The medieval masterpieces fit for a Queen
BEFORE the Christmas rush ensues, switch off and escape to one of England’s medieval villages or market towns and discover cobbled streets lined with boutiques, historic sites aplenty, and top-notch places to eat, urges
CORFE, DORSET
BLUE skies, rolling hills and majestic castle ruins – does it get any more idyllic than the village of Corfe? Located on the Isle of Purbeck, the atmospheric Corfe Castle and the surrounding medieval village look like something out of a fairy tale. It’s hard to believe this area was once a battleground and that Corfe Castle has been shaped by warfare over the centuries. Learn more about this Saxon stronghold on a guided walk with the National Trust. Visit during the school half-term break for Halloween activities, including storytelling, teddy bear zip-wiring and a spooky trail.
BEVERLEY, EAST YORKSHIRE
FOR a relatively small town, there’s plenty to see in Beverley. Its towering Gothic minster – just as impressive as York’s – is free to enter and also hosts a range of events, including the annual Christmas Festival of Food and Drink Market, this year on November 26. It also recently featured in ITV’s Victoria, taking the place of Westminster Abbey. Foodies and shoppers are well catered for, with all manner of boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants lining the quaint Georgian streets or flanking one of two historic market places. The best way to get to know Beverley is on a tour of its many old pubs – pick up a dedicated map from the Tourism Information Centre.
SAFFRON WALDEN, ESSEX
JUST 15 miles south of Cambridge, Saffron Walden is a wool town with a history stretching back to the Middle Ages, so a visit to the market here is a must. When you consider the market place has been bustling with traders since the 12th Century and you’re surrounded by timber-framed Tudor houses, you’ll see apples and pears in a whole new light. Jacobean mansion Audley End House is ten minutes away by bike, or five by bus. Along with exploring its lavish interiors, servants’ wing and Capability Brown-designed gardens, on October 28 and 29 you can join a Victorian Ghost Stories evening.
COCKINGTON, DEVON
ONLY half a mile from Torquay you’ll find the epitome of a quintessentially English village. Step back in time as you meander through narrow lanes lined with thatched houses and ornate gardens. Everything about Cockington screams history – there’s a water mill, a 500-year-old forge, a cricket pitch that was once a medieval deer park, and Cockington Court at the heart of the village. This manor house was once frequented by Agatha Christie and is now a hub for art and crafts.