Essex Hotels

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Top Essex hotels

Colchester Hotels: 73 Reviews - 223 Photos
Southend-on-Sea Hotels: 115 Reviews - 175 Photos
Clacton-on-Sea Hotels: 34 Reviews - 51 Photos
Stansted Hotels: 67 Reviews - 131 Photos
Chelmsford Hotels: 14 Reviews - 15 Photos
Brentwood Hotels: 29 Reviews - 24 Photos
Braintree Hotels: 1 Review - 3 Photos
Romford Hotels: 1 Review
Basildon Hotels: 14 Reviews - 21 Photos
Coggeshall Hotels: 32 Reviews - 74 Photos
Maldon Hotels: 4 Reviews - 14 Photos
Harwich Hotels: 48 Reviews - 120 Photos
Harlow Hotels: 17 Reviews - 41 Photos
Great Dunmow Hotels: 3 Reviews - 5 Photos
Epping Hotels: 2 Reviews - 3 Photos

Essex Things to Do

A circular garden with benches circling...

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A circular garden with benches circling...
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Pier, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England.
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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Hyde hall gardens

by eddymario

Hyde Hall is a delightful hilltop garden owned by the Royal Horticultural Society. Early in the year the garden has a spectacular display of spring bulbs. Features in the summer include an extensive colour themed herbaceous border and a marvellous collection of roses of all kinds. Hyde Hall Garden has a great variety of ornamental trees and shrubs and the National Collections of viburnums and ornamental crab apples are held here. A highlight of Hyde Hall is the Farmhouse Garden. There are also two ornamental ponds which contain a wide range of bog plants and water lilies. A charming Essex thatched barn contains a restaurant.

Audley End House and Gardens

by jrs1234

Audley End is a great example of a large English country mansion, or "stately home". It's full of history (the house originally dates from about 1620), and the gardens are lovely. It's been rebuilt a few times over the centuries, so there's a mix of styles on view once you go inside for a look. It's a great place to spend half a day (or a whole one), especially if the sun is shining. There are tearooms if you're in need of refreshment, and a shop for souvenirs.Entrance is £8.50 for adults, and like most stately homes, it's closed for the winter, to protect the property from rain and mud. It's open from April to September except on Tuesdays (and in March and October for guided tours Thurs-Mon).

Buildings of Saffron Walden

by Bwana_Brown

As with almost all of the villages, towns and cities that we passed through, the care with which the buildings were maintained was a pleasure behold. Each place had its own characteristics of construction and style. Saffron Walden was no exception, with this typical street scene from the centre of the town. One problem in England is finding a place to put your car when you want to stop to enjoy what you have seen. I was very surprised that it was so busy in late-February on every road that we took!

Harwich

by Ash59

If you want to find out why this light house appears to be sitting inland on the edge of a town, please go and have a look at my Harwich, Essex page.

Spend a day at Colchester Zoo.

by worldkiwi

Colchester Zoo, is the main one in the county and displays animals from around the world. The white tiger is magnificent and there is excellent viewing. When it came up to the glass window I wondered how strong the glass really was! I was intrigued by the wolves because I have never seen live ones before. They have evil looking eyes!

Explore 'Constable Country'.

by worldkiwi

Flatford Mill and the lower reaches of the Stour River are known as 'Constable Country' after the great English landscape painter of the 19th century. You can cross the river (into Suffolk) and get good views back at the buildings around Flatford Mill from a track along the banks. There is a diverting museum in the old barn and even a B&B (in the same building). A pamphlet available at Flatford Mill shows walks in the surrounds.

Castle Hedingham.

by worldkiwi

This striking keep was built in 1140 and has been caringly restored inside by its owners, to make an interesting and authentic castle experience. There is an amazing stone archway inside, that is reputedly one of the largest in England. According to the brochure I picked up, jousting tournaments are held here in the warmer months... that would be something to see! The castle is not open in November and the winter months.

Village sightseeing in Essex.

by worldkiwi

If you have access to a car (and I was kindly lent one by my cousins), a drive through Essex's picturesque countryside is a must. The further north one goes, the more idyllic the scenery becomes. Have a look at my Essex Villages Travelogue for more pictures from a couple of trips I did.

Colchester Castle.

by worldkiwi

Colchester is the gem in Essex's historical attractions. It has the distinction of being England's first city and in effect it's first administrative capital. It dates back to before Roman times and you can see traces of Roman structures in the town today. The "castle" is built on the site of a Roman temple and was once a Norman stronghold. The Normans used stones from the Roman walls to build their castle, hence its interesting hue and texture. Its form today is greatly modified from what it was, as the castle was in a state of decay before it passed to private ownership and eventually back into public hands.Inside is a very interesting museum about local history.