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Family-friendly things to do at Lavenham Guildhall

Visitors looking at a replica model of a medieval thumbscrew at Lavenham Guildhall, Suffolk
Visitors looking at a replica model of a medieval thumbscrew | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Enjoy a family day out at Lavenham Guildhall with lots of things to do to spark young imaginations. Discover a different story in each room and get stuck into seasonal activities and trails.

Planning your family visit

Here's the information you need at a glance to make the most of your family day out at Lavenham Guildhall:

  • Baby-changing facilities are available
  • The Guildhall is not accessible to pushchairs, but carriers are welcome
  • High chairs are not currently available in the tea-room
  • The tea-room serves snacks and light lunches.

Family-friendly things to do at the Guildhall

At Lavenham Guildhall, every room tells a different story. Step inside to discover memories of Lavenham's richest merchants, who made their fortunes during the boom period of medieval Lavenham. See how they showed their wealth in the design of the buildings we see today.

Learn about life as a prisoner at the Guildhall when the main building was a jail. You can see what it was like though the eyes of Ann Baker, who was imprisoned here aged 12. See one of the oldest fire engines, which is almost 300 years old, in the garden.

And have you ever seen a mummified cat? Keep an eye out for Rameses when you visit.

Family-friendly things to do in the courtyard garden and jailhouse

Explore the courtyard garden and discover the dye garden, an area containing plants which have been used since medieval times, and look out for mini beasts in the bug hotel. Plus, there's the small village jailhouse where you can see what it would have been like to be locked up.

If you're competitive, visit our Dye Garden and try out your throwing skills in our bean bag game to see who can score the most points.

Two adults and two children walking on the street outside the Guildhall in Lavenham, Suffolk
Exploring the village of Lavenham | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Family-friendly things to do in the village

Crooked Houses walk

Uncover Lavenham’s secrets, a medieval village full of quirky hidden gems for the whole family to explore. A backdrop of Tudor timber-framed buildings sets the scene for mysterious carvings, crooked houses, animals, and curious characters.

Search for hidden carvings, doorways, fairytales and wonky lines on this self-guided amble around Lavenham. Children over six will love to spot the hidden characters and find the patterns on this easy one-mile walk.

The Colour Trail


Explore the village of Lavenham and match the colours you see to the ones on your activity sheet, all while making your own sketches along the way.

Visitors looking at a replica model of a medieval thumbscrew at Lavenham Guildhall, Suffolk

Discover more at Lavenham Guildhall

Find out when Lavenham Guildhall is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.

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