Not only does 2017 mark the 50th anniversary since Arthur Ransome's death and the 80th anniversary of 'We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea' but is also the 20th anniversary of the Nancy Blackett Trust, the trust set up to look after Ransome's boat.

Today, the hamlet of Pin Mill is just as influenced by the boats which are moored and sail past here along the Shotley Peninsula. Stay in this detached 1850's fisherman's cottage and enjoy the same views over the estuary which inspired him, go for a pint at the famous 'Butt and Oyster' pub, or take a walk along the 6 mile 'Arthur Ransome' trail.

How to book: Suffolk Cottage Holidays, www.suffolkcottageholidays.com T. 01394 389 189

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For more information, to book a press trip or to request hi-res images, please contact:

Rebecca Scrase
01449 677033
rebecca@rebeccascrasepr.com