From street food to great shopping, there’s much to enjoy on a day trip to our north Essex neighbour, Saffron Walden
The buildings that make up this medieval market town are an attraction in their own right. Take a wander through the streets and you’ll discover structures steeped in history at every turn, including St Mary’s Church. Lying at the heart of the town, this grand place of worship measures 183 feet in length, boasting an ornate 193-foot spire, which makes it the biggest church in the whole of Essex. Inside, there’s a wonderful organ with spectacular Trompeta Real pipes, and some fine stained-glass windows to admire.
The timber-framed Cross Keys pub is a jewel in the town’s crown, offering Elizabethan architecture and delicious food, while another watering hole – The Sun Inn – features intricate pargeting. If you’re a fan of elaborate plasterwork, mosey down Castle Street, where you’ll find charmingly higgledy-piggledy, sorbet-coloured Tudor buildings galore.
The Eight Bells, now managed by the Chestnut Group (Cambridge residents will know them from Grantchester’s The Rupert Brooke), is another beautifully preserved medieval building. Its fairy-lit winter tipi is a rather more recent addition, but a lovely spot for a cosy meal!
The ruins of Walden Castle offer another slice of history – and don’t miss the nearby museum, which holds an ethnographic collection of national importance. Featuring everything from mammoth tusks to mummies, it was one of the first purpose-built museums in the country.
Fancy stepping into your own period drama? Pay a visit to Audley End House and Gardens, on the outskirts of Saffron Walden. It’s no exaggeration to describe this Jacobean country house as one of England’s grandest mansions, and the Capability Brown-designed gardens are a delight to discover.
If you’re feeling inspired to pay the town a visit, head to the tourism information centre’s website, where you can find loads of info and download guides, maps and more.
