Welcome to Lavenham
The Swan is a 15th century inn that has been at the heart of Lavenham life for hundreds of years, and we love welcoming people to this gorgeous nook of Suffolk.
This is our in depth guide to the village. It covers the top things to do and what each one costs, where to eat and drink, the walks and how muddy they really get, Lavenham through the seasons, days out across the Stour valley, what to do with children and with the dog, and the practical things nobody else writes down, like which car park fills first and why there is no bus on a Sunday.
The Swan is not one building but several medieval ones joined up over the centuries, including the old Wool Hall next door, which is why no two bedrooms are quite the same shape.
Lavenham High Street. Suffolk pink was traditionally made by mixing limewash with whatever was to hand, sloe juice or ox blood among them, which is why no two houses on the street are quite the same shade.
Lavenham in 60 seconds
Lavenham is a village in south Suffolk, about 60 miles north east of London, 5 miles north east of Sudbury and 12 miles south east of Bury St Edmunds. The population is around 1,700.
It is the best preserved medieval village in England. More than 300 of its buildings are listed, most of them timber framed and built between about 1400 and 1530.
The village stood in for Godric's Hollow in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, released in 2010.
Half a day covers the village centre on foot. A full day adds the church, a walk and a long lunch. Two or three days take in Long Melford, Bury St Edmunds and the Stour valley.
Top things to do in Lavenham
Six places to start with, all of them within a ten minute walk of our front door.
The shops of Lavenham
Lavenham's shopping is small, concentrated and almost entirely independent. There are no chains to speak of. You can walk every shop in the village in forty minutes, or spend a whole afternoon on it, which is what most people end up doing.
Discover our stunning village
Explore Lavenham
Local Attractions
Lavenham
Explore the historic crooked houses and listed buildings of medieval Lavenham, our charming corner of Suffolk.
Lavenham: A Harry Potter Film Location
Our medieval village was used as a Harry Potter film location…
Lavenham Boutiques
Take home luxury spa skincare, bespoke furniture and of course fine knitwear from Lavenham’s fine boutique shops.
Lavenham Guildhall
Lavenham Guildhall; a piece of history in itself is one of our village’s finest medieval monuments.
Lavenham Art Galleries
Get a culture fix at one of our local Suffolk art galleries.
Discover Suffolk: Romance
Visit Suffolk presents a series of films showcasing our wonderful county of Suffolk.
Kentwell Hall
Experience amazing costumed re-creations of the past at Kentwell Hall.
Palace House, Newmarket
Palace House is a fantastic new National Heritage Centre in Newmarket, Suffolk.
Newmarket Racecourse
Experience the thrill of one of England’s favourite pastimes with a day at the races at Newmarket.
History of The Swan, Lavenham village and historical attractions
The hotel, the village and our wonderful part of Suffolk is steeped in history and is a must-see for those that love history as much as we do. From a walk-through video of the history of the hotel to more details about our Airmen's bar, Lavenham village and nearby historic houses, the history section of our website is a great way to plan your next stay.
The story behind our afternoon tea crockery...
Immerse yourself in 'Where there's tea, there's history', our film which details the creative and manufacturing process undertaken to create The Swan's afternoon tea crockery.
The crockery itself depicts a collection of stories from the hotel’s long-standing history. From its strong connection to the US Air Force, RAF and Army during World War II to famous visitors such as Dolly Parton and many more moments in time.
Our news
The Swan at Lavenham awarded prestigious Four AA Red Stars
The Swan at Lavenham has been awarded with one of the most significant benchmarks of excellence in the UK hospitality industry. We have been recognised with the coveted Four Red Star Award by the AA, placing us among the AA’s Inspectors’ Choice Hotels - one of only a handful of hotels given the accolade this year.