Mint Cottage

  The Detail...

Situated in Lavenham, perhaps the prettiest village in Suffolk, Mint Cottage is a lovely one-bedroom cottage with garden, ideal for both romantic and solo retreats. A short stroll from the Market Place, the 16th-century Guildhall and the village’s cafés and galleries, Mint Cottage shares the same olde-worlde charm as Lavenham itself.

Brimming with period features, this cottage has oak beams and floorboards, mullioned windows and an open log fire. Downstairs, the cosy living area gives you a comfortable seating area beside that fireplace, and leads through to an equally appealing kitchen which offers all you are likely to need, including a dishwasher, fridge and washing machine.

Also waiting on your arrival, a welcome pack with fresh ingredients for your breakfast, including bacon, eggs, milk and fresh local bread. Walk out of the kitchen to the patio which looks out on the garden, and you will find a seating area with table that’s perfect for morning coffee or evening drinks. On two levels, the garden is shared with an adjacent cottage and is a peaceful place to relax in the fresh air.

Steep stairs lead you from the hallway to the upper floor, where the magnificent bedroom is found. A four-poster bed, antique furniture, Persian rugs and vaulted ceiling give this room real presence. A lovely en suite bathroom with a bath and overhead shower adds to the luxury, with fluffy towels provided.

The medieval village of Lavenham is satisfyingly well-preserved and the centre is just a five-minute stroll from Mint Cottage. This gives you a selection of local restaurants to try for dinner, as well as a café or two for something more informal. The timber-framed Guildhall was once the centre of village life and this National Trust property is still worth a visit today – walking tours of Lavenham are also organised where you can find out more about the village’s history.

Lavenham can also serve as a centre for visiting many of the region’s other towns and cities. Historic market town Bury St Edmunds is just 20 minutes’ drive away, while you can reach the Ipswich waterfront in around 40 minutes and Cambridge in just under one hour.