1 / 23Workhouse Cottage
Shipmeadow, Suffolk
A one bedroom cottage for two in the grounds of an old workhouse at Shipmeadow in Suffolk, between Beccles and Bungay, with a four poster bed, a fully enclosed garden and two dogs welcome.
The building this cottage stands beside was put up in the 1760s as the workhouse for this corner of Suffolk. Workhouse Cottage sits in its grounds, a dog friendly cottage for two people and two dogs, renovated in 2024, with a four poster in the one bedroom and a garden enclosed all the way round.
A porch takes the boots first. Past it the lounge has a big window and a sofa, the kitchen has a breakfast bar, and the bathroom is a Jack and Jill, opening from the bedroom on one side and the kitchen on the other, odd until two dogs have been in the river. The garden is fenced all round with a table and chairs, and a private road ends at the cottage, so nothing comes past the gate that does not live there.
A couple who bring both dogs and nobody else is the party this was made for, and the week has two market towns in it, each 2.5 miles off in opposite directions: Beccles one way, and Bungay the other with a Norman keep at its centre. Between the two the valley is grazing, marsh and small lanes, and two dogs get a river bank to walk whichever way the day suggests.
The Waveney marks the county line here and the walking follows it: riverbank, grazing marsh and flat water meadows either side, level for miles. Bungay is the town to walk into, the keep, a street of shops and the river looping round three sides of it. Two dogs get a river to follow one way and a town to be admired in the other, and the sea is a drive for the days that want it.
Book your stay
from £500 for 7 nights
Workhouse Cottage takes 2 dogs and is booked through holidaycottages.co.uk.
Book with holidaycottages.co.ukPrices are a guide only, checked 27 August 2026, and change with dates and availability. We may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
At a Glance
- Dogs Welcome
- 2 dogs
- Enclosed Garden
- Yes
- Enclosed garden with table and chairs | Private parking for 2 cars | The property is located at the end of a private road which is resident permitted only
- Sleeps
- 2 guests
- Rooms
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Price
- from £500 / 7 nights
- Grading
- 4 star
- Arrival
- in from 13:00, out by 10:00
- Facilities
- Bbq, Parking, Wifi
Workhouse Cottage from £500 for 7 nights
Book with holidaycottages.co.ukFrequently Asked Questions
Is Workhouse Cottage dog friendly?
Yes, Workhouse Cottage welcomes up to two dogs alongside two people — it's genuinely designed with dogs in mind. The garden is fully enclosed all the way round, there's a private road so no through traffic passes the gate, and a porch at the entrance handles muddy boots and wet dogs before you get any further.
Are dogs allowed at Workhouse Cottage year round?
The listing doesn't specify any seasonal restrictions, and with a fully enclosed garden and easy access to the Waveney Valley's river walks year round, it's set up to work in any season. That said, it's always worth checking directly with the owner when you book to confirm availability and any specific dates.
What should I know before visiting Workhouse Cottage with my dog?
The cottage takes two dogs, and the setup is well thought through for exactly that: a fully enclosed garden, a private road with no passing traffic, and a porch to deal with the aftermath of a river walk before anyone comes inside. The Jack and Jill bathroom — connecting both the bedroom and the kitchen — makes particular sense once your dogs have been in the Waveney. River walks along the grazing marsh and water meadows start straight from the cottage, with the market towns of Beccles and Bungay each about 2.5 miles away in opposite directions.
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Workhouse Cottage from £500 for 7 nights
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