Saffron Walden Food Tour: Local producers & market history

Taste your way through independent food shops and meet the makers behind Saffron Walden's thriving scene

A food tour in Saffron Walden led by local guides and food professionals, with tastings at independent producers and retailers throughout the town centre. You choose from four different routes: the Town tour exploring Grade I and II listed buildings and the 900-year-old market square; the Market tour at 8am on Saturdays; the Garden tour on Friday afternoons; or the Grape & Grain walk on Saturday evenings. All tastings and drinks are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Saffron Walden food and history

• Visit independent food venues
• Taste specialist food and drinks
• Hear food and retail history
• See St Marys Church
• Visit 900 year old market square
• View Grade 1 listed Sun Inn

The experience

The tour moves through Saffron Walden's town centre on foot, stopping at independent food and drink businesses where you taste what they make or sell. Your guide is a local food professional who explains the retail and food history of the streets as you walk: the landmarks include St Mary's Church, the market square, and the Grade I listed Sun Inn on Church Street. The tastings add up to enough for a leisurely breakfast or lunch depending on which tour you pick, and all drinks and snacks are included in the price.

Each tour option runs on a different day and time. The Town tour runs Thursday mornings for three hours; the Market tour starts at 8am on Saturday and lasts 90 minutes; the Garden tour runs Friday afternoons for an hour; and the Grape & Grain walk departs Saturday at 3:30pm for 90 minutes. The town itself was named The Sunday Times Best Place to Live in 2025, and the tour focuses on the independent businesses and hidden gems that earned it that reputation. You'll meet the business owners creating the current food and drink scene, not just taste what they've made.

What’s included

• All tastings and drinks at every stop.
• snacks enough for breakfast or lunch.
• a live guide in English who is a local food professional.
• retail and food history of Saffron Walden's town centre.

Options for this experience

3 options

Market Tour in Saffron WaldenGuide in English · No fixed timeTaste the finest produce at the Saturday market and chat with the traders who have kept up nearly 900 years of tradition in the town centre. Lasts 60 to 90 minutes, duration 1 hour. Food samples are included at the stall visits.

Wine Walk in Saffron WaldenGuide in English · No fixed timeLasts 1 hour 30 minutes. Wine and beer: a tasting tour of the finest drinking spots in Saffron Walden, including a traditional pub.

Town Food Tour in Saffron WaldenGuide in English · No fixed time

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and Saturday

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Hello Food Tours

Is this one for you?Book the Town tour if you want the full three-hour immersion in the town's heritage and independent scene; choose the Market tour for a shorter Saturday morning focused on the 900-year-old square; pick the Grape & Grain walk if you prefer wine and grain producers on a Saturday afternoon. The minimum age is 18.

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Top questions

What's the difference between the four Saffron Walden food tours?

The Town tour (Thursday, 3 hours) covers the town centre's history and Grade I and II listed buildings; the Market tour (Saturday, 8am, 90 minutes) focuses on the market square and its 900-year heritage; the Garden tour (Friday, 1:30pm, 60 minutes) is shorter and runs on a different day; and the Grape & Grain walk (Saturday, 3:30pm, 90 minutes) emphasizes wine and grain producers. All include tastings and drinks.

How much food and drink do you get on the tour?

The tastings and drinks included are enough for a leisurely breakfast or lunch, depending on which tour you choose. You stop at multiple independent food venues and taste specialist products at each one.

Will I meet the people who make the food?

Yes. The tour includes time to meet the passionate independent business owners running the food and drink businesses you visit, so you hear directly from them about what they create.

What historic sites does the tour pass?

The town centre walk takes you past St Mary's Church, the 900-year-old market square, and the Grade I listed Sun Inn on Church Street, all set within almost 900 years of market history that your guide explains as you go.

Is the tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

The tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available near the starting point. Transportation options in the area are also wheelchair accessible.