15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England
Chocolate box cottage in the heart of the market town of Saffron Walden and yet situated in a quiet back street and only 0.2 miles from the Market Square passing by an artisan bakery and interesting shops and restaurants along the way.
The cottage has undergone extensive renovation to include kitchen, bathroom and en-suite yet retains all of its historic character. The cottage is heavily beamed with a large inglenook fireplace to two rooms, oak floors to the downstairs. It has a small and very private courtyard garden. The property has on road parking available outside. Ideally situated to explore Saffron Walden and Cambridge and London is easily accessed by the local station Audley End which is a 5 minute drive away from the cottage. It is just perfect for two - four guests and idyllic for two. Drake Cottage received the ROSE award from Visit England in 2022 in recognition of service excellence - only 100 hospitality venues receive the award in any year.
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Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Start the dishwasher
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Lock the doors and return the keys
Please return keys to lock box on departure .
Please strip beds of duvet cover, pillow cases and sheet if time allows.
Please place all towels in the bathtub.
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Due to the age of the house absolutely no candles or naked flames can be used in the cottage but we do provide LED flickering candles for your use
Bookings only accepted one year in advance.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
We should mention
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property
About the area
Saffron Walden
Located in Saffron Walden, this cottage is in the city centre. Audley End House and Prior's Hall Barn are local landmarks, and some of the area's activities can be experienced at Chilford Hall Vineyard and Gog Magog Golf Club. Travelling with kids? Consider Bridge End Gardens and Whoosh Explore. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including golfing.
Imperial War Museum Duxford - 11 min drive - 14.3 km
Getting around
Audley End Station - 5 min drive
London (STN-Stansted) - 20 min drive
Restaurants
The Temeraire - 4 min walk
Zafferano Lounge - 6 min walk
the Railway Arms - 11 min walk
The Cross Keys Hotel - 3 min walk
The Curious Goat - 4 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is 15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at 15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at 15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is 15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England located?
This family-friendly cottage is located in the city centre, within 1 mi (2 km) of Fry Art Gallery and Audley End House. Bridge End Gardens and Church of St. Mary are just steps away.
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We absolutely loved our stay in your cottage, it was spotlessly clean,very cosy and comfortable.We love that it was right in the centre of town so was so easy to walk everywhere.Thank you so much Sherry,Pete,Dianne and Gordon
Delightful cottage, well furnished and supplied with all essentials (including non-essentials like a charcoal BBQ with implements- buy your own charcoal). I thoroughly enjoyed my stay there.
Wonderful stay in a marvellous cottage in a beautiful little town
Extraordinary cottage, very well equiped, cosy and confortable.You feel at home and it is just as though Elizabeth 1st is going to knock at your door!The town itself is delicious, with nice people : we had coffee and cake when visiting the church!Also nice shops.Easy to get to London or Cambridge by train from Audley End, and last surprise : Audley End house!Thank you Deborah and Susie, we would certainly be happy to come back and tu recommend Drake cottage
We had a lovely stay at Drake Cottage. The cottage is beautiful, both on the inside and on the outside. Everything is spotless, including the modern appliances. We've stayed at many vacation rentals, but this one is by far the cleanest we've seen. Everything you need is already provided for, including tape, a flashlight, soap, scissors, you name it. There's lots to see and do in and around Saffron Walden. Even a trip to London is only an hour by train from Audley End. We would have loved to stay longer, but unfortunately, our holidays were over. We will be back for sure!
Drake Cottage is a delightful place to stay. It’s (really) old and beautifully renovated with lots of great touches for guests. It’s very close to the centre of Saffron Walden but quiet.would love to come back.
We have stayed here several times in the past, and, whenever we are planning on visiting the family in Saffron Walden, we always look for to see if this property is available. Highly recommended, except for people with mobility issues, for whom the tight, winding staircase to the upstairs bedrooms would be an issue. Apart from that, highly recommended.
We try to stay here whenever we're in Saffron Walden, visiting family. We are very pleased with the property and the helpfulness of the owner and housekeeper. My only word of caution to prospective guests is that the narrow, winding staircase is not suitable for people with mobility issues, but that would be my only real reservation.
The cottage was exactly as described. The stairs are very tricky, but we expected that. For American visitors, the appliances were tricky to operate and Google was our friend for temperatures and instructions. Saffron Walden has way more restaurants and shops than you expect, so wandering down every alley is a must. Gardens and Church are a must for striking, as well.
Full of character and beautifully presented property. Comfortable, cozy, extremely well equipped.
Location couldn’t be better, quiet, but short walk to all local amenities.
Saffron Walden is a quintessential English town, with so much to see and explore.
Would definitely return to both Drake Cottage and Saffron Walden.
The cottage has all modern conveniences and is tastefully decorated. Everything was comfortable. The stairs are a bit challenging. The cottage is easy walking distance to town. We enjoyed our stay very much.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our week's stay at Drake Cottage. The location is perfect; close enough to town to walk to the shops, cafes and restaurants, but off the main road for peace and quiet. The cottage was spotless and beautifully decorated, everything you need is provided. Deb and Lucy answered our questions quickly and efficiently. We would highly recommend a visit to this wonderful cottage in Saffron Walden!
We all had a wonderful time in this charming cottage. It was comfortable, clean & had all we needed for our long weekend. Be warned though - the beams are low & very unforgiving!!!!
We stayed for a few nights birthday surprise for my best friend.The cottage was perfect.Proximity to the town fantastic,no traffic noise ect..but the best part of all is the added touches that meke you feel welcome and special...all toiletries,hairdryers,milk,tea,coffee,an amnesty basket incase you have forgotten anything and then the towelling robes to sit in the gorgeous lounge watching a film with hot chocolate in hand.Id like to say thankyou for allowing us the privilege to stay in your beautiful grade 1 listed building,if those walls could talk im sure they would be happy with the loving way its been renovated.
We will definitely return one day.xx
This cottage is set in walking distance of the town but in a quiet backstreet among other period houses. Plenty of space for two independent adults and much hilarity with the stairs - do as we did and decant suitcase contents downstairs! Communication before and during the stay was excellent and loved all the homely touches of the cottage. 100% recommend staying here for a real Saffron Walden experience! Thank you Deb, will look forward to a return visit
Drake Cottage 13- 20 October
Sorry for delay in responding. This in no way reflects our enjoyment of our stay in Drake Cottage. A message was left in the Cottage visitor book.
We found the cottage to be everything we required in comfort and modern convenience while retaining the feeling of old-world charm. It was beautifully appointed for self-catering and was spotlessly clean. The beds, pillows and the bedding were luxurious and more comfortable than any we have ever experienced over many years of both hotel and self-catering holidays. The location of the cottage was superb for access to the town centre.
it made for a most interesting and relaxing holiday venue.
Ideally situated this property is what my 6 year old would describe as a "wonky donkey " house! It is beautiful but you have to be very aware upstairs if you are tall (there are warnings in the guest book etc). The only slight frustration and not one the owners can control is the parking. Despite signs saying the parking outside was for Drake Cottage people parked there regardless and so we had to unload and put our car in the local public car park but realistically that is a first world problem!!! All in all a fabulous stay
Charming and comfortable cottage to stay in the heart of the medieval market town. Has everything you need: very well equipped kitchen, cosy living room, comfortable beds, with lovely linens, good shower with powerful spray and plenty of hot water, big tub if you want a soak. Little outside garden area for fine weather. Walking distance from center of SF, Saffron Hall for concerts, Audley End. Only downside, which I think would not be an issue for most is the narrow, turning staircase with low overhead beams to access the upstairs. We are in our late 60s and could manage it fine, but if you were very tall, or not terribly mobile, this might be an issue. We loved the cottage and would certainly return.
A lovely, charming cottage very close to everything we needed for our trip. It is full of character and it is obvious that someone has thought about all the details. We enjoyed our time immensely.Thank you
A lovely old house in Saffron Walden. A beautiful village, close to Cambridge.
Joseph P.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024
About the host
Hosted by Deborah Wheatley
This cottage was bought to be our personal bolt hole when visiting England and also a home to share with our friends and family as we currently live in Fort Lauderdale Florida. We have dual British and American citizenship having moved to the USA 23 years ago.
The cottage is our personal pride and joy and it will be a pleasure for us to share this historic cottage with you.
Why they chose this property
We fell in love with the cottage in 2012 while visiting Saffron Walden; it was so pretty with roses around the door and only a 2 minute walk from the town's restaurants and shops. We had lived in Saffron Walden before moving to Chicago, USA in 1999 and now live in Fort Lauderdale , Florida. We are very happy to have bought the cottage so we get to spend time in England. We love Saffron Walden with its historic centre and market place and the cottage's location, though in a very quiet street, is only a few minutes from the shops, market place, pubs and restaurants making it unnecessary to drive anywhere when in town. The cottage is only 25 minutes drive from the centre of Cambridge and a 45 minute train ride to the London Underground.
What makes this property unique
If you are looking for a romantic period cottage to spend a week or weekend this cottage is a perfect match. 15th century charm with up to date plumbing, kitchen and bathrooms.
It's location between Cambridge and London make it an ideal base for visiting the UK as the Audley End train station with its regular service to both cities is a 10 minute drive away making it unnecessary to drive into the cities. It is also perfectly situated for touring the East Anglia area including Suffolk and Norfolk.
The cottage oozes character from every beam and has a very warm and welcoming atmosphere. Audley End Park is only a 5 minute walk away from the cottage meaning you can enjoy the English countryside as well as all that the town itself offers.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests