The Courtyard is a bright and airy tea room in Rose and Crown Walk just off the main square in Saffron Walden. Customers enjoy the welcoming atmosphere of this traditional tea room or on warmer days perhaps, sit outdoors in the sun-trap courtyard.

You’ll be spoilt for choice: every day except at Christmas The Courtyard offers full breakfast, a range of light lunches and very special Little Scarlet cream teas – with a glass of bubbly if you prefer! The daily ‘specials’ menu offers regular favourites such as ham, egg and special chunky chips as well as a great range of handmade dishes, gluten-free and vegetarian too.

The charming and picturesque medieval market town of Saffron Walden is close to Stansted airport, the M11 and other main trunk routes across Essex yet very firmly planted in the north-west Essex countryside. During some four hundred years of Roman occupation it was never more than a small settlement, yet by the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 there was an estate of about 120 households.

Saffron Walden is one of those towns with a past, a place to wander the streets and byways and reflect on its history. Over the centuries the people of Saffron Walden have reported many mysterious happenings: one story tells of the ‘Basilisk Dragon’ which allegedly laid siege to the town. This awesome creature killed so many people that the town was becoming severely depopulated. As in all the best stories, a gallant wandering knight delivered the townspeople by covering his armour in crystal glass. On seeing its own reflection the monstrous dragon fell down dead and the town was saved.     

Luckily, today there are no dragons and you can relax and enjoy this beautiful town. Tuesdays and Saturdays are the days to visit for the main square market, held here since 1141. Just a short stroll through Rose and Crown Walk, you will find The Common, the oldest of Saffron Walden’s open spaces. Look out especially for its turf labyrinth, the largest still surviving anywhere in Europe, situated on the eastern side of the common.

Saffron Walden is easily reached from London via the M11 (exit junction 8, initially follow the signs for A120 Hertford, then B1383 for Saffron Walden). If you are travelling from Cambridge, exit M11 at junction 10 and follow the signs to Saffron Walden (A505, A1301, B184). Parking is available in the common car park with a charge.