Lavenham is a well‑preserved medieval wool town 15 miles west of Ipswich, known for its timber‑framed houses and crooked lanes. Once one of England’s richest villages, its prosperity waned after the cloth trade declined, leaving a skyline of leaning half‑timbered cottages and a towering 16th‑century church. The village features in films and TV dramas for its authentic Tudor appearance. Visitors stroll through Market Place past the Guildhall, Little Hall and De Vere House while soaking up the ambiance of a bygone era.