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village and civil parish in Babergh, Suffolk, England
Europe > Britain and Ireland > United Kingdom > England > East of England > Suffolk (England) > Lavenham

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

Understand

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St Peter & St Paul Church

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

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By car

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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

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

  • 1 Sudbury Train Station, Station Rd, Sudbury, CO10 6SU (7 miles S of Lavenham). 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. Sudbury railway station (Q2463248) on Wikidata Sudbury railway station on Wikipedia (updated Jun 2017)

By bus

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

By bicycle

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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

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The village is small enough to see on foot.

Lavenham High Street
Historic houses on Water Street

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

  • 1 Guided Tour of Lavenham, Tourist Information Centre, Lady St, Lavenham CO10 9RA (Book in advance through Tourist Information Centre), ☏ +44 1787 248207, . Weekends Easter to end Oct or by arrangement. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 1 Co-op Convenience Store, 80a High St, Lavenham, CO10 9PT, ☏ +44 1787 247242. Daily 7AM-10PM. (updated Jun 2017)
Greyhound Inn

Drink

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  • 1 The Angel, Market Place, Lavenham, CO10 9QZ, ☏ +44 1787 247388, . Bar: M-Sa 8AM-11PM, Su 10AM-11PM; Food: M-Sa 8-10AM and noon-3PM and 6-10PM, Su 8-10AM and noon-6PM. Pub, restaurant & hotel. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 2 No 10, 10 Lady St, Lavenham, CO10 9RA, ☏ +44 1787 249438, . Bar: M-Th 11AM-11PM, F 11AM-midnight, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-11PM; restaurant M-Sa: noon-2:30PM and 6-9PM, Su noon-2:30PM and 5:30-9PM. Wine bar, restaurant & accommodation. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 3 The Cock Horse Inn, 37 Church St, Lavenham, CO10 9SA, ☏ +44 1787 827330. Pub: M-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su 11AM-7:30PM; Food: M-Th noon-3PM & 6-9PM, F Sa noon-9PM, Su noon-4PM. Pub andmrestaurant. (updated Jun 2017)
  • Giffords Hall is a vineyard at Hartest, 5 miles west of Lavenham; tours available.

Sleep

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  • 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.
  • 1 Brett Farm (Luxury B&B), The Common, Lavenham CO10 9PG, ☏ +44 1787 248533, . Free Wi-Fi. Bicycle hire Single: from £60/night; Double/twin: from £80/night. (updated Jun 2017)
  • 2 Bildeston Crown, 104 High St, Bildeston IP7 7EB, ☏ +44 1449 740510. 400 year-old restaurant with 12 rooms, charm and character, with great British cuisine. B&B double £100. (updated Jul 2020)

Connect

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As of Sep 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.

Go next

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This city travel guide to Lavenham is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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