Saffron Walden is a town in Essex, England.

Understand

Bridge End Gardens

Get in

By car

Saffron Walden is on the M11.

From Norwich, Norfolk and Suffolk, the A11 links to Newmarket, Thetford, Norwich and the A14. The A14 leads to Ipswich and Felixstowe. From the A14 Westbound, follow signs to the A11/M11 and Stansted Airport (junction 35). Saffron Walden is signposted, along with the A1301/B184. Exit for the B184 and follow signs southbound.

From Cambridge, Peterborough and the North, use the M11 Southbound, accessible from the A1 via the A14. Following towards Stansted Airport, exit the motorway at junction 10 for the A505, signposted for Duxford and Saffron Walden. Take the first exit off the roundabout onto the A505 for Saffron Walden, and follow until the A1301 roundabout (with a BP petrol station). Take the fourth exit following signs to Saffron Walden, and continue onwards. Travel under the A11 junction onto the B184 and follow signs southbound.

From London, Bishop's Stortford, Stansted Airport and the South, you can use the M11, accessible from the A406 North Circular or the M25 junction 27. Travel northbound towards Cambridge. Exit at junction 9 for the A11/Norwich/Newmarket, then take the first exit (junction 9a) towards Saffron Walden/A1301/B184. At the roundabout, take the fourth exit onto the B184, then the first exit for the B184/Saffron Walden, and continue southbound following signs.

From the East, it use the A120 and join the M11 at junction 8 towards Cambridge. Follow directions from London and the South (noted above).

From the West, Luton, Royston, Baldock and Hitchin follow the A505 northbound towards Newmarket. Cross the M11 near Duxford and continue to the BP roundabout with the A1301. Saffron Walden is signposted from here, travelling southbound on the A1301, then onto the B184.

By train

While there is no train station, 1 Audley End (AUD). Nearby, with many connecting cycle routes and buses to Walden. (updated Mar 2019)

Trains travel directly to destinations like (not an exhaustive list):

• London Liverpool Street (London Underground connection)
• Tottenham Hale (London Underground connection)
• Cheshunt (for the Lee Valley and London Overground services)
• Harlow
• Bishop's Stortford (onward connections to Stansted Airport, Stratford and the Olympic Park)
• Stansted Airport (direct)
• Elsenham
• Newport
• Cambridge (onward connections to King's Lynn, London King's Cross, Norwich and Ipswich)
• Ely
• Peterborough (onward connections to the North East, Yorkshire and Scotland)
• Stamford
• Melton Mowbray
• Leicester
• Birmingham New Street (onward connections to Wales, Scotland, Manchester and the North West)

All services are operated by either Abellio Greater Anglia or Cross Country and are part of the National Rail network.

Airports

Buses to Stansted Airport (STN ^IATA) (bus 6) and rail to the main terminal from Audley End. There are many domestic and European destinations from Stansted, with many more to global destinations. Ryanair and easyJet are two main operators here. The airport is a short drive (30-40 minutes) from the town.

Other nearby airports include Cambridge Airport (CBG ^IATA) (not often open to passengers), Southend Airport (SEN ^IATA) (also in Essex, rail connection from Liverpool Street), Luton Airport (LTN ^IATA) (90-120 minutes' drive) or London City Airport (LCY ^IATA).

There are buses from Stansted to Heathrow (LHR ^IATA) and Gatwick (LGW ^IATA).

Get around

Saffron Walden is a small town and many attractions and shops are well within walking and cycling distance.

By bus

There is a bus called the "Town Circular". There are many local buses which stop in the town, including the local Tesco, the High Street, Swan Meadow, and the Common (Church Street).

The Citi 7 provides a regular link to Cambridge City Centre via Sawston

Car parking

At Swan Meadow, Fairycroft Road (Waitrose), the Market Square (limited, select days only), the Museum, the Council Offices and Saffron Walden County High.

By car

There are no major "A" roads in the town, though there are a number of trunk routes around the town. Parking in the town is limited, but there are some spaces in Swan Meadow Car Park, to the north of the town on the B184 or Windmill Hill.

See

Walden Castle

• 1 Audley End House and Gardens, Off London Road, CB11 4JF, ☏ +44 1799 522842. Adults £9.30, children £5.60, concessions £8.40.  
• 2 Saffron Walden Museum, Museum St, CB10 1JL. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 2-5PM, closes 4:30PM Nov - Feb. Museum of local history, natural history and a collection on world cultures. The grounds contain Walden castle, built by Geoffrey de Mandeville between 1141 and 1143. £2.50 cash only. (updated Mar 2019)
• 3 Fry Art Gallery, 19a Castle Street, CB10 1BD. Apr - Oct: Tu Th F 2-5PM, Sa 11AM-5PM, Su 2:15-5PM. Gallery showing 20th and 21st century work by local artists. Free. (updated Mar 2019)
• The nearby village of Hempstead where the notorious former highwayman Dick Turpin was born.

Do

• 1 Bridge End Gardens. 2.7 hectares (7 acres) public park with a hedge maze. (updated Mar 2019)
• 2 Turf Maze, The Common. (updated Mar 2019)
• 3 Jubilee Garden, Hill St, CB10 1EH. Small park with a paving maze in the bandstand. (updated Mar 2019)

Buy

• Saffron Walden has a selection of independent and chain stores in the town centre.
• 1 Market. Tu Sa 9AM - 4PM. (updated Apr 2019)

Eat

• 1 Waitrose, Hill Street. M - Sa 7AM - 9PM, Su 10AM - 4PM. supermarket with cafe. (updated Apr 2019)

Drink

• 1 Temeraire, 55 High Street. Daily 8AM - midnight (food until 10PM). Wetherspoon pub with food (updated Mar 2019)

Sleep

• 1 Saffron Hotel, 8-12 High St, ☏ +44 1799 522676. 17 room hotel, with bar meals (mains from £9). from £80. (updated Mar 2019)
• 2 The Queens Head Inn, High St, Littlebury, ☏ +44 1799 520365. 15th-century coaching inn, with 6 bedrooms. from £60. (updated Mar 2019)

Go next

Routes through Saffron Walden

Cambridge ← Duxford ←

N  S

→ Stansted Airport/Bishop's Stortford → London