A picturesque Essex market town where timber-framed buildings, a striking parish church, and rolling countryside create an inviting walking base in the north of the county.
Thaxted is a characterful Essex market town well suited to walking holidays that blend heritage streets with gentle countryside routes. Known for its medieval street plan, half-timbered houses, and the imposing Church of St John the Baptist — one of the finest parish churches in England — the town also has a strong cultural identity shaped by music and seasonal festivals. Surrounding Thaxted is a patchwork of meadows, hedgerows, and quiet lanes, ideal for relaxed day walks and village-to-village routes.
Beyond the town centre, the landscape lends itself to slower outdoor adventures shaped by farmland, old railway lines, and long-distance paths. Sections of the Harcamlow Way pass close to Thaxted, forming part of a figure-of-eight route linking Essex and Hertfordshire, while the Flitch Way provides a largely traffic-free walking and cycling corridor through open countryside. Together, these routes offer a peaceful, wildlife-rich experience away from busy roads.
With a good choice of places to stay — including small hotels, pubs with rooms, and nearby countryside accommodation — Thaxted works well for short walking breaks and longer self-guided trips. The area’s quiet lanes and off-road paths also make it suitable for gentle cycling holidays, particularly along the Flitch Way and surrounding rural routes.