Lavenham

Lavenham, is a village in the south-west corner of Suffolk.

Understand

One of the finest examples of a medieval wool town. Most of the houses were built between 1450 and 1500 and are in a remarkable state of preservation. Walking through Lavenham is like walking through a movie set - the half-timbered houses and pastel coloured cottages lean against one another in street after street. Several of the buildings, including the Guildhall, are open to the public and contain displays of life in a mediaeval English wool town. Lavenham was the 14th wealthiest settlement in England in 1524, with 33 cloth making businesses and was richer than Lincoln and York, when the church was being rebuilt (1486-1515) and the Guildhall of Corpus Christi completed (1529). Lavenham's position as a manufacturing town of national importance is hard to imagine when you see the quiet, rural charm of the village today.

Get in

By car

From London, follow M11 exit 8 A120 to Braintree, A131 to Halstead and Sudbury, then B1115 to Lavenham. From North, Take A134 from Bury St Edmunds then A1141 to Lavenham.

By train

The village no longer has a railway station (the station being closed for passengers in 1961). The nearest train station is

Sudbury Train Station, Station Rd, Sudbury, CO10 6SU (7 miles S of Lavenham), 52.036°, 0.735°. At the end of a branch line (marketed as the Gainsborough Line) from the main Norwich to London Liverpool St line at Marks Tey. The journey between Sudbury and Marks Tey takes 20 minutes, with stops at Bures station, and Chappel & Wakes Colne station. Station managed by and services operated by Greater Anglia. 2017-06-07

By bus

Chambers Buses 753 run hourly from Colchester train station or Bury St Edmunds Bus Station - Mondays to Saturdays.

By bicycle

The village in on National Cycle Route 13 (London to Fakenham) running through Bury St Edmunds to the N (where it connects to National Cycle Route 51 and to Colchester to the S where it connects with National Cycle Route 1.

Get around

The village is small enough to see on foot.

See

Most of the village can be seen in a 10-15 minute walk, but visiting the Guild Hall needs longer.

Tourist Information Centre, Lady St, Lavenham, CO10 9RA , 52.10860°, 0.79634°, +44 1787 248207, lavenhamtic@babergh.gov.uk. Mid Mar-end Oct daily 10:00-16:45; Nov-3rd week Dec daily 11:00-15:00; Jan-mid Mar Sa Su 11:00-15:00. 2017-06-08
Lavenham Guildhall, Market Place, Lavenham, CO10 9QZ , 52.10876°, 0.79662°, +44 1787 247646, lavenhamguildhall@nationaltrust.org.uk. Adult £6.5; Child £3.25 2017-06-08
Little Hall Museum, Market Place, Lavenham, C010 9QZ , 52.1091°, 0.797066°, +44 1787 248341, info@littlehall.org.uk. 14th century house (one of the oldest in the village). Adults £4; Children & concessions free 2017-06-08
St Peter & St Paul Church, Church Sr, Lavenham, CO10 9QT , 52.106342°, 0.791389°. 2017-06-08

Do

Guided Tour of Lavenham, Tourist Information Centre, Lady St, Lavenham CO10 9RA (Book in advance through Tourist Information Centre), 52.10860°, 0.79634°, +44 1787 248207, lavenhamtic@babergh.gov.uk. Weekends Easter-end Oct or by arrangement. 2017-06-08

Buy

Co-op (Convenience Store), 80a High St, Lavenham, CO10 9PT , 52.10954°, 0.79569°, +44 1787 247242. Daily 07:00-22:00. 2017-06-08

Eat

The Great House (Hotel & Restaurant), Market Place, Lavenham CO10 9QZ, 52.10915°, 0.79694°, +44 1787 247431, info@greathouse.co.uk. Feb-Dec Tu 19:00-21:30, W-Sa 12:00-14:30, 19:00-21:30, Su 12:00-14:30. Outstanding restaurant with 5 rooms. 2020-06-25
The Swan Hotel, High St, Lavenham CO10 9QA, 52.107737°, 0.795614°, +44 1787 247477, info@theswanatlavenham.co.uk. Food daily 12:00-21:00. Hotel, spa and lavish restaurant in a knock-through of three 15th C buildings. B&B double £110 2020-08-09
Hadley's at Lavenham (Ice Cream Shop), 91 High St, Lavenham, CO10 9PZ , 52.10868°, 0.79544°, +44 1787 249001, jane@hadleysdairy.co.uk. Daily 10:00-17:00. Craft Ice Creams 2017-06-08
Memsaab (Indian Restaurant), 2 Church St, Lavenham, CO10 9QT , 52.10755°, 0.79561°, +44 178 7249431, info@memsaaboflavenham.co.uk. M-Sa 12:00-14:30 & 17:30-23:00, Su 12:00-15:00 & 17:30-22:30. 2017-06-08
The Greyhound (Restaurant), 97 High St, Lavenham, CO10 9PZ , 52.10830°, 0.79540°, +44 1787 249553, info@lavenhamgreyhound.com. Bar: M-Sa 10:00-23:00, Su 10:00-22:00; Food: daily 10:00-22:00. 2017-06-08

Drink

The Angel (Pub, Restaurant & Hotel), Market Place, Lavenham, CO10 9QZ , 52.1093°, 0.7968°, +44 1787 247388, info@theangellavenham.co.uk. Bar: M-Sa 08:00-23:00, Su 10:00-23:00; Food: M-Sa 08:00-10:00 & 12:00-15:00 & 18:00-22:00, Su 08:00-10:00 & 12:00-18:00. 2017-06-08
No 10 (Wine Bar, Restaurant & Accommodation), 10 Lady St, Lavenham, CO10 9RA , 52.10813°, 0.79657°, +44 1787 249438, hello@ten-lavenham.co.uk. Bar: M-Th 11:00-23:00, F 11:00-00:00, Sa 12:00-00:00, Su 12:00-23:00; Restaurant M-Sa: 12:00-14:30 &18:00-21:00, Su 12:00-14:30 & 17:30-21:00. 2017-06-08
The Cock Horse Inn (Pub & Restaurant), 37 Church St, Lavenham, CO10 9SA , 52.10609°, 0.79340°, +44 1787 827330. Pub: M-Th 11:00-23:00, F-Sa 11:00-00:00, Su 11:00-19:30; Food: M-Th 12:00-15:00 & 18:00 - 21:00, F-Sa 12:00-21:00, Su 12:00-16:00. 2017-06-08
Giffords Hall is a vineyard at Hartest, 5 miles west of Lavenham; tours available.

Sleep

The centre of the village has several high end self-catering houses for rental, normally for several day or longer stays.
Great House Hotel is open Feb-Dec, see Eat. Assistance dogs only.
Brett Farm (Luxury B&B), The Common, Lavenham CO10 9PG, 52.1073°, 0.8033°, +44 1787 248533, brettfarmbandb@aol.com. Free Wi-Fi. Bicycle hire Single: from £60/night; Double/twin: from £80/night 2017-06-08
Bildeston Crown, 104 High St, Bildeston IP7 7EB, 52.107°, 0.909°, +44 1449 740510. 400 year-old restaurant with 12 rooms, charm and character, with great British cuisine. B&B double £100 2020-07-05

Connect

As of Sept 2022, Lavenham has 4G from EE, O2 and Vodafone, with a patchy signal along its approach roads; nothing from Three. 5G has not reached this area.

Lavenham - village and civil parish in Babergh, Suffolk, England