Chocolate box VILLAGES

A small village surrounded by Suffolk countryside, Lavenham has more than its fair share of medieval charm. It was once a prosperous wool town and the historic evidence remains: everywhere you turn there are pretty and perfectly-preserved halftimbered houses and pastel-painted cottages. More than 300 of the village’s buildings are listed. The tangle of narrow streets, which centres around Lavenham’s ancient Market Place, is an ace spot for an atmospheric wander and a pitstop in a traditional tearoom. Don’t miss The Guildhall, The Crooked House or De Vere House, a beautiful building which appears in the Harry Potter movies. (It’s available to rent on Airbnb, fyi.)

Wiltshire

South West nationaltrust.org.uk

Walking around Lacock feels like stepping on to the set of a period drama, and for good reason: it’s starred in countless films and TV dramas. The village, which is so well-preserved it’s almost entirely owned by the National Trust, is a total timewarp, with no TV aerials or electricity cables in sight. Stop by the 800-year-old, honey-hued abbey before checking out the bakery, which sells hearty, baked-this-morning goods. A number of locals sell handmade trinkets from their doorsteps – pay by dropping the money through their letterboxes.