Polstead is a small village and civil parish in the Babergh district of Suffolk, in East Anglia, lying around four miles south of Sudbury. It sits among rolling farmland and orchards with winding lanes and hedgerows typical of the area; the core still centres on a historic church and village green, and the local economy is largely agricultural with a long cider heritage derived from old orchard varieties.
Locally the village is best known for the notorious early 19th‑century "Red Barn" murder, an event that captured national attention at the time and remains part of the area's folklore, but day‑to‑day life is quieter, held together by village events, clubs and the pub. Conservation of landscape and traditional buildings is important here, so Polstead retains a strong rural character despite being within easy commuting distance of larger towns.
Postcode districts covering Polstead
Most populated places nearby
- Ipswich 12.2 miles19.6 km
- Colchester 8.7 miles14 km
- Braintree 16.9 miles27.3 km
- Clacton-on-Sea 18.8 miles30.3 km
- Bury St. Edmunds 17.2 miles27.6 km
- Felixstowe 19.7 miles31.7 km
- Haverhill 19.8 miles31.9 km
- Witham 18.3 miles29.4 km
- Sudbury 6.5 miles10.5 km
- Maldon 21.3 miles34.3 km
- Stowmarket 12.4 miles20 km
- Harwich 16.6 miles26.8 km
Neighbouring places
- Boxford Built-up area 1.3 miles2 km
- Stoke-by-Nayland Built-up area 2 miles3.2 km
- Groton Parish 2.1 miles3.4 km
- Brett Vale Ward 2.3 miles3.8 km
- Layham Parish 2.4 miles3.8 km
- Shelley Parish 2.4 miles3.9 km
- Kersey Parish 2.5 miles4 km
- Edwardstone Parish 2.7 miles4.3 km
- Bures St. Mary & Nayland Ward 2.7 miles4.4 km
- Leavenheath Built-up area 2.9 miles4.6 km
- Assington Built-up area 3.1 miles5 km
- Nayland Built-up area 3.3 miles5.3 km
Example postcodes in Polstead
CO6 4TE, CO6 5BZ, CO6 5AR, CO6 5BB, CO6 5AG, CO6 5BG, CO6 5AF, CO6 5DD, CO6 5DB … See all
Transport links
- Stansted Airport 29.3 miles47.1 km
- London Southend Airport 32 miles51.5 km
- Bures Railway Station 6 miles9.7 km
- Sudbury Railway Station 6.6 miles10.6 km
- Bus Station 6.7 miles10.8 km
- Colchester Bus Station 9.1 miles14.7 km
Hotels near Polstead Ad
- The Crown Stoke by Nayland 3 2.1 miles3.4 km
- Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf and Spa 4 1.7 miles2.7 km
- The Marquis 3.5 miles5.6 km
- The Lion 5 6.2 miles10 km
- Talbooth House & Spa 4 5.8 miles9.4 km
- Hintlesham Hall Hotel 4 6.8 miles11 km
- Milsoms 4 5.5 miles8.8 km
- Holiday Inn Express Colchester 3 6 miles9.7 km
- Greyfriars 4 8.9 miles14.4 km
- Painters at the Angel 6.9 miles11.1 km
Local points of interest
- Colchester Community Stadium Stadium 6.6 miles10.6 km
- East Anglian Railway Museum Museum 8.4 miles13.5 km
- Roman Circus visitor centre Museum 9.3 miles15 km
- University of Essex University 10 miles16.2 km
- Portman Road Stadium 11.2 miles18.1 km
- Berechurch Hall Estate 11.7 miles18.8 km
- Marks Hall Estate 12 miles19.2 km
- Suffolk College University 12 miles19.3 km
- Coggeshall Abbey Historic site 13.3 miles21.4 km
- Foxall Stadium Stadium 14.5 miles23.4 km
- Harwich International Ferry Terminal Harbour 16.3 miles26.2 km
- Cressing Road Stadium 16.7 miles26.8 km