The Cross Keys, Saffron Walden ➤ Reviews, Rooms & Prices 2025

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About the Hotel

32 High Street, Saffron Walden, United Kingdom, CB10 1AX

The Cross Keys is a historic inn dating back to the 16th century, situated in the charming market town of Saffron Walden. This boutique hotel combines stunning Elizabethan architecture with contemporary amenities, creating a unique atmosphere. It is recognized as one of the town's most significant buildings and has gained acclaim as a winner of the Channel 4 show 'Four in a Bed.' The hotel also offers a delightful gastro pub experience with its incorporated restaurant and bar.

Location

The Cross Keys is ideally located on the High Street, just a short walk from various local attractions, including the Saffron Walden Museum and beautiful gardens. Audley End train station is about 15 minutes away, providing convenient rail access. The nearest airport is London Stansted, located approximately 25 km from the hotel, with public parking available nearby.

Rooms

Each of the ten individually designed rooms at The Cross Keys features luxurious amenities such as king-sized beds, free-standing baths, and modern entertainment systems. Superior double rooms include added luxuries like monsoon showers and Nespresso coffee machines. All accommodations offer free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and complimentary toiletries. Each room captures the unique essence and charm of the Elizabethan building while boasting contemporary design.

Eat & Drink

The on-site restaurant serves an extensive menu that includes classic dishes, vegan options, and regional specialties, all prepared from fresh ingredients sourced whenever possible. An impressive selection of over 50 d'Arenberg wines complements the food offerings, along with a diverse array of international beers and 30 specialty gins. The dining experience includes a full à la carte breakfast and a seasonal specials menu available for guests.

Leisure & Business

Recreational amenities at The Cross Keys include an outdoor tennis court and an inviting terrace for alfresco dining. The hotel can accommodate private functions in the Chester’s Room, offering a cozy setting for small gatherings. Enhanced cleaning measures are maintained throughout the premises, including UV sanitization of rooms and automatic hand sanitizers in high-traffic areas.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Double Room Ensuite

Max:

2 persons

25 m²

Bed options:

1 King-size bed

Heating

Bathtub

room details

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Double Room Ensuite Shower

Max:

2 persons

25 m²

Bed options:

1 Double bed

Shower

Coffee machine

room details

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Superior Double Room

Max:

2 persons

30 m²

Bed options:

1 King-size bed

Shower

Coffee machine

room details

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Getting around

A list of all available modes of transport

City Centre

Saffron Walden100 m

Airports

London Stansted (STN) 23.9 km

Cambridge (CBG) 27.3 km

Bus

Bus stop 9.6 km

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Charming Quirkiness

“The room features were wonderfully quirky, with exposed beams and unique decor that made our stay feel special and memorable.” view full review

Delicious Breakfast

“The breakfast menu was a highlight of our stay, allowing us to order a fresh and tasty full English, complemented by a great selection of pastries.” view full review

Super Comfortable Bed

“The bed in our room was incredibly comfortable, providing us with restful nights during a difficult time.” view full review

Easy Parking Access

“The parking arrangements were convenient and user-friendly, thanks to the helpful parking app that was easy to use with the hotel’s WiFi.” view full review

General

Non-smoking rooms
Free Wi-Fi in public areas
Parking
No pets allowed
Coffee shop

Guest Parking

Electric kettle

Services

Housekeeping
Welcome drink

Dining

Restaurant
Bar/ Lounge area
Special diet menus

Children

Children's menu

Spa & Leisure

Garden area

Room features

Terrace
Garden furniture
Tea and coffee facilities

Bathroom

Free toiletries

Self-catering

Electric kettle

Room decor

Carpeted floor

Location

32 High Street, Saffron Walden, United Kingdom, CB10 1AX

Map view

32 High Street, Saffron Walden, United Kingdom, CB10 1AX

City landmarks

Audley End Road

Audley End House and Gardens

2.2 km

Adjacent to Chaters Hill

Turf Maze

720 m

Audley End Rd

Audley End Miniature Railway and Enchanted Fairy and Elf Walk

1.9 km

Temple of Concord

1.2 km

Museum

Ashdon Village Museum

5.9 km

2 miles SE of Newport

Prior's Hall Barn

6.9 km

Church Path

St. Mary's Church

6.9 km

Nearby

Museum

Saffron Walden Museum

400 m

Castle

Walden Castle Keep

470 m

Gallery

Fry Art Gallery

300 m

77A High Street

The Saffron Walden Gallery

290 m

Garden

Bridge End Garden Summerhouse

390 m

Church

Saint Mary the Virgin

240 m

Gallery

Church Street Gallery

180 m

Off Hill Duddenhoe End

The Hamlet Church

220 m

Restaurants

The Mogul

80 m

21 High Street

Restaurant

100 m

2 Church Street

Prezzo - Saffron Walden

140 m

1 Cross Street

The Curious Goat

110 m

8 Cross Street

Nemonthron

130 m

18 George Street

Gluttons

100 m

13A King Street Next to crew Clothing

The Old English Gentleman

160 m

11 Gold Street

Chisnalls

140 m

3 Market Row

Ask Italian

140 m

62 High Street

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

74%

liked the hotel and would stay again

comfortable amenities

central location

lacks privacy

noisy surroundings

7.4/10

Very good

Rooms

7.0

Location

8.7

Service

7.3

Dining

7.7

Margaret

United Kingdom, February 2024

6.4/10

The hotel is centrally located in this vibrant town, offering convenience to local attractions and a variety of dining options. While the rooms provided relief from the summer heat with air conditioning, there were cleanliness issues and a disappointing dining incident. Overall, the experience was mixed but enhanced by the prime location.

Rooms

6.0

The room with air conditioning was a lifesaver in the summer heat, and the en suite bathroom was lovely, but cleanliness was lacking with dust and dirty cups. We booked the supreme king room.

Service

5.0

The service was hit-and-miss with housekeeping needing improvement, but I appreciated the welcome drink.

Location

8.0

The hotel's central location was its best asset, amidst small shops, a bustling market, and various dining options. It was perfect for our visit to Saffron Hall.

Dining

7.0

The dining experience had its ups and downs. While some dishes were excellent, there was a disappointing incident with raw chicken. The atmosphere was inviting overall.

Facilities

6.0

The hotel tried too hard to be fancy in its facilities, but the overall quality was satisfactory.

Trevor

United Kingdom, October 2023

7.4/10

My stay at the hotel was a mix of quirky comfort and noisy surroundings. The room, nestled in the upper half of a barn accessed through a spiral staircase, was beautiful but lacked privacy due to the open layout. Despite the cold start, the room was cozy, but noise from the front of the hotel could be bothersome.

Rooms

7.0

The room was quirky and comfortable but lacked privacy with an open plan layout.

Service

8.0

The service was good with attentive housekeeping and a welcome drink.

Location

8.0

The location was great, being very central and within easy walking distance of everything, though noise from the pub sign could be bothersome.

Dining

7.0

The dining experience was good, with comfortable amenities, but they could improve by offering more variety and fixing some seating discomfort issues.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities were adequate, but some improvements could enhance the overall experience.

comfortable amenities

lacks privacy

Walter

United Kingdom, August 2023

8.8/10

My stay at the hotel was comfortable and perfect for our needs. The room was clean and comfortable, although quite small, focusing more on style than usability. The service was friendly, and the location was excellent, right in the center of the lovely old town of Saffron Walden. The dining experience was really nice with a good choice of food, especially the delicious dinner. Overall, a lovely stay with minor room size concerns.

Rooms

8.0

The room was clean and comfortable with a lovely bathroom and great shower, but it was really quite small and more about style than usability.

Service

9.0

The service was friendly and accommodating.

Location

10.0

The hotel's location was excellent, right in the center of the lovely old town of Saffron Walden, with easy access to everything.

Dining

9.0

The dining experience was excellent with a good choice of food and delicious options, though the options were not made clear initially.