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Latest Harwich hotel reviews
Pro
Loads of pubs!
Con
Limited places to rest and recuperate, cold on a windy day
In a nutshell
The Dutch ferry entry point to the UK
johngayton Says: This fascinating little building is one of the UK's oldest purpose-built cinemas, constructed in 1911 soon after an act of Parliament laid down specific safety features which cinemas had to adhere to.It ceased operating as a cinema in 1956 but was reopened after painstaking...
johngayton Says: There's nothing much to Harwich's town beach, even though it is award-winning for its cleanliness despite its location opposite the busy container port of Felixstowe. A fifteen minute walk around the headland though takes you to Dovercourt where there are excellent beaches,...
johngayton Says: Harwich's Ha'penny Pier was built in 1853 as the jetty for paddle steamer services to the Continent and several British coastal destinations. It is so-called because a fee of half a penny was charged to anyone using it to see off or greet the steamers' passengers (like a...
The Alma Inn - Ideal For An Afternoon Pint!
johngayton Says: The town's Alma Inn has seen its ups and downs over its 160, or so, years but is now under new (as of May 2010) ownership and has been transformed into a slightly upscale, but still traditional, bar and dining rooms.I haven't had a chance to eat here yet but the menu...
Where To Find The Local Brewery!
johngayton Says: Harwich's little 5-barrel micro brewery is an unprepossessing little shed just up from the town's railway station, pretty much opposite the High Lighthouse. It may be nothing much to look at but the beers are excellent with a full range of brews including a mild, a porter,...
Muppets: Best Value Breakfast In Town
johngayton Says: Muppets is an archetypal "Greasy Joe" cafe with its nice simple, mostly fried food, menu and formica topped tables. Service is friendly and brisk and the place is popular with shoppers and local businesses for breakfasts, snacks and lunches (closed in the evenings). The...
Thai Up At The Quay: Interestingly-Named But Naff Nosh
johngayton Says: I'm a great lover of Thai food. I like the simplicity, the cleanliness of the flavours and so when I noticed this little place, with the clever name, I reckoned I'd be in for a treat.The restaurant itself, in an 18th century Grade II listed former pub called the Half Moon,...
Peking: Naffly-Named But Fabulous Food!
johngayton Says: In my experience small town Chinese restaurants in the UK can often be surprisingly good and this little one here in Harwich (actually it's in Dovercourt if you want to be pedantic) certainly confirms my already established viewpoint.The "Peking" name is a bit unoriginal and...
Sjalen Says: The ferries from Scandinavia are now limited to the ones from Esbjerg in Denmark so that is still an alternative, and a very pleasant one too (around 17 hours). Most will come from the continent though, and will find a ferry from the Hook of Holland more convenient and a...
johngayton Says: Harwich and Dovercourt are easily, and pleasantly, walkable as apart from the busy-ish main roads such as the A120 leading in and out of the town most of the streets are relatively traffic free. All the attractions are within walking distance of the old town and even the...
johngayton Says: During the summer, from May until September, you can take the ferry from Harwich's Ha'penny Pier across the rivers Orwell and Stour to Felixstowe and Shotley respectively. This is a foot passenger only service although bicycles can also be carried as can small freight...
Stena Line Ferries To Hook Of Holland
johngayton Says: Harwich's International Port is still quite a busy freight and cruise terminal and is also the base for Stena Line ferries to and from Hook of Holland. There are two daily ferries which ply this route the Hollandica and the Britannica and both take freight, vehicle and foot...
johngayton Says: Harwich became connected to the mainline railway following the completion of the section from Colchester in 1854. Three railway stations serve the town and its immediate neighbours of Dovercourt and Parkeston. The town's main station is appropriately Harwich Town which is on...
Harwich High Street: General Shopping Tip
johngayton Says: Harwich's High Street is the continuation of Main Road which runs eastwards from the town's railway station. The High Street links the contiguous towns of Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston (where it once again becomes Main Street) although it's unclear where the individual...
johngayton Says: The whole of Harwich's old town is a listed conservation area. It's street layout is mostly Medieval and its oldest house is the "Foresters", dating from around 1450. Many of the other dwellings and buildings are from the port's 18th century heyday and are often built upon...
johngayton Says: The North Sea Cycle Route is the World's longest. Over 6,000 km in length the route takes in all eight countries that border the North Sea - Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Scotland and England. Where there is no overland crossing between...
johngayton Says: A couple of years ago Essex County Council ran a survey find out what small-scale projects local people felt would improve their quality of life. A Parkstone resident, Russel Tye, suggested a riverside walk in what was, at the time, an overgrown wasteland through which the...
If You Are A Dutch Person In Distress!
johngayton Says: Because Harwich port is Essex's main shipping terminal for freight and passsenger services to and from the Netherlands the Dutch Vice-Consulate is located here in Dovercourt, at the top end of the High Street.As a vice-consulate they don't issue or replace passports or...
Shakers - If You Need A Freebie WiFi Connection
johngayton Says: Shakers pub, formerly the Mariners Hotel, is sortof self-styled as a trendy bar but is in fact more of a local boozer. It's a friendly enough little place and whilst it doesn't offer real beer does a pretty decent pint of Guinness.It's especially useful for us travellers in...
Where To Get Your Laundry Done
johngayton Says: If travelling to or from the Continent via Harwich as part of a longer trip then a stop-off in town can allow you to catch up with your clothes washing. This little laundrette on Kingsway, just up the road from Dovercourt railway station, is cheap and friendly and you can...
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Plan a Harwich vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Harwich locals
This picture shows a light ship called “Wolf Rock”. Some of you may know of this ship as it normally marks the “Wolf Rock” that sits a few miles out from the...
10 members live in Harwich
Q: I need to hire a car one way from Harwich Port to Gatwick Airport north Terminal,is this possible?Mike
A: As it's a one way trip I suspect you can only hire with one of the bigger companies (I will stand corrected if I am wrong). From what I can see the closest one of these...
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The Port and Historic Town of Harwich
We went to Harwich one sunny Sunday afternoon. To be honest, I didn’t expect much from this port town that lies on the coast, northeast corner of Essex. Perhaps a short walk along the promenade and......
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Loads of History and Loads of Pubs!
Harwich is an odd-bod of a town situated on the north-east promontory of the County of Essex where the conjunction of the estuaries of the rivers Orwell and Stour look out onto the North Sea. The town...
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Harwich - The Most Easterly Point in Essex
Harwich is the most easterly point in Essex, and is on the tip of the peninsular at the mouth of the river Stour. The river Orwell also reaches the sea at this point. On the opposite bank of the Stour...
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OK, this is another of those tiny pages but I feel I want to say something about places I have on VT and here I even spent a night once, not to mention all the times I've arrived or departed on the......
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We sailed on the Jewel of the Seas round trip out of Harwich (pronounced Harridge) on May 28. We called at the following ports: Oslo, Norway Copenhagen, Denmark Stockholm, Sweden Helsinki,...
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