Preserved immaculately by the National Trust, the cluster of 16th- and 17th-century buildings at Flatford has changed little since Constable's time. At least five of the painters' greatest works were created here, and the view across the millpond from Flatford Mill (now an education center) towards Willy Lott's House is like stepping into The Hay Wain in real life. There's an exhibition on the painter near the car park, and tiny Bridge Cottage, with its knee-high windows, has been restored as it was in Constable's day.
The riverside tearoom is a pleasant spot for lunch, or you could stroll over to Dedham village. Ask if entry to Bridge Cottage is allowed, and whether guided tours of the site have resumed.
