Art lovers are drawn to Dedham like bees to a honeypot but there is something for everyone to enjoy in this pretty village just on the edge of Essex and Suffolk.

Image: Visit Colchester (www.visitcolchester.com)

Set by the River Stour in the heart of John Constable country, a stroll through Dedham High Street is a walk back in time as you admire the Georgian fronted houses and old inns. The large arts and crafts centre is well worth a visit for some retail therapy and leave time to enjoy a leisurely lunch or afternoon tea.

Dedham Vale is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there are enjoyable circular walks for all which give a glimpse into why this area is so popular with artists.

Just outside the town you can visit the home of Sir Alfred Munnings, former President of the Royal Academy. Best known for his paintings of horses, Munnings proved to be equally talented at depicting people and places as can be seen in the museum which regularly hosts special exhibitions featuring the different sides of his portfolio.

Of course, art lover or not, you can’t pass by without visiting Flatford Mill, where you can stand and admire the view made famous in Constable’s The Haywain. When you get back to Wivenhoe House stroll down to the lake, it’s a great vantage point to see the image portrayed in Wivenhoe Park,  Constable’s renowned 1816 landscape, now hanging in the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.