For Benjamin Britten, a quiet place to compose was absolutely essential. He was fortunate enough to achieve this for most of his life, spending his last two decades at The Red House, down a quiet lane on the outskirts of Aldeburgh. Today, Britten Pears Arts are entrusted with a number of properties – three on The Red House site, and one nearer the town centre.

Creative Retreats offer use of these properties for individual artists or small groups who would value a peaceful retreat to write, create or collaborate. The properties are available throughout the year and we can offer them in blocks of two weeks. Please explore each property video and let us know in your application form if there is one that particularly suits.

We aren’t able to provide expenses for this opportunity, please get in touch if this will prevent you from being able to take up this opportunity.

Creative Retreats are currently fully booked. We'll update this page when we're welcoming applications again.

Church Walk

9 Church Walk was the home of Imogen Holst from 1964 until her death 20 years later, designed by H.C. Cadbury-Brown within the grounds of his Aldeburgh home, number 3. It is situated down a quiet residential street within close walking distance of Aldeburgh High Street.

Cosy Nook

This is the former home of Britten and Pears’ long-term housekeeper Miss Hudson (she had been with the couple since the late 1940s). On her retirement in 1972, they built her a small house in the garden of The Red House which she christened ‘Cosy Nook’. Like Red Studio, it was designed by the architect Peter Collymore.

Home Reach

Home Reach was built in the 1960s and stands in a plot next door to the Red House. It is a two-storey detached property, with three upstairs bedrooms (one of them en suite), an additional upstairs bathroom and a large living area on the ground floor. There is also a garden to the rear and parking space at the front (NB the parking area is also used by Britten Pears Arts staff).

Red Studio

In 1963 Britten and Pears commissioned Peter Collymore to build a Studio in the grounds of the Red House for their friend the artist Mary Potter, a former resident of the house itself. It is a single-storey house with two bedrooms.