Haywards at The George – Saffron Walden

Haywards at The George Saffron Walden · ★★★★★ 4.9 6 rooms · Michelin Bib Gourmand · Historic inn · Food-focused · From £160 B&B

Haywards at The George is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant-with-rooms in Saffron Walden’s medieval heart, occupying a 14th-century coaching inn with 6 stylish bedrooms above the acclaimed kitchen. In a town famed for its turf maze and Audley End House, it’s a foodie’s dream base.

Rooms are boutique-minimalist: super-king beds, marble bathrooms, and Roberts radios, with views over the market square. The Haywards restaurant, led by chef Sam Hayward, earns its Bib for inventive British plates—suckling pig with black garlic or Dedham Vale beef tartare—using hyper-local suppliers. Breakfast is continental with house-baked pastries.

Suited for gastronomic weekends, with free parking and walks to Walden Castle.

Pros

• Outstanding modern British dining
• Central yet peaceful location
• Chic, compact rooms
• Excellent value for food quality

Cons

• Open Thu–Sun only
• Limited rooms (books fast)