The Old Custom House

4.6★

6 Guests
3 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
Pets Yes
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Features

Off road parking
Ground floor bedroom
Open fire
Garden / Patio
Cot available
Highchair available
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Sky TV
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

25 Customer Review(s)

Keith
April 2025

“Overall we had a great break in this lovely quirky property, We would certainly go back to this property, ideally situated and pleasant.”

The low doorways did cause a bit of bother and I think we all hit our heads at least once, but it's a old period house so our fault not the house! My only concern was the decking, it really needs some TLC, a few loose boards and a screws sticking up could cause trip hazard. Garden is a delight and the pub across the road is very handy:)

The low doorways did cause a bit of bother and I think we all hit our heads at least once, but it's a old period house so our fault not the house! My only concern was the decking, it really needs some TLC, a few loose boards and a screws sticking up could cause trip hazard. Garden is a delight and the pub across the road is very handy:)

- Keith, April 2025
David September 2024

“Unfortunately there was a problem with the boiler and we were without any heating for the first 24 hours of our stay.”

Not sure if any compensation for this. Also the toilet seat in the upstairs shower room was dangerously loose and could not be fixed by the maintenance chap who came. He said it should be replaced. Although we were aware that the doors were exceptionally low in the old part of the house and the warning signs were plentiful, some of still managed the bash our heads! I would suggest putting foam around the lintels for idiots like us! Having said all that we loved our time in the house.

- David, September 2024
Liz August 2024

“Really lovely home from home cottage with a beautiful garden.”

Everything you could want in the kitchen, lovely beds and bedding, cushions for the outside seating and a lovely area to eat outside. Great location for Walberswick and Southwold, and great pub opposite which had literally just changed owners and the food was delicious. Ceilings are low on the upstairs of the property which wasn’t a problem for me as I am short. Just need to remember to duck. And there is noise from the road which you would expect. But lovely views over the estuary and the seating outside the back door was lovely for an early morning cuppa. Overall a great property offering value for money.

- Liz, August 2024

Thank you for your response, it's always good to know that people have enjoyed their stay. We would welcome you back should you wish to visit this lovely part of the country again. Property Owner
Sarah June 2024

“Lovely property with everything you need.”

. with little touches like free hamper, dog treats, games, etc. Perfect place for a family Only 2 things to comment on.... the shower on top floor was blocked (there was too much hair in the drain). I have poured unblocker but may need another treatment And the ensuite downstairs- shower was weak, sounds like there is a leak in the system Apart from that, we enjoyed our stay very much, thank you for being flexible with my fur babies

- Sarah, June 2024

Thank you Sarah for your feedback. We are really glad you enjoyed your stay in this beautiful part of Suffolk. We always aim to have plenty of activities available for families, including dogs and young children; the British weather is decidedly variable at the moment. We apologise for the blocked tray in the upstairs bathroom, we will certainly alert our maintenance service to this, their diligence in keeping The Old Custom House spotless has been faultless, so I am confident that this will not happen again. We are certainly mindful of your comments. We hope you and your family/friends will revisit Blythburgh in the future, you will always be sure to receive a warm welcome at T.O.C.H. Property Owner
Amanda March 2024

“This is a lovely, quirky and characterful cottage.”

It is on a very busy road so extreme care is needed for crossing. The cottage is comfortable, great beds, linen and towels. Lovely safe and fenced off garden and plenty of cooking utensils and pots and pans so often missing from holiday rentals. Village is (in parts very pretty). Thoroughly recommend the Thursday guided church tour which is free - very interesting to hear the history behind this magnificent building. Also recommend the pub over the road, the White Heart where service is spot on and food is generous, freshly cooked comfort and absolutely delicious, do suggest you book as it is rightly busy.

- Amanda, March 2024

Thank you Amanda for your feedback, it’s always very useful to know guests comments. It was very heartening to know that you slept well and found all the amenities in the cottage to your liking; having the necessary equipment to cook and enjoy a meal at ‘home’ is our aim. Not everyone wants to eat out every night! We do realise that crossing the road to the White Hart pub can be busy, however the speed warnings are there to alert drivers. We are so glad you managed to join the tour to the ‘Cathedral in the Marshes', we are very lucky to have this wonderful church on our doorstep. We hope you get an opportunity to visit Suffolk again, there will always be a warm welcome for you and your family at The Old Custom House. Best Regards Pat & Tony Property Owner
Gary February 2024

“Great quirky property in a fantastic location for visiting the beautiful Suffolk coast.”

- Gary, February 2024
Georgina December 2023

“We were delighted with the accommodation, cleanliness and facilities at The Old Custom House in Blythburgh.”

The owners: Tony and Pat had left detailed notes explaining how the appliances work. Also many leaflets showing the many walks and places of interest in Suffolk. The owners had put up Christmas decorations for us including a lovely tree. They left a lovely hamper for us which we appreciated hugely. We thoroughly recommend The Old Custom House as a perfect place to stay whilst on holiday in Suffolk. We would love to return to this venue at some point in the future. Many thanks Tony and Pat for making our stay so memorable.

- Georgina, December 2023

Thank you for lovely comments. Blythburgh and the surrounding Suffolk/Norfolk area continue to delight us too. We are very lucky to have recently moved to this wonderful village and house and are so glad you enjoyed your stay. We look forward to your return. Best Regards Pat & Tony Property Owner
Natalie December 2023

“Lovely cottage beautifully decorated for Christmas - thank you for that!”

Living room super cosy and dining room was fantastic. Lovely garden. Great location. Easy to get everywhere. Road busy and was noisy but we knew about this in advance so not an issue. Had a fabulous stay.

- Natalie, December 2023

Thank you for your feedback and glad that you enjoyed your stay. We would welcome you back at any time. Best regards Pat and Tony Property Owner
Andrew September 2023

“This is the second time we have stayed at TOCH, it’s a property that is full ...”

This is the second time we have stayed at TOCH, it’s a property that is full of character and charm it’s very comfortable and has everything you’d need, we are looking at booking again

- Andrew, September 2023

Thank you for your feedback, we are glad that you enjoyed your stay at The Old Custom House, you certainly had the best of weather for exploring this wonderful part of the country. We look forward to you staying again. Property Owner
Paul August 2023

“We had 2 enjoyable days visiting Southwold & Walberswick.”

The White Hart Pub opposite served lovely food but you took life in your hands crossing the road to get to it!!! Very noisy road!!! The Old Custom house was a lovely cottage however the general cleanliness was not up to standard, cobwebs & spiders!!!!! The upstairs shower & hand basin were blocked! The setee's could do with an update & the garden furniture!

- Paul, August 2023

Thank you for your feedback, we have immediately asked the maintenance crew to look at the shower and sink drainage problem that you mention. However we do wish you had contacted us or them regarding this, while you were staying here. As mentioned to you previously we have a 24hr crew to deal with any problems, they are very prompt in answering your every need or putting in place an appropriate solution. Regarding the garden furniture, it is made out of teak and it therefore ages to a weathered look and is only just over a year old - plenty of life left in it yet. We do hope you found all the cushions for the garden furniture, stored in the summer house, and provided to make your outside experience as enjoyable as possible. With regard to the sofas we like to stay within the keeping of the historic nature of the property. Spiders and their webs are something that we cannot control in an old house and although webs are removed at every cleaning it is statistically known that unless you can physically remove the spiders they will spin a new web within half an hour! Curiously, you are the only guests in over two years who have mentioned this. Finally as far as the road is concerned we do ask guests to take care as it can be busy, mainly during the day; unfortunately this is an area beyond our control, but we are glad you enjoyed the food and hospitality of our local pub and restaurant. Property Owner
Tracy June 2023

“The cottage is very quaint, quirky & charming with a beautiful garden.”

However, there are several safety hazards which you should be aware of. First of all it’s on the main A12 from Ipswich & the noise is immense, if you try & have a conversation in the garden, it’s impossible. It’s also very hazardous trying to get out on to the main road. The metal spiral staircase is scary, we are very agile people, but if you weren’t, had small kids or in our case a small dog, don’t risk it. We’d blocked it off from our dog, but there is a large gap at the top right & he got through it, how he didn't break his neck we will never know. The low beam doorways were ok for me but my poor husband cracked his head so many times, took skin off & made it bleed. In the end his head was such a mess we had to got to the pharmacy & get cream & dressings. The doorway to the kitchen is only 5’8” high & very, very deep, so you think you are through it & you're not. The decor is beautifully done but the basement bedrooms feel damp & smell fusty, the dehumidifier collected a full tank of water every day. We had a maintenance man come out as neither of the extractor fans work in either downstairs bathrooms, but he couldn’t fix them & stated they need replacing. We ended up sleeping in the top bedroom, which was dry & safer for our dog & us. Outside the decking has long seen better days, the struts underneath are rotten, so the decking bounces up & down & makes the screws come loose. Again the maintenance man tried to fix it, but stated that it needs replacing. It’s such a shame as it’s a lovely & interesting building, but the safety hazards outweigh the fun of staying there.

- Tracy, June 2023
Graham June 2023

“Our stay at TOCH was everything we could have wished for and it was lovely to meet the owners whilst there.”

Everything was clean and comfortable and you soon get accustomed to the low doors and the traffic noise (which didn’t cause us any issue at all for folk you live under an airport approach flight path)! It was a perfect location for being able to visit so many locations. Blythburgh holds many happy memories for me so it proved a great place to celebrate my seventieth birthday.

- Graham, June 2023

Thankyou for your comments. It was good to meet you and many thanks for your help ! We’re glad that you love the area and would welcome you celebrating your next few birthdays at the Old Custom House. Property Owner
Joanne August 2022

“On the whole, we had a lovely week.”

The cottage is very clean and does have a homely feel. I cannot 'complain' about the property however, there are some points which would have been useful to know before you go. The garden is lovely and has several seating areas although if you are intending to spend a relaxing/quiet time there, the noise is quite loud with the traffic passing by. It didn't effect us greatly as we were out all day and only used it for short periods for the kids to strectch their legs and play with the dog but I dont think I would be able to spend much longer there. We didnt hear it overnight and it certainly didnt stop us from sleeping! The spiral staircase to the lower floor is narrow. It's not the easiest to tackle depending on age and size although you can can access the lower floor from the door onto the pavement - just be mindful of traffic passing. All bedrooms were beautiful and spacious however, the upstairs bedroom has a separate bathroom which is accessible via the kitchen. We knew it wasn't en suite however hoped that it may be next door to the bedroom for ease of use. The bedrooms do not have televisions, again no big issue as we had phones but the only television is in the living room. We were a family of 6 with varying ages and so trying to keep everyone happy with one channel wasnt the easiest. The only other issue is the height of the door frames - they are low! There are warning signs on each frame and the owners really couldn't do any more to remind you however, it's still easy to forget. Overall, we did have an enjoyable week. The owners have catered for everything they can and the location is great for day trips out. It suited us and we made it work however, I think these things are just useful to know when you book depending on your age group and requirements.

- Joanne, August 2022
Jonathan August 2022

“We had a fantastic time at The Old Custom House.”

It has such character and a lovely garden complete with quaint summer house, hammock and plenty of seating. We spent may hours there enjoying the morning and evening sun. Southwold is just round the corner which has beautiful sandy beaches. Highly recommended.

- Jonathan, August 2022
Robert July 2022

“The place is nice, well maintained and clean.”

We struggled with the cooker/hob. The diagram showing the control positions was ok, but it was difficult to monitor the power setting. (Maybe put up a photo of the dials from the internet?) Even though all the low beams had signs, we still had numerous bumped heads. We still had a great time, the outside spaces were great!

- Robert, July 2022
Deidre June 2022

“Tge cottage is very well equipped and lovely with a superb garden, being next to tge very busy A12 ruined the experience for us, too noisy to enjoy tge garden and very noisy in tge bedrooms, tge spiral staircase was not suitable for us being in our 70 and 80’s.”

We loved the area . If you could pick it up and move it it would be perfect!!!

- Deidre, June 2022
Glynis May 2022

“The cottage was spacious, clean , comfortable and very well equipped.”

The welcome pack was a lovely surprise. Lots of instructions and general information although info on hot water and heating would be helpful. A lovely garden to enjoy in nice weather . TOCH is well placed for easy access to places of interest and has an excellent pub just accross the road. The free guided tour of the church on a Thursday morning is excellent. Nice to have our own designated parking. We had a lovely week and recommend TOCH highly

- Glynis, May 2022
Lisa April 2022

“Lovely cottage and beautiful garden.”

Everything we could possibly need was provided. We only stayed for two nights this time but hope to return for a longer visit.

- Lisa, April 2022
Judy January 2022

“This is a lovely cottage with all the home comforts you could require.”

There is a very pleasant pub with good food and real ale, just across the road. The cottage is on the edge of a pretty village and we had a great few days here. There is some noise from the road, especially in morning rush hour, but this was not enough to spoil our time here and would definitely not deter us from coming again.

- Judy, January 2022
Catherine December 2021

“Excellent accomodation.”

Very well located for wonderful walks and amenities.

- Catherine, December 2021
Steve December 2021

“We have just returned from an amazing week at The Old Custom House (TOCH).”

We booked the week before Christmas and were delighted to see how wonderful the cottage looked complete with Christmas decorations too. The place was spotlessly clean and the attention to detail at the property was second to none with very eventuality catered for. We appreciated the welcome pack and the notes left around the cottage with instructions etc and leaflets of things to do too. The guest signature book was also a good source of information of places to visit in the surrounding areas. Our personal favourites were a visit to Thorpeness and a walk along the coastal path and beach; Dunwich forest and a short drive to the beach at Dunwich followed by a lovely lunch at The Ship; a walk around the marshes and beach at Walberswick and of course a trip into Southwold. We would also recommend a trip into Halesworth and a sour dough sandwich at The Black Dog Deli. We were also very fortunate with the strangely mild weather for December and took some amazing photographs of our days out (a week was just not long enough). We have already started planning our return trip and look forward to returning to TOCH in the Summer. A big thank you to Pat and Tony for making our stay so special.

- Steve, December 2021
Beccy November 2021

“Lovely house, very quirky, comfortable and well equipped with essentials and much more.”

Only negative is this house is on the main A12 road so can be very noisy with traffic however we did let this spoil our time.

- Beccy, November 2021

Thankyou for your response that you enjoyed your time at TOCH. We look forward to your probable return Property Owner
Rachel October 2021

“Home from home, we cant wait to return.”

The property is simply stunning, spotlessly clean with the most comfortable beds, linens and towels I've ever had the luxury to use. Don't worry if you've left something behind at your own home because I can almost guarantee you'll find it here. The garden was beautiful but being a wet October, we didn't really get the benefit of this, and intend to return in the summer months. The owners attention to detail is incredible, thinking of absolutely everything you could possible need during your stay, with tons of things you didn't realise you'd need too! I think its important to mention that all of the ground floor internal doorways are very low with large supporting beams across each one and whilst it adds to the wonderful character of the property and didn't affect our enjoyment of it at all, its not as clearly described in the details. You will need to duck or grouse! My elderly parents managed perfectly well with the internal doorways but struggled with the steep step inside the entry way of the property whilst navigating the low external doorway above the step. The entrance floor bedroom is really beautiful. Also important to mention here that the bathroom for this bedroom is not en-suite (as per the two bedrooms downstairs) but is a simple short walk, off the utility room. The wrought iron spiral staircase is very steep but once downstairs the lower floor bedrooms and bathrooms are beautiful and so very comfortable. Blythburgh and the surrounding areas are fabulous for walkers with lots of mapped routes to take. We enjoyed popping into Halesworth for a morning coffee at The Black Dog Deli, where the staff were so friendly and welcoming offering advice about places to go in the local area, not to mention the best coffee and cake I've ever tasted. The White Hart across the road had lovely roaring fires lit to enjoy a drink in the evenings. Our unanimously favourite restaurant though was The Fox Inn at Darsham (postcode IP17 3QE) 4.6 miles up the road. The whole experience at the Fox from greeting to eating was absolutely outstanding. Friendly welcoming staff and amazing food. October 2021

- Rachel, October 2021

So glad you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to your return Property Owner
David September 2021

“A beautifully presented spacious property which is perfectly located for trips to the wonderful Suffolk coastal towns, villages and beaches.”

Superbly well equipped and spotlessly clean. A lovely garden too. The close proximity of the property to the road did mean a fair amount of traffic noise at times. Perhaps some additional sound insulation on the windows would help. However, this did not detract from this being a great property to stay in.

- David, September 2021

Thankyou Dr Catley for your feedback. We are glad you enjoyed your stay and would welcome you and your family back again in the future. We are aware of the need for some additional sound insulation and will be dealing with this shortly. The reason we have not done so as yet is we have only recently taken possession of TOCH and needed to get many other things up to standard first. Thankyou again Pat and Tony Property Owner
Joanne September 2021

“We had the most amazing stay at TOCH - the reality of the place exceeds the photographs.”

It was so clean and Pat and Tony had everything in the house to make your stay like ‘home from home’. The area has a lot to offer - pub opposite the house ( not noisy ) and great food. The area offers multiple walks all on your doorstep! Blythburgh church at the bottom of the road and well worth a visit - 1100 every Thursday is a free guided tour by someone in the village and really informative! Southwold is less than 10 mins drive away and a beautiful seaside town with lots of beautiful shops. Sutton Hoo abs Dunwich Heath( national trust ) all worth a visit. I would defiantly be coming back again for some R&R - beds so comfortable and a beautiful garden to relax in.

- Joanne, September 2021

Many thanks for your comments Joanne, We're glad you enjoyed your stay and would welcome you back again at any time Pat and Tony Property Owner
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Summary

Reverse-level
Three bedrooms: 1 x lower-ground-floor king size with en-suite bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail and WC, 1 x lower-ground-floor king size with en-suite walk-in shower, basin and WC, 1 x ground-floor king size
Ground-floor shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC
Kitchen
Utility
Dining room
Sitting room with woodburning stove
Oil central heating with woodburning stove
Electric Rangemaster, microwave, fridge, freezer, washing machine and dishwasher
TV with Sky and WiFi
Fuel, power and starter pack for woodburning stove inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc in rent
Travel cot highchair and stairgate
Off-road parking for 3 cars
Garden with lawn, patio, decking and furniture
One small dog welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop 3.1 miles, pub 0.1 miles, beach 4.8 miles
Note: The property has a spiral staircase - Due to the age of the property, the ceilings are low and the staircase is steep, please take care
Note: There is a minimum night stay requirement at this property of three nights.

The property

The Old Custom House is a quirky, reverse-level cottage resting in Blythburgh, Suffolk. Hosting three bedrooms including three doubles along with a bathroom and two shower rooms, this property can sleep up to six guests. There is also kitchen, a utility, a dining room a sitting room with a woodburning stove. Outside, there is off-road parking for three cars and a garden with a lawn, patio, decking and furniture. The Old Custom House is a charming retreat for a memorable holiday to the coast.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £350.

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About the location

WANGFORD

Southwold 5 miles.

The charming village of Wangford provides home to a delightful church, an excellent general store and two pubs, one of which serves good homemade food. The nearby seaside town of Southwold sits on the Suffolk Heritage Coast and offers a host of attractions, such as a working lighthouse, an award-winning pier, a busy harbour, cliff-top cannons and of course, a lovely beach, as well as a range of shops, good restaurants and pubs. Ramblers will want to explore nearby Walberswick Marshes whilst just a little further afield is Minsmere, one of the country's most famous RSPB nature reserves, offering refuge to a variety of birds for over 50 years and pioneering the use of observation hides and wetland management. So whether it be walking across heath or through woodland, or simply relaxing on the beach, this great location has something for everyone!

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

Wangford, Suffolk (Ref. 1080845)

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Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Overall we had a great break in this lovely quirky property, We would certainly go back to this property, ideally situated and pleasant.”

“Unfortunately there was a problem with the boiler and we were without any heating for the first 24 hours of our stay.”

“Really lovely home from home cottage with a beautiful garden.”

“Lovely property with everything you need.”

“This is a lovely, quirky and characterful cottage.”

“Great quirky property in a fantastic location for visiting the beautiful Suffolk coast.”

“We were delighted with the accommodation, cleanliness and facilities at The Old Custom House in Blythburgh.”

“Lovely cottage beautifully decorated for Christmas - thank you for that!”

“This is the second time we have stayed at TOCH, it’s a property that is full ...”

“We had 2 enjoyable days visiting Southwold & Walberswick.”

“The cottage is very quaint, quirky & charming with a beautiful garden.”

“Our stay at TOCH was everything we could have wished for and it was lovely to meet the owners whilst there.”

“On the whole, we had a lovely week.”

“We had a fantastic time at The Old Custom House.”

“The place is nice, well maintained and clean.”

“Tge cottage is very well equipped and lovely with a superb garden, being next to tge very busy A12 ruined the experience for us, too noisy to enjoy tge garden and very noisy in tge bedrooms, tge spiral staircase was not suitable for us being in our 70 and 80’s.”

“The cottage was spacious, clean , comfortable and very well equipped.”

“Lovely cottage and beautiful garden.”

“This is a lovely cottage with all the home comforts you could require.”

“Excellent accomodation.”

“We have just returned from an amazing week at The Old Custom House (TOCH).”

“Lovely house, very quirky, comfortable and well equipped with essentials and much more.”

“Home from home, we cant wait to return.”

“A beautifully presented spacious property which is perfectly located for trips to the wonderful Suffolk coastal towns, villages and beaches.”

“We had the most amazing stay at TOCH - the reality of the place exceeds the photographs.”

Summary

The property

View on map

About the location

WANGFORD