Pretty village regularly named ‘UK’s most beautiful’ is a perfect weekend break
THE beautiful village of Dedham is getting a visit from royalty today.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit the pretty Essex village and pop into one of the country’s best pubs along the way.
The royal couple are heading through Dedham on their way to Colchester, to celebrate it being given city status two years ago.
The pretty Essex village is frequently named as being one of the most beautiful in the country thanks to its bright Tudor buildings, pretty high street and location on the River Stour.
The River Stour, which begins west of Great Bradley in Cambridgeshire and ends in the North Sea at Harwich, passes through the village.
It’s often used for canoeing and kayaking with picnickers sitting along the bank during the summer.
Dedham village is found in the heart of Dedham Vale, which is known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Last year, Dedham was named as one of ‘Britain’s 30 greatest villages’ by The Telegraph where it called it ‘picturesque’.
In 2024, The Times called Dedham Vale one of the best “off-radar places to target if you are craving countryside without the crowds.”
During their visit, King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit the Sun Inn pub – which was on 100 best pubs by the Good Food Guide.
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The pub sits along the main High Street and was formerly a coach inn – the 500-year-old building previously served as a vital resting point for travellers and horses.
Now, it serves up grub to visitors – the Sun Inn has a seasonal menu and is well-known for its hearty roast dinners.
According to the Good Food Guide it’s a place where you’ll get some of the tastiest food in the country.
On the Sun Inn, the Good Food Guide said: “As slices of English heritage go, Piers Baker’s 15th-century yellow-washed coaching inn right in the heart of Dedham is nigh-on perfect.
“There’s a sense of seasonality too in menus that offer a winning mix of updated pub classics and more inventive, Italian-accented dishes built around prime seasonal ingredients.”
On Sundays you can get one course for £25, two for £35 and three for £45.
Mains include roast rump of beef, pork loin and celeriac puff pastry pie – each comes with roast potatoes, vegetables, Yorkshire pudding and gravy.
Upstairs are seven bedrooms available for visitors to book – some are dog-friendly, and all have big beds and ensuite bathrooms.
A one-night stay in February costs £185 and comes with breakfast.
The royals aren’t the only well-known figures to have stepped inside the pub – it’s previously been visited by Sting and ex-footballer Frank Lampard.
From the Sun Inn, King Charles and Queen Camilla will head to the Essex Rose Teahouse.
Here you can get breakfast, lunch and of course an afternoon tea, which comes with a selection of freshly made sandwiches followed by homemade fruit scones for £25pp.
If you don’t fancy a whole afternoon tea – you can get a cream tea from £9.95pp.
Dedham is 9 miles away from Colchester which was given city status just two years ago as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
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