A festive gathering at The Firs: Christmas in the Suffolk countryside

There's no cosier way to spend the festive season than gathering everyone at The Firs — a Suffolk countryside retreat that's pure magic when the frost sets in. Take the whole site for a Christmas or New Year get-together, give every couple and family their own lodge, and let the celebration unfold across four acres of winter gardens. It's 2 hours from London and 45 minutes from Norwich, so the whole group can travel in from across the UK.

Cosy is the whole mood. Every lodge has its own wood-burning stove, so evenings are spent in front of a real fire with the curtains drawn against the dark. The lodges are snug and beautifully styled — exactly where you want to be when it's cold outside and warm within.

Hot tubs in the frost. Our hot tubs are wood-fired, and there's nothing like sinking into one when it's cold enough to see your breath — steam rising, frost on the gardens, stars overhead. A festive soak is unforgettable.

Feast together. Fire the pizza oven for a relaxed feast night, gather round the firepit for cooking on fire, open the horsebox bar, and warm up afterwards in the sauna. It's all the togetherness of the season with none of the cramming-into-one-kitchen chaos.

Festive days out. Norwich, 45 minutes away, is wonderful at Christmas, and the Southwold and Aldeburgh coast is bracing and beautiful in winter — a frosty beach walk followed by a warming pub lunch is a festive joy.

For festive UK stays that bring everyone together somewhere genuinely special, this countryside stay is one of Suffolk's best-kept secrets.

Planning a festive gathering? Check availability and enquire here.