ARC Thorpeness
Overview
Forget your standard two-up, two-down holiday cottage, ARC Thorpeness is what happens when a 1920s water tower gets a serious glow-up. This isn’t just a place to drop your bags, it’s a five-storey, Grade II-listed conversation starter that literally towers over the surrounding landscape. Inside, it’s a masterclass in industrial-chic, featuring polished concrete, exposed steel,... and enough glass to keep a local window cleaner in business for decades. Sleeping up to 20 guests across eight flexible en-suite bedrooms, it is the perfect venue for the kind of big family reunion where you actually want to see everyone, with plenty of space to spread out so nobody gets under your feet.
Life at ARC revolves around the spectacular top floor. Here, you are treated to jaw-dropping 360-degree views of the Suffolk countryside and coast that make the climb up the floating staircase entirely worth the cardio. The house is kitted out for socialising, boasting a massive kitchen with four ovens and a snug perfect for hiding away when the British weather does its thing.
If you head outside, you’ll find a garden setup that rivals a mini private resort. You can take a dip in the heated swimming pool, bubble away in the wood-fired hot tub, or try not to burn dinner in the outdoor pizza oven and BBQ area. When you do manage to drag yourself away from the fun, you are right in the heart of Thorpeness, arguably England’s quirkiest village, famous for its mock-Tudor architecture and the Peter Pan-themed boating lake, ‘The Meare’. It is a magical slice of Suffolk that feels miles away from the daily grind, just a stone’s throw from the pebble beach and the charming town of Aldeburgh.
Visual Tour
Features
Your vertical journey begins on the ground floor, a dedicated chill-out zone featuring a sitting room with a massive U-shaped sofa and direct access to the pool area. As you climb through the first, second, and third floors, you’ll find the sleeping quarters, which are a masterclass in flexibility. Most rooms feature king-sized beds that can be unzipped into twins, with en-suites cleverly designed to separate the shower zones from the enclosed WCs for added privacy. There are unique touches throughout, Bedroom 1 is a spacious family suite with extra singles, Bedroom 4 boasts a bathtub for a long soak,... and Bedroom 7 is a characterful ‘dorm’ room with four single beds and cosy reduced headspace, making it a secret hideaway that children (or short adults!) will absolutely love.
Unlike a traditional home, the culinary heart of the house is elevated to the fourth floor, offering an absolutely fabulous open-plan space filled with light. The kitchen is a stainless-steel marvel, designed for feeding the masses, equipped with four Miele ovens, a bean-to-cup coffee machine, and enough gadgets to keep any chef happy. It is not just a workspace but a social hub, dominated by a colossal dining table with space for everyone. It is the perfect setting for raucous family feasts, allowing you to dine in style while floating high above the ground.
The experience culminates on the fifth floor in the breathtaking living space that feels like it is hovering in the sky. With 360-degree views stretching across the Suffolk coast, this room is the property’s undisputed showstopper. It is furnished for ultimate relaxation with three large sofas, armchairs, and coffee tables, inviting you to sink back and watch the sunset or the stars. Whether you are gathering for morning coffee with a view or a nightcap high above the trees, this room offers a perspective on Suffolk that you simply won’t find anywhere else.
-
Rooms
Ground Floor
Sitting Room
The ground floor sitting room has a sprawling U-shaped sofa, Smart TV for entertainment and a door opening directly onto the garden and pool area.
Cloakroom
A convenient ground floor cloakroom features a WC, wash basin, and a heated towel rail—handy for drying off after a dip in the pool.
First Floor
Bedroom 1 and En-suite
An ideal family suite or a fun sleepover room, Bedroom 1 is spacious and versatile. It features a king-sized bed (which can be unzipped into twins) alongside two additional single beds. It comes complete with a gorgeous en-suite fitted with a shower, WC, and wash basin.
Bedroom 2 and En-suite
A tranquil space featuring a king-sized bed (flexible as a twin setup) and an in-room wash basin. The private en-suite is equipped with a WC and shower.
Bedroom 3 and En-suite
Another flexible space with a king-sized bed (or twin setup). The en-suite here is cleverly designed, separating the shower and wash basin area from the enclosed WC for added privacy.
Second Floor
Bedroom 4 and En-suite
This room offers a touch of extra luxury. Alongside the king-sized bed (flexible as a twin), the en-suite boasts a bathtub for a relaxing soak, as well as a WC and wash basin.
Bedroom 5 and En-suite
A mirror of the comfortable layout below, this room features a king-sized bed (flexible as a twin). The en-suite is practical and stylish, with a shower area and wash basin separated from the enclosed WC.
Bedroom 6 and En-suite
Consistent with the floor’s layout, this room offers a king-sized bed (flexible as a twin) and the smart split-style en-suite with a shower zone and a separate enclosed WC.
Third Floor
Bedroom 7
This characterful room features four single beds. With its reduced headspace, it feels like a cosy, secret hideaway, perfect for older children or teenagers wanting their own dorm-style space.
Bedroom 8 and En-suite
A lovely double room with a king-sized bed (flexible as a twin). It features the tower’s signature split en-suite design, with a shower and wash basin distinct from the enclosed WC.
Bathroom
A bright and sunny communal bathroom, perfect for soothing weary muscles. It features a bathtub, a wash basin, and a separate WC.
Fourth Floor
Kitchen & Dining
This is the culinary engine room of the property, an absolutely fabulous open-plan space defined by a sleek stainless-steel kitchen. It is kitted out for serious catering with a multitude of storage, four Miele ovens, two hobs, two dishwashers, wine fridge and a bean-to-cup coffee machine (beans provided) to fuel your mornings. With a fridge freezer, toaster, kettle, and food processor, you have every gadget you need. The space is dominated by a vast dining table, plus two high chairs, ensuring the whole group can feast together.
Fifth Floor
The crowning glory of the tower. With breathtaking 360-degree views over the stunning Suffolk coast, the fifth floor is a showstopper. The space offers three large sofas, two coffee tables, and a couple of armchairs, the perfect vantage point to sink back with a drink and watch the world go by from high above the treetops. -
Garden
The outdoor space at ARC is essentially your own private mini-resort. It is a beautifully landscaped suntrap where the main event is undoubtedly the heated swimming pool, flanked by a wood-fired hot tub spacious enough for eight, perfect for marinating with a glass of fizz as the sun goes down.
When hunger strikes, the outdoor kitchen is ready for action, boasting a proper stone pizza oven and a South African Braai. Whether you’re flipping burgers or dodging pool splashes, the sheltered dining pergola ensures you can feast alfresco in style, making it the ultimate spot for socialising long into the evening.
Lucky guests are welcome to use the neighbouring tennis court for a small donation. -
Parking
There is parking available for up to 5 cars. -
House Rules
Check in: 4-8pm
Check out: 10am
No smoking is permitted at the property.
The property is not suitable for stag or hen groups.
A maximum of two dogs are allowed at the property. Please note there is a £50 dog fee per dog.
Please note this property has a Security Deposit of £3000. -
Floorplan
-
Amenities
Bath Towels ProvidedBBQCafetiereCarbon Monoxide DetectorCoastal RetreatCoffee Beans ProvidedComplimentary ToiletriesDining AreaDishwasherEssentialsFamily FunFree WifiFreezerFridgeGardenHair DryerHeated PoolHeatingHighchairHot TubIron & BoardKettleLinens ProvidedMicrowaveOff-Road ParkingOutdoor DiningOutdoor FurnitureOven & HobPet FriendlyPizza OvenPool Towels ProvidedSea ViewsShampooSuffolk TownsSummer Holiday StayTelevisionTennis CourtToasterTravel CotTumble DryerWalk To BeachWalk To PubWalk To TownWashing MachineWine CoolerZip & Link Bed(s)
Availability
Book Now
Select your dates to check availability
Selected Available Unavailable
Message from the Owner
Thorpeness has always felt like a place slightly apart from everyday life – a village shaped by imagination, eccentricity and the joy of escape. When we first encountered the former water tower at its heart, we were instantly drawn to both its drama and its responsibility. In a county defined by flat horizons and big skies, a five-storey building like this is utterly unique. What followed was a three-year journey of research, design and construction to carefully reimagine one of Suffolk’s most distinctive landmarks as a place to gather, rest and celebrate time together.
ARC Thorpeness is our most ambitious project to date. Every level of the house has its own atmosphere and sense of occasion, rising through the building until you reach the fifth-floor living space, where 360-degree views stretch across the village, the sea and the surrounding landscape. It’s a genuinely cinematic experience – changing constantly with the light, weather and seasons – and one that still stops us in our tracks.
This house also marks our boldest expression of interiors, colour and comfort. We wanted the spaces to feel generous, confident and joyful: plush without being formal, luxurious without losing warmth. Extensive research into historic building techniques sits quietly alongside contemporary craft, modern environmental systems and deeply considered detailing throughout.
ARC Thorpeness is designed to be enjoyed year-round. In summer, days spill out into the Mediterranean-style garden, with its splash pool, outdoor kitchen and long tables for unhurried meals. In winter, the house comes into its own just as beautifully – returning from bracing walks to light the fire, sink into the wood-fired hot tub, and gather indoors as the weather rolls in around you.
More than anything, we hope we’ve created a place that feels extraordinary yet deeply comfortable: a house that invites curiosity, encourages togetherness, and offers moments of real stillness. A place you return to – and think about long after you’ve left.
The Location
Thorpeness, a village built in the early 20th century by Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie, a wealthy Scottish barrister with a love for mock Tudor and Jacobean architecture, stands out for its fantastical charm. Ogilvie cleverly disguised the village's water tower as a picturesque house, known as the 'House in the Clouds,' and is now an iconic landmark in the village. At the heart of Thorpeness lies the Meare, an artificial boating lake featuring tiny islands inspired by J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, offering endless delight for children and adults alike.
Visitors can rent rowing boats to explore the Meare from spring... through summer, with occasional openings in autumn. The Thorpeness Hotel, Apartments & Golf Club offers a blend of British cuisine and golfing entertainment, while also providing golf tuition and other activities such as tennis and exploring the landscaped gardens.
Beyond its scenic delights, Thorpeness boasts a beautiful shingle beach and is close to the beautiful towns of Aldeburgh and Southwold, making it an ideal destination for families seeking a relaxing holiday on the Suffolk Coast.
Featured Properties
