Saffron Walden
A medieval market town with an ancient turf maze, pastel plaster houses and a huge common, all free. The grand country house next door is the famous bit.
FREE
The lowdown
Saffron Walden is a handsome medieval market town that most Londoners have never heard of, which keeps it gloriously uncrowded. Wander streets of pastel pargeted plasterwork, find the ancient turf maze cut into the common and poke around one of the oldest markets in the region.
All of that is free. The grand Jacobean Audley End House sits just outside town and charges, but the town, the common, the maze and the surrounding Essex countryside cost nothing but the train and the little bus.
Getting there from London
The town, the common and the maze are free. Audley End House next door is the paid attraction.
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