National Trust - Lavenham Guildhall - Sudbury

Russell R.

Lavenham's Guildhall was built in 1529 and was originally used as a meeting place for the Guild or Corpus Christi, one of the town's powerful religious guilds, that was closely tied to Lavenham's wool trade.

In additional to being a used as a guildhall, it was also used a workhouse and prison. My understanding of its history is quite sparse, but there are guided tours of the guildhall and would recommend one of these (a lot more engaging that staring at things you don't understand).

Ine K.

I recently visited Lavenham Hall, a National Trust property, and it was a fascinating experience. The hall, which is over 400 years old, is steeped in history and filled with a wide array of artefacts. Walking through the building, you can see various equipment from the past centuries, as it once served as a prison. This unique aspect adds a layer of intrigue to the visit.
The hall itself is beautifully preserved, and the historical significance is palpable in every room.
After exploring, I enjoyed a delightful break at the on-site café. The food and drinks were excellent, making it a perfect spot to relax and reflect on the visit.
Overall, Lavenham Hall is a must-visit for history enthusiasts and anyone interested in exploring a well-preserved piece of the past. Highly recommended!

Time T. A.

The Guildhall was a very unique and interesting building full of quirky facts and features. Tom was an exceptional guide and truly brought the building to life, filling us in with loads of interesting facts and my partner and I both learnt a lot. Also, it's only a short drive to Melford Hall, another National Trust property, so you can tick off both in one day. Be sure to wander Lavenham as well, lots of very old unique buildings.

Tony B.

Great attraction which was laid out really well and clear displays giving detailed history of the building. One of my fave NT properties so far!

Minerva V. S.

Right in the centre of the town, so its easy to access. The building has a lot of history and care was taken to tell the story of each era of the building, with personal accounts and artefacts. I liked that it was a museum where you could touch examples. It took us about an hour to two hours to get through the whole building and take in the history and the stories. There is a small shop and a cafe at the ground level.

Ava T. (.

Nice house to visit, a bit too small and not much to see inside to justify £9 ticket. The external decorations are excellent

Ann P.

Great afternoon spent here. Good place to come when weather is foul. Has a bookshop and tearoom within the same building. Toilets are also here.
Especially impressed with staff who were happy to inform us of the local history of the building and characters associated with it, a very good rapour with us. A surprising variety of artefacts found in each room, images taken. Was particularly interested in the train information associated with Lavenham and surrounding area. Great place to take pictures of such interesting things. The small tearoom is located to the left of the building and you can eat in or out. Do take time to look at the tearoom gardens as a nice place to sit and eat in. Have included some images of the gardens.
Yes definitely a place l will revisit again. As regards parking there is some street parking, but it is a popular location and is often busy with tourists. Small car park can also be found further down the road. Guess what it is actually free!!! Well done for NOT cashing in on your visitors Lavenham.

ashley W.

Love this little village with its sloping houses. Some very odd shapes and architecture but beautiful and a lovely walk through the square and streets.