Lavenham Guildhall was built in the 16th century by the Guild of Corpus Christi, when 'blew' cloth made Lavenham one of the wealthiest towns in Tudor England, and the timber-framed building has since served as guildhall, prison and workhouse over almost 500 years at the heart of the village; it passed to the National Trust in 1951. Rooms tell each period of the building's life, with a courtyard garden of traditional dye plants and a bug hotel, a tea-room serving cream teas indoors and out, and a second-hand bookshop; the tea-room and garden are free to enter. The village has more than 320 buildings of historic interest. Reviewers praise the knowledgeable room guides and well-presented displays, and finish with a cream tea in the garden. Tips from visitors: parking is free around the village, a short walk from the Market Place; only the ground floor and parts of the garden are step-free, with a virtual tour of the upper floors.
