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15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England

Photo gallery for 15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England

Drake Cottage - rose in bloom and side gate to courtyard garden.
Sitting room
Drake Cottage from the street.
Dining room with seating for 6 and inglenook brick fireplace.
Double bedroom with ensuite shower room

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 4875 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View in a map
Saffron Walden, ENG
  • Place, Bridge End Gardens
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Market Square
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, The Common
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Airport, London (STN-Stansted)
    ‪22 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

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.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Parking available

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Exterior detail
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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
Highchair , travel cot and stair gate available
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Smoking is allowed outside on the patio .

Check-out instructions

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

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 Saffron Walden Amazes. Spend some time exploring the area's activities, including golfing.
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Map
Saffron Walden, ENG

What's nearby

  • Bridge End Gardens - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Market Square - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Fry Art Gallery - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • The Common - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Audley End House - 3 min drive - 2.3 km

Getting around

  • Audley End Station - 5 min drive
  • London (STN-Stansted) - 20 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Curious Goat - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪the Railway Arms - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪The Cross Keys Hotel - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Waffle and Coffee - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪The Temeraire - ‬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.

How much does it cost to stay at 15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England?

As of 3 Apr, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England on 12 Apr, 2026 start from S$256, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at 15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England?

On-site parking is available at the 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?

Located in the heart of Saffron Walden, this family-friendly cottage is steps away from Fry Art Gallery, Bridge End Gardens and Church of St. Mary. Saffron Walden Amazes and Market Square are also within 5 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 135 out of 142 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 142 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 142 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 142 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 142 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Angela G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage was lovely, it had absolutely everything you could want and was warm and comfortable.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 30 Dec, 2025
Thank you Angela, so glad you enjoyed your Christmas stay at the cottage and particularly happy to hear it was both warm and comfortable. Come back and visit us in the future, Best wishes, Deb
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amelia C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This cottage is perfect - it is spotlessly clean and every convenience has been thought of and provided. The location is perfect for exploring the town and the local countryside and we were extremely comfortable. We would stay here again!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Nov, 2025
Dear Amelia, thank you so much for your very kind comments and so glad you enjoyed your stay. Do let me know if there was anything missing in your stay or that we could have done better as that's the only way we improve. We look forward to welcoming you back to Drake Cottage on a future date. Best wishes, Deb
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Helen S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful character property in great location. Fantastic communication from start to finish
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karen L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location, very high spec property, great amenities.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Matthew H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Everything was thought of. There was even umbrellas available.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Dec, 2025
Thank you Matthew - glad you had a good stay at the cottage. I always stay at the cottage for a few weeks every year and it's such a good way of finding out what needs replacing etc. Do come back and visit us in the future
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ian M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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.
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Aug, 2025
Hi Ian, thank you for your kind review . I'm so glad you enjoyed your stay and hope you'll come back to the cottage on a future occasion.I try to equip the cottage with what I need when i'm staying there myself and it seems to work. Glad you got to use the Weber kettle grill and hope you were able to get some charcoal at the local QD 2 minutes walk away .
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Paul R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dominic N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A wonderful stay. A beautiful cottage in a perfect location.

A wonderful stay. A beautiful cottage in a perfect location.
Stayed 12 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jul, 2023
Thank you Dominic for your kind words and so glad you both enjoyed your stay at the cottage. I think its location was what drew me to the cottage - a quiet backwater in the medieval part of the town and yet walkable to everything in the town. Come back and visit us soon.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Cherrilyn S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jul, 2025
Thank you Cherrilyn , so glad you enjoyed your stay at Drake Cottage . Its location is just perfect - steps away from the hustle and bustle of the town and steps away from a walk in the Audley End Estate. I'll pass on your praise to Lucy , our housekeeper, she does keep the cottage in perfect order. Best wishes, Deb
Verified

10/10 Excellent

June W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Drake Cottage

Beautiful cottage in a stunning location.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 17 May, 2025
Thank you for your kind review and do come back and visit the cottage in the future.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Helen H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage

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.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Oct, 2024
Thank you so much for your great review and we would love to welcome you back on a future occasion and hopefully , this time we’ll be able to do all the dates !
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ann T.

Very characterful cottage

Very cosy quirky cottage. Had a great time in a home from home with everything you could want.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jul, 2023
Dear Ann, Thank you so much for your lovely review and do let me know if there is anything we can improve on; as it is only by hearing from our guests that we get to improve. Come back and visit us soon. Deb
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Helen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely short break

Clean, comfortable and quirky property which was actually better than we expected as the photos don’t do it justice! Thank you for a lovely stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jul, 2023
Thank you Helen for writing such a lovely review and sounds like I need to get my camera skills brushed up and get some more photos done. It is difficult to capture how lovely the cottage is but then I am a bit biased. Come back and visit us again soon.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Françoise B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 18 Jul, 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words and the first time someone has talked about the history that they felt staying in the cottage which I much appreciate and yes the people of Saffron Walden are lovely. Come back and visit us again soon.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Joseph P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely house

A lovely old house in Saffron Walden. A beautiful village, close to Cambridge.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Nov, 2024
Dear Joseph, thank you for your kind review and do hope you found it easy to get into Cambridge. I still do the 20 minute drive when I'm there but the train is often easier from Audley End Station especially during rush hour. Come back and visit us soon.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patrick C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent Stay

Cozy cottage with full of character, made great by the owners attention to detail. No complaints at all.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Oct, 2023
Thank you so much for your very kind review . I hope you’ll come back and visit us again in the future. I try to stay in the cottage myself during the year and pick up on the things that are needed or on the things that don’t work so well, this I hope helps us get it right for our guests..
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Connie B.

Charming!

Such an amazing location. Right in town and close to everything. We had a great time.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2018
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Antony H.

Luxury in quiet cul-de-sac in charming town

Modernised to the highest standards, this property was ideal for our family of five plus dog. It is close to many places of interest and even the cold wet weather didn't dampen our enjoyment.
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jul, 2023
Thank you for your very kind review of Drake Cottage and we are thrilled that you enjoyed your stay. We like to recommend that the cottage is at its best for 2 or 4 people but clearly it still worked for 5 of you and your dog. Hope you visit again and the weather is kinder next time.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Neil D.

Lovely old period cottage in beautiful town

Cottage was spotlessly clean, lovely interesting and well-equipped. There is so much to explore in Saffron Walden. Bridge End Gardens are delightful.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jul, 2023
Dear Neil, Thank you so much for the lovely review and kudos as always goes to our very wonderful housekeeper, Lucy who does such an amazing job looking after Drake Cottage. Hope you got to go in the maze at Bridge End Gardens- we always have to find out way to the centre when we visit even though we actually know the route off by heart by now. Come back and visit us soon. Deb
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rainer A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

One of the oldest houses in Saffron Walden!

A most delightful and original cottage- very lovingly arranged for holidaymakers. Superbly equipped - nothing wanting at all!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marc M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Perfect ! amazing place ! fully equiped !
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Patricia G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
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!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Peter H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just Excellent

This is the place where we always try to stay when in Saffron Walden. Highly recommended
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Peter H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just Excellent

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.
Stayed 10 nights in Feb 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 16 May, 2025
Thank you Peter and not wrong about the stairs but so part of the cottage's charm and history.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Pauline B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful quirky cottage

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!!!!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Jul, 2023
Thank you Pauline for your lovely review and so glad you enjoyed your stay . It is ‘Duck or Grouse’ without a doubt . I know the cottage so well and yet I even manage to bump my head . The low beams and the narrow staircase do give it its charm though

About the host

Hosted by Deborah Wheatley

Host profile image
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

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