The UK is home to a wealth of gorgeous villages, each vying for attention for your next day trip out of the city. Some boast cobbled lanes and buildings straight out of fairytales. Others are (or have been in the past) home to famous residents. And others still boast jaw-dropping history – with sights and attractions to match. And then there are the likes of Finchingfield, which pretty much manages to tick every box!
This charming UK village is tucked away in North Essex, and it’s well worth a visit. Sitting just over an hour’s journey away, it’s a delightful place to check out when you need to escape the hubbub of London.
Packed to the brim with culture, Finchingfield is home to many historical landmarks. Visitors can check out the 18th-century Roundhouse, once home to author Dodie Smith (The Hundred and One Dalmatians). The village is also home to the 15th-century Guildhall, which is now a museum and library, and Spains Hall, a gorgeous, imposing Elizabethan country house.
Completing its status as a picture-perfect village, the area is home to a scenic village green and duck pond, as well as plenty of cosy country pubs. It’s a delightful spot for those looking for a bit of peace and quiet.
An award-winning village
You might be wondering, ‘How can a village be award-winning? What did they do, win an award at the Oscars for villages?’ But don’t be ridiculous – there isn’t an award show for villages! (Although if there was, you can bet the Secret London team would be watching every year.)
Finchingfield is often described as the most-photographed village in Essex. And it’s easy to see why, thanks to its picturesque houses and the village layout around the central green. The Sunday Times has recognised it as one of the best places to live in the UK in its annual list.
The area has also been recognised for its sustainability. In 2022, the Spains Hall Estate was awarded the ‘Best Practice Small Scale Nature Conservation‘ award by The Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.
Famous faces in Finchingfield
Finchingfield’s claim to fame isn’t just limited to its picturesque surroundings. It’s also played host to some pretty famous figures. As mentioned above, Dodie Smith, the author of The Hundred and One Dalmatians and other books, lived in the village. Purportedly, Cruella de Vil’s house in the book was inspired by the Grade II listed mansion in the nearby village of Sible Hedingham.
Walt Disney also paid a visit to the town, specifically to buy the movie rights to Smith’s books. (Resulting in one of Disney’s most iconic films.)
Currently, Finchingfield’s most famous resident is Jamie Oliver. The acclaimed TV-chef and restaurateur has owned the village’s Spains Hall, a Grade I Listed Elizabethan country house, since 2019. It’s not a bad spot to hide from the limelight, either, boasting a whopping 70 acres of surrounding greenery and land.
Getting to Finchingfield
You can get to Finchingfield through a combination of public transport and ride shares or taxis. This takes just over an hour, taking the train from Liverpool Street station to Stansted Airport, and then travelling on from there to Finchingfield.
Alternatively, if you’re travelling by car, it will take roughly the same time – it’s just over an hour’s drive from London.
