If you fancy escaping the chaos of the capital city for a day, inhaling some actual fresh air, and reminding yourself that it’s not entirely necessary to constantly walk at a pace that could rival Usain Bolt; please allow us to point you in the quaint and quiet direction of Mayfield. This picture-perfect village just 90 minutes from London, and a timber-framed building found inside it has just been named one of the best Tudor buildings in Britain.
Mayfield, Sussex
The village of Mayfield is a pretty darn old one, to be quite honest with you. It predates the Domesday Book and supposedly got its name from a clearing in a field where mayweed grew. Mayfield is particularly well-known for providing the backdrop to the Legend of St Dunstan (a tale of a blacksmith – Saint Dunstan – who was tempted by the devil disguised as a beautiful woman). It is also the literary birthplace of everybody’s favourite nanny, as P.L. Travers was living in Mayfield’s Pound Cottage when she wrote Mary Poppins.
Mayfield is bursting at the seams with historic buildings. Its high street alone is home to over 40 listed buildings, one of which is the Middle House – but more on that in a moment. The parish as a whole (which was renamed Mayfield and Five Ashes in 1999 when it joined forces with the neighbouring village) boasts almost 180 structures of special architectural or historic interest. So, you certainly won’t be short on gorgeous buildings to gawp at whilst visiting the village.
The Middle House
Possibly one of Mayfield’s most impressive buildings comes in the form of The Middle House; the very structure that was recently named one of Britain’s best Tudor buildings by the Telegraph. The building dates back over 450 years and is filled to the brim with history and charm. The house was originally built as a private residence for Sir Thomas Gresham (famous financier and the Keeper of the Privy Purse for Queen Elizabeth I). The Middle House is now home to a cosy pub, restaurant, and beautiful boutique hotel, and remains a ‘wonderful specimen of Elizabethan architecture’.
Other notable historic buildings in the village include the 15th century Walnut Tree House and the iconic Mayfield School. There are plenty of shops and eateries dotted around the village alongside an abundance of scenic walking and cycling routes, including the ‘Cuckoo Trail’ that runs along the former ‘Cuckoo Line’ railway track.
Getting to Mayfield from London
The village of Mayfield is approximately a 90 minute drive from London and there’s plenty of parking available once you arrive. Non-drivers can hop on a speedy service from London Bridge to Tunbridge Wells and take an onwards local bus from there.