Lavenham Great House & Restaurant

Lavenham with its lovely timbered buildings, ancient Guildhall, and spectacular church is the most attractive village in Suffolk. The Great House on the corner of the market square, a 15th-century building with an imposing 18th-century façade, houses a lovely French restaurant-with-rooms run by Martine and Regis Crepy. Dinner is served in the oak-beamed dining room where up to the moment modern décor is married with exposed beams and an open brick fireplace. From Tuesday to Friday a particularly good value for money fixed-price menu is offered. On Saturday you dine from the à-la-carte menu. The restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday. In summer you can dine al fresco in the flower-filled courtyard. Four of the large bedrooms have a lounge or a sitting area; all are stylishly decorated with oversize headboards, striking pieces of furniture and modern art from local artists. The en suite bathrooms are state of the art. Enjoy the village in the peace and quiet of the evening after the throng of daytime summer visitors has departed. Next door, Little Hall is furnished in early-19th-century style and is open as a museum. Farther afield are other historic villages such as Kersey and Long Melford, and Constable’s Flatford Mill.