The Swan at Lavenham Hotel & Spa

About The Swan at Lavenham Hotel & Spa

The Swan occupies a run of timber-framed buildings on Lavenham High Street, in one of the best-preserved medieval wool villages in England. Parts of the structure date to the 15th century, and the interior is a warren of low beams, uneven floors and small sitting rooms leading off a central courtyard. It holds four silver stars from the AA and is the largest hotel in the village by some margin.

There are 46 bedrooms and suites, ranging from compact classic rooms to substantial suites with four-posters and exposed timbers. Because the building has grown by absorbing neighbouring houses over centuries, no two rooms are alike, and some have steep stairs or sloping ceilings; the hotel is clear about this when booking. Newer garden rooms are more level and easier for guests with limited mobility.

The Gallery Restaurant sits in a double-height medieval hall and holds two AA Rosettes, with a tasting menu alongside the carte. The Brasserie is more relaxed, and the Airmen's Bar preserves the signatures of Second World War aircrew from nearby airfields on its walls. The Weavers' House Spa is built into a 15th-century weaver's cottage behind the hotel, with a small vitality pool, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms, and is compact rather than resort-scale.

Lavenham itself is the reason most people come: the Guildhall, the Little Hall, the crooked houses on Water Street and the enormous parish church are all within a few minutes' walk. Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Constable country are a short drive. The hotel suits couples on an anniversary or short break, and guests wanting a spa element in a village setting rather than a purpose-built resort.