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

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Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Outdoor dining
Property grounds
Exterior
Dining

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 481 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Kitchen
  • Fireplace

Explore the area

View in a map
Saffron Walden, ENG
  • Bridge End Gardens
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Market Square
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Audley End House
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • London (STN-Stansted)
    ‪21 min drive‬

Room options

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About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

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.
Our customers tell us that they can't get enough of the helpful staff at this cottage. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Fry Art Gallery. Features include laundry facilities. The cottage includes amenities such as free WiFi and a kitchen.
  • The cottage offers a kitchen, a washing machine and a fireplace
  • Free WiFi
  • Amenities include laundry facilities
  • Just a 3-minute drive from Audley End House and 12 minutes from Imperial War Museum Duxford
As a guest of 15th Century Period Cottage In Saffron Walden, Essex, England, you'll find barbecue grills, a garden, and laundry facilities. The front desk is open around the clock.

This Saffron Walden cottage is smoke free.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the cottage: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee grinder
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Fan
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property
  • Note from host: Smoking is allowed outside on the patio .

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • In the city centre

Things to do

  • Golf
  • Golfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 875 square feet

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 21

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM
Contactless check-out

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

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.

Rules

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.

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Note from host: Highchair , travel cot and stair gate available

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

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

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, which will enable you to manage your booking.

Property is also known as

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

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

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 128 out of 135 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 135 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 135 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 135 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 135 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Amenities

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Patricia G.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

10/10 Excellent

Mary D.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ian M.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

10/10 Excellent

Cherrilyn S.

Liked: Cleanliness
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

10/10 Excellent

Karen L.

Liked: Cleanliness
Perfect location, very high spec property, great amenities.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kelly A.

Liked: Cleanliness

Charming Cottage

The cottage was exactly as described. The stairs are very tricky, but we expected that. For American visitors, the appliances were tricky to operate and Google was our friend for temperatures and instructions. Saffron Walden has way more restaurants and shops than you expect, so wandering down every alley is a must. Gardens and Church are a must for striking, as well.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peter H., Calgary, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness

Reliably Outstanding

We have stayed here several times in the past, and, whenever we are planning on visiting the family in Saffron Walden, we always look for to see if this property is available. Highly recommended, except for people with mobility issues, for whom the tight, winding staircase to the upstairs bedrooms would be an issue. Apart from that, highly recommended.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

June W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Drake Cottage

Beautiful cottage in a stunning location.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peter H., Calgary, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness

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

10/10 Excellent

Helen H.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

10/10 Excellent

Sharon W.

Liked: Cleanliness

Perfect!

We stayed for a few nights birthday surprise for my best friend.The cottage was perfect.Proximity to the town fantastic,no traffic noise ect..but the best part of all is the added touches that meke you feel welcome and special...all toiletries,hairdryers,milk,tea,coffee,an amnesty basket incase you have forgotten anything and then the towelling robes to sit in the gorgeous lounge watching a film with hot chocolate in hand.Id like to say thankyou for allowing us the privilege to stay in your beautiful grade 1 listed building,if those walls could talk im sure they would be happy with the loving way its been renovated. We will definitely return one day.xx
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Suzanne T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Stunning period cottage in Saffron Walden

Full of character and beautifully presented property. Comfortable, cozy, extremely well equipped. Location couldn’t be better, quiet, but short walk to all local amenities. Saffron Walden is a quintessential English town, with so much to see and explore. Would definitely return to both Drake Cottage and Saffron Walden.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Catherine C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Charming Heritage Cottage

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our week's stay at Drake Cottage. The location is perfect; close enough to town to walk to the shops, cafes and restaurants, but off the main road for peace and quiet. The cottage was spotless and beautifully decorated, everything you need is provided. Deb and Lucy answered our questions quickly and efficiently. We would highly recommend a visit to this wonderful cottage in Saffron Walden!
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vicki B., Niskayuna, NY

Liked: Cleanliness

Wonderful Cottage

The cottage has all modern conveniences and is tastefully decorated. Everything was comfortable. The stairs are a bit challenging. The cottage is easy walking distance to town. We enjoyed our stay very much.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Clare D.

Liked: Cleanliness

A gem of a cottage

This cottage is set in walking distance of the town but in a quiet backstreet among other period houses. Plenty of space for two independent adults and much hilarity with the stairs - do as we did and decant suitcase contents downstairs! Communication before and during the stay was excellent and loved all the homely touches of the cottage. 100% recommend staying here for a real Saffron Walden experience! Thank you Deb, will look forward to a return visit
Stayed 14 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Russell P.

Liked: Cleanliness

Drake Cottage

Drake Cottage 13- 20 October Sorry for delay in responding. This in no way reflects our enjoyment of our stay in Drake Cottage. A message was left in the Cottage visitor book. We found the cottage to be everything we required in comfort and modern convenience while retaining the feeling of old-world charm. It was beautifully appointed for self-catering and was spotlessly clean. The beds, pillows and the bedding were luxurious and more comfortable than any we have ever experienced over many years of both hotel and self-catering holidays. The location of the cottage was superb for access to the town centre. it made for a most interesting and relaxing holiday venue.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Patrick C.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

10/10 Excellent

Rainer A.

Liked: Cleanliness

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

10/10 Excellent

Peter H., Calgary, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness

Just Excellent

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

10/10 Excellent

Catherine T.

Liked: Cleanliness

Quirky but beautiful cottage

Ideally situated this property is what my 6 year old would describe as a "wonky donkey " house! It is beautiful but you have to be very aware upstairs if you are tall (there are warnings in the guest book etc). The only slight frustration and not one the owners can control is the parking. Despite signs saying the parking outside was for Drake Cottage people parked there regardless and so we had to unload and put our car in the local public car park but realistically that is a first world problem!!! All in all a fabulous stay
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jean C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Super spot in Saffron Walden

Charming and comfortable cottage to stay in the heart of the medieval market town. Has everything you need: very well equipped kitchen, cosy living room, comfortable beds, with lovely linens, good shower with powerful spray and plenty of hot water, big tub if you want a soak. Little outside garden area for fine weather. Walking distance from center of SF, Saffron Hall for concerts, Audley End. Only downside, which I think would not be an issue for most is the narrow, turning staircase with low overhead beams to access the upstairs. We are in our late 60s and could manage it fine, but if you were very tall, or not terribly mobile, this might be an issue. We loved the cottage and would certainly return.
Stayed 7 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robert M.

Liked: Cleanliness

review

A very cosy cottage with all that you need. A well stocked kitchen and comfortable berooms.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

leslie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
So cozy and beautiful! After weeks on the road the Bosch washer/dryer was most welcome. The private patio was a perfect hideaway for morning coffee, afternoon tea, evening wine: flowers blooming, birds singing. We were greeted with a generous welcome tray: coffee, tea, shortbread biscuits, and milk in the frig. Audley End House and Garden are within walking distance. Closer is Bridge End Garden, a lovely surprise. Lunch at The Eight Bells-within a grade II listed building- was delectable and also an easily walkable distance. We had items to ship home and found everything we needed to do so (including a UPS shipment desk at a local business) in walking distance. Housekeeper Lucy is commendable. The cottage was spotless, everything was in good working order. Lucy also quickly responded to our questions. We stayed for 4 nights and I wish we'd planned for longer.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Nicola C.

Liked: Cleanliness

Fabulous cottage and host

We had a lovely few days in Drake Cottage. As stated by everyone else, it was super clean and all communication with the host and manager was very prompt. It is in a great location and extremely cosy and comfortable. Would not hesitate to recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Courtney J.

Liked: Cleanliness

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS - 5 STARS!

We absolutely LOVED our stay at Deb's house! After our move from Australia, we based ourselves in Saffron Walden at Deb's cottage for 2 months while we found our feet. It was instantly our home away from home and we loved every minute. Lucy, who looks after the property, is such a beautiful lady who was always beyond helpful and so, so lovely. The town itself is quaint and cute, with the cottage being centrally located. Do yourself a favour and book Deb's place!
Stayed 54 nights in Feb 2022