Little English village named one of the UK’s best has huge wine estate and pretty new hotel
A TINY village in England has been named the best in the country thanks to its medieval high street that wouldn’t look out of place in Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley.
Located in East Sussex, Alfriston is a picture-perfect chocolate box village that’s home to just 830 people.
Founded in the Middle Ages, Alfriston is one of the oldest villages in the country.
Pretty medieval houses line the high street in Alfriston, including antique store Objet Trouve and an independent bookshop, Much Ado Books.
There’s also the Badger’s Tea House at the old village bakery.
And the English hotelier, Alex Polizzi, has The Star Inn, where you can enjoy a bite to eat or stay the night.
A new boutique hotel is also set to open in the English village next January.
The Grade II-listed Deans Place Hotel, which dates back to the 14th century, will reopen in the new year.
It will reopen with 38 redesigned bedrooms and suites and it will also have a function room for up to 120 guests.
Its on-site restaurant will have enough space for 70 diners, offering views over the front lawn towards the sea.
The hotel bar will have space for a further 50 indoor guests, with space to seat 60 diners outside.
An orangery will also serve breakfast and afternoon tea, and an on-site spa will be equipped with a steam room, sauna, an outdoor swimming pool and three treatment rooms.
Hotel boss Ross said: “Our aim is to create a welcoming environment where guests can relax and enjoy the beauty of the South Downs.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to this stunning new destination.”
Alfriston is also home to the Rathfinny Wine Estate and Vineyard, which does tours and tastings year-round.
The family-run vineyard produces a range of award-winning wines.
Alfriston is situated in the South Downs National Park, walking the South Downs Way takes an hour and 40 minutes from Alfriston to Firle Beacon, with far-reaching views across the Downs to the sea.
Alfriston is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from London.
However, it is closer to popular seaside towns on the south coast, such as Eastbourne, Seaford and Hastings.
Three other villages to visit in England
ENGLAND is home to more than 6,000 villages, which means there are plenty to discover. Here are just three others to visit this year:
- Located in Kent, Biddenden is somewhat overlooked by holidaymakers. That being said, there’s lots to do in the Kent village, including a stroll around Biddenden Vineyards – an award-winning vineyard.
- Beaulieu in Hampshire sits on a river of the same name and is famous for its motor museum, its ponies and its spectacular nature. Its surroundings earned it a place on a list of the most beautiful villages in the country, where it beat other picturesque destinations like Orford in Suffolk.
- Saltaire, a Victorian village in West Yorkshire, is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was first created as a model village, with houses built for the Salt Mill factory workers between 1851 and 1871.
Another tiny village in the UK has been compared to a retro 1940s film set.
And an abandoned village in England only opens to tourists once a year.