Christian Holiday Cottage, Suffolk | Perfect Coastal Stay, Sleeps 7

Christian Holiday Cottage, Suffolk — On the Grounds of a Living Christian Story

Forge Cottage sits within the grounds of Sizewell Hall Christian Conference Centre, on a stretch of the Suffolk coast that has been quietly shaping Christian life here for centuries. Guests get the best of both worlds: the privacy of a self-catering cottage with its own beach access, and the setting of a genuine working Christian community all around it.

Sizewell Hall itself has a story worth knowing before you arrive. The house began life as Sizewell House, bought in 1859 by Alexander Ogilvie, a Scottish railway engineer, as a holiday retreat; his wife Margaret later expanded the estate to several thousand acres and renamed it Sizewell Hall. A fire in 1920 destroyed much of the original thatched building, and after wartime requisitioning by the Army and years as a boarding school, the Hall fell into serious disrepair, standing empty and vandalised for a time. According to those involved, one of the people who first sensed the site’s potential was Shirley Vickers, a Christian magazine editor who walked the grounds with her family, praying that the neglected hall might one day be used for God’s purposes. That vision took shape in 1975, when Victor and Meg Jack took on the lease and opened Sizewell Hall as a Christian conference and camping centre, starting out with barely £40 in the bank. Fifty years on, thousands of guests have passed through, and it remains a working charity, with many visitors choosing to be baptised in the sea here, whatever the weather.

Christian roots run deeper still along this coast. A little inland, the ruined Premonstratensian monastery of Leiston Abbey was founded in 1182 by Ranulf de Glanville, Chief Justiciar to Henry II, its white-robed canons living lives of deliberate isolation and simplicity, following a rule modelled on the Cistercians and named for their parent house at Prémontré in France. The first abbey actually stood on marshland near Minsmere before flooding forced a move inland in the 1360s, when it was rebuilt on a grander scale for its new patron, the Earl of Suffolk. Historical records show the medieval abbey held rights over the fishing markets of both Leiston and Sizewell itself — the very village Forge Cottage stands in today, though the medieval settlement there has since been largely lost to coastal erosion. It’s a striking thought: eight centuries before Sizewell Hall opened its doors, this same short stretch of Suffolk coastline was already home to a Christian community shaping the lives of those around it.

Forge Cottage offers a comfortable, private base for taking all of this in, whether that means quiet walks on the beach, joining in with life at the conference centre, or exploring the wider Suffolk coast beyond. It’s worth remembering, too, that Sizewell Hall was built as a charity from the start, and that same spirit lives on in its willingness to help guests for whom the cost of a break might otherwise be out of reach. For more options nearby, HolyHols lists further Christian holiday accommodation across the East of England.

Perfect for:

Families and groups wanting private, self-catering space within a Christian community
Church groups combining a cottage stay with wider activity at the conference centre
Birdwatchers and walkers drawn to RSPB Minsmere and the Suffolk Heritage Coast
Dog owners, with pets welcome and direct beach access from the grounds
Anyone on a tighter budget, given the option to discuss support with the centre

Location

Forge Cottage, Sizewell Hall Christian Conference Centre, Sizewell, Leiston, Suffolk IP16 4TX
How to get there:
Sizewell Hall is tucked away on the Suffolk Coast, yet only 10 miles from the A12 the Ipswich to Lowestoft Road. To find Sizewell Hall by Sat Nav our Post Code is IP16 4TX.
Our nearest train station is Saxmundham.
Nearest Town:
Leiston, Saxmundham, Aldeburgh

Local Area

Nearby Leiston has: CO-OP (Subway and coffee shop inside), Chinese Takeaway, Indian Takeaway, Fish and Chip Shop, Pizza Takeaway, Petrol Station, Pharmacy, Bakery, Butchers, Greengrocers etc
Nearby Saxmundham has: Tesco, Waitrose, Petrol Station, Train Station, Fish and Chip Shop, Pizza Takeaway, Indian Takeaway, Pharmacy etc
Nearby Aldeburgh has: Tesco Express, CO-OP, Fish and Chip Shop, Pizza Takeaway, Bakery, Butchers, Pharmacy etc
Leisure Attractions:
Sizewell Beach, RSPB Minsmere, Thorpeness Meare, Leiston Film Theatre, Leiston Abbey, Aldeburgh Cinema, Dunwich Heath, Walberswick, Southwold and Orford

Facilities

Forge Cottage is a 4-bedroom self-catering cottage, equipped for 7 guests. There are two double bedrooms, one twin room with two single beds, and one single room with a single bed. The property benefits from access straight to the beach via steps from the grounds of Sizewell Hall.
The accommodation comes with a walk-in shower and a separate Cloakroom. The open plan kitchen/dining/living room is fully equipped with a cooker, microwave and fridge (with small freezer compartment) and all utensils. It is also complete with a dining table, TV and DVD player.
Please note: We supply all bed linen but not towels.

Additional Photos

Click to enlarge

A cosy living-dining area in this charming Suffolk Christian holiday cottage features beige sofas, a wooden coffee table, a dining table with four chairs, and an open kitchen in the background. Neutral walls and a ceiling light add to the warm feel.

A cosy living room in this charming Suffolk Christian holiday cottage features beige sofas, a wooden coffee table, a bookcase, a small TV, and a dining table with chairs near a window letting in daylight.

A cosy kitchen in a charming Christian holiday cottage in Suffolk, featuring cream cupboards, a cooker, a white fridge, a microwave, utensils in a holder, and a wall clock. Two windows with blinds and patterned curtains let in natural light.

A bedroom in this charming Suffolk Christian holiday cottage features a double bed with white bedding, a wooden headboard, white wardrobe, chair, bedside table with lamp, and a window letting in natural light. Two paintings hang on the cream-coloured walls.

A small bedroom in this charming Christian holiday cottage in Suffolk features a bed covered in white sheets, two windows with floral curtains, a white wardrobe with a mirror, and a small chest of drawers. Sunlight streams in, brightening the neutral-toned room.

A small Suffolk bedroom with a double bed, white bed linen, two blue lamps, floral curtains on three windows, and beige walls. Sunlight streams in, casting shadows on the bed—perfect for a peaceful stay in this Christian holiday cottage.

Two single beds with white bedding are placed on either side of a white bedside table with a lamp. Sunlight streams through two windows with yellow curtains, illuminating the cosy, neutral-toned room in this charming Christian holiday cottage in Suffolk.

A small bedroom in a charming Christian holiday cottage in Suffolk, featuring a single bed with white bedding, a bedside table with a lamp, floral curtains, and sunlight streaming through a window onto cream-coloured walls and brown carpet.

A minimalist bathroom in a tranquil Christian holiday cottage in Suffolk, featuring a pedestal basin, round mirror, and a walk-in glass shower with a wall-mounted shower unit. The floor is dark wood-effect, and the walls are finished with light grey textured panelling for a serene, contemporary feel.

A small bathroom in a charming Suffolk Christian holiday cottage, featuring a white toilet and basin, wall-mounted mirror, soap dispenser, toilet roll holder, window, and wooden floor. A rubbish bin and a white bin are conveniently placed next to the toilet.

A carpeted corridor with cream walls, two ceiling lights, and doorways leading to a bedroom with a bed on the left, another room ahead, and sunlight coming through windows with curtains—an inviting scene in this charming Suffolk Christian holiday cottage.

A hallway in this charming Christian holiday cottage in Suffolk features cream walls, brown carpet, a wall light, a picture frame, and a sign shaped like an arrow reading BEACH. At the end of the hall, a doorway and a mirror reflecting a door are visible.

Sunlight shines through a window onto carpeted stairs in this charming Suffolk retreat, casting the shadow of a decorative leaf-shaped ornament sitting on the windowsill. Blue sky and clouds are visible outside, evoking the peaceful atmosphere of a Christian holiday cottage.

A sunny back garden with a brick patio, chairs, grassy lawn, stone wall, and wooden fence evokes the charm of a Suffolk Christian holiday cottage. Shadows from trees and power lines stretch across the garden, creating a peaceful retreat.

Costs

2026 Charges:
Peak (Apr-Oct):
2 Nights £415, 3 Nights £477, 4 Nights £533, 5 Nights £575, 6 Nights £605, 7 Nights £635
Off Peak (Jan–Mar, Nov–Dec):
2 Nights £380, 3 Nights £430, 4 Nights £482, 5 Nights £523, 6 Nights £555, 7 Nights £585

Deposit 50%, Remaining Balance Due 8 weeks before arrival

If you are in need of a break but the price is prohibitive, please contact us as we may be able to help.

Energy Provision – Costs included or excluded from above charges
Costs included in above Charges
Availability – seasonal or all year round etc
Available all year round, you can view the calendar on our website to book your stay
Inclusion of Pets
Dogs are allowed in this accommodation.
Arrival and Departure times
Unless by prior arrangement: After 5pm Arrival: Before 10am Departure
Please contact us, as there is room for flexibility depending on guests in the conference centre.

Contact the Owner:

If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following contact details:
Name: Sizewell Hall Christian Conference Centre
Address: Sizewell Hall, Sizewell, Leiston, Suffolk IP16 4TX
Telephone Number(s): 01728 830715
Email Address: bookings@sizewellhall.org.uk
Website: https://sizewellhall.org.uk/visit/cottage-and-bungalow

Forge Cottage, Sizewell Hall Christian Conference Centre