Lavenham
Billed as ‘England’s best preserved mediaeval town’, Lavenham’s wealth is derived from the wool trade. The richly rewarding timber framed buildings remain largely intact with relatively little post-Victorian development apart from on the village fringes.
Village life revolves around the busy High Street / Church Street main road, and the Market Square. On the former you’ll find the impressive church, the wonderful 14th century Swan Hotel (www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk), a coffee shop that defines how coffee shops should be (Munnings), two decent pubs, a good Indian restaurant, a superb butcher, a small delicatessen and some fabulously ‘wonky’ timber-framed houses, victims of the soft soil but still resolutely standing. The Market Square has an excellent local shop, baker, The Angel Hotel and pub, and a good French restaurant. Good access to local countryside which is very pretty here; poor road links to London but the train from Sudbury is reasonable. www.lavenham.co.uk
