Friday
Welcome reception and private dinner with wine followed by a talk by your host and guide Simon Gallup.

Saturday
To the Gainsborough House Musuem, the only museum in Britain devoted to a single artist that occupies the place where they were born. Gainsborough (1727-1788), was one of the greatest painters in the history of British art and a large selection of Gainsborogh's paintings, drawings and prints are on diplay at the musuem, there are more on display here at any one time than anywhere else in the world. Gainsborogh was the first important British artist to consistently paint landscape and it provided the ideal subject for his poetic vision, and while he sold some of his landscapes, he found portraiture more lucrative. At the height of his career, from the 1760's onwards, the demands for his portraits were such that he suffered from overwork. Afterwards its onto Lavenham, one of the best preserved medieval villages in Britain boasting some 320 listed timber framed buildings, many of them protected by English Heritage. This is a unique village created 750 years ago but Henry III when he granted Lavenham market staus, which began the most prosperous period in the village's history. Traders flocked to the village to take advantage of its thriving wool trade, and by 1524 Lavenham was ranked the 14th richest town in the country thanks to the famous Lavenham Blues cloth. Lunch (not included) is taken in Lavenham and we then travel to Ipswich to see a major display of oils and drawings by Gainsborough and Constable at Christchurch Mansion. Later dinner is taken in the hotel restaurant.

Sunday
Today it's off to East Bergholt to see where Constable was born and the unique bells at St Mary's Church. We will visit Flatford Mill to see the setting on the banks of the River Stour where Constable's best loved pictures such as 'The Haywain' were painted. You will also see Willie Lott's house, Valley Farm and the boatyard which was the background to the 'Boat Building'. After lunch at the timber framed Essex Rose Tea House (included) at Dedham, we visit Castle House, the home of the former President of the Royal Academy - Sir Alfred Munnings, who was renowned for his paintings of horses. Return to the hotel approximately 5.00pm. Please note: Extra nights are available at a supplement, please click here or on the availability tab above to select your date of travel and extra night rates

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion

Holiday Inn, Ipswich
Located 4 miles out of Ipswich town centre, the modern Holiday Inn Ipswich offers a bar, restaurant, indoor pool, gym, spa and comfortable, stylish bedrooms with private bath/shower, TV and telephone. Holiday Inn, Ipswich Website