An 18th-Century Suffolk Manor That Actually Lives Up to the Hype
It started with a sink. A bright green paneled bathroom sink, to be exact, that stopped me mid-scroll on Instagram. I thought I was looking at an Architectural Digest spread, but a few clicks later I landed on the Airbnb listing for Melton Hall. The photos showed a checkerboard pool, 7.5 acres with a walled rose garden and wildflower meadow, a Mickey Mouse-themed children’s room, and a location just a short walk from the Suffolk coast. I was hooked. Spring break was coming up, and I booked it for a family staycation.
Walking through the pillared front door, I braced for disappointment. Instead, the house delivered. The entrance hall is light and airy, with high arched ceilings and modern art. The living room feels more like an adult retreat than a family zone—a white chaise longue faces large garden windows, and a TV rises from a hidden compartment behind a Renaissance painting at the push of a button. It sums up the place: old-world charm meets contemporary comfort.
My kids immediately wanted to play hide and seek. With three floors, they had plenty of places to explore. Every room is restrained and beautiful—no clutter, just tasteful details, floor-length curtains, curated art, and comfortable beds. The highlight for them (and my favorite design quirk) was a hidden cinema room accessed by pressing a bookcase in the hallway. It has a deep sofa for seven, Monitor Audio Dolby Surround Sound, and we spent rainy afternoons snuggled under blankets watching Netflix.
When the weather cleared, I set up an Easter egg hunt. I hid eggs in antique garden statues, by the vegetable patch, near the tennis court fence, on the pond wall, and beside the Willy Guhl loop chairs by the pool. The kids loved it. We also ate at the Unruly Pig, voted the UK’s top gastropub, where the Skrei cod loin, Iberico pork, and a macaroni cheese that should not be relegated to a kids’ menu were all excellent.
I usually prefer hotels for family trips to avoid cooking and cleaning. But the kitchen at Melton Hall changed my mind. Standing at the huge stainless steel island, chopping garlic with a sharp knife and listening to my playlist on the Audio Pro speakers, I felt truly transported. The property’s Instagram bio calls it “A historic Suffolk home reimagined for escapes.” That’s exactly what it is.