Suffolk has few more spectacular sights than the church of St Peter and St Paul in its manicured churchyard at the top of the hill in Lavenham. It is excessively large for the size of the village and with a tower standing 141 ft (43 m) high lays claim to being the highest village church tower in Britain.

Along with close by Long Melford church it ranks as one of the most magnificent ‘wool’ churches. This was the heart of the cloth country, and villages all around produced the cloth that made the merchants of Lavenham wealthy, and in turn produced this magnificent 15th century building.
Lavenham has been called "the most complete medieval town in Britain", a tribute to its fine collection of medieval and Tudor architecture.

The older buildings are centred around the market place, with its 16th century Guildhall and still earlier market cross. The market cross was the scene of bear-baiting contests during the late medieval and Tudor periods. Now sadly the market cross is at the centre of what is essentially a large car park!

Two of Lavenham’s finest buildings are open to the public.
The Guildhall is now run by the National Trust, and houses a permanent local history musuem with exhibitions on the medieval cloth industry. There is also a peaceful walled garden with dye plants used since middle ages and dressing-up boxes for children.

Close to the Guildhall is Little Hall, a 14th century house which was built by a family of clothiers and extended as they grew in prosperity.
In the 1930s Little Hall was restored by the Gayer-Anderson twin brothers who filled the house with a variety of art and artefacts collected during their extensive travels. Study the development of the Tudor house or immerse yourself in the story of its occupants through the centuries. Whatever your interest this much loved museum with its tranquil walled garden will welcome and intrigue you.

Despite its bustling past, Lavenham has remained small, with few of the distractions of modern growth. The population of the town has never exceeded 2000, even in the medieval period, when it was among the 20 wealthiest towns in England.

Travellers new to Lavenham might want to try a special audio tour. The tour, which takes about 90 minutes to complete, dives into the intriguing back streets and byways of the town. It is available at Lavenham Pharmacy, 99 High Street, and costs Adults: £3 Children (under 16) & Senior Citizens: £1.50. Details at http://www.lavenham.co.uk/tour/