Uttlesford

Uttlesford is a district in northwest Essex, in the East of England, centred on the market town of Saffron Walden. The council is based in Saffron Walden and the district also includes Great Dunmow, Stansted Mountfitchet and Thaxted, together with farming land and villages. Stansted Airport sits in the southern part of the district and acts as a major transport hub for the area. Near Saffron Walden lies Audley End House, a large country house with gardens and parkland that draws visitors to the district’s historic core.

The district has long market and agricultural links: Saffron Walden’s name reflects a medieval saffron-growing trade that shaped its streets and allotments. Thaxted retains a medieval church and guildhall and has connections with the composer Gustav Holst. Local economy combines farming, market-town services and airport-related activity, while footpaths, commons and conservation areas provide routes between villages and heritage sites. The district council manages planning, environmental protection and local services across this mix of settlements and countryside.