Farm Stay East AngliaA Day out in and around ColchesterColchester is Britain’s oldest recorded town, with over 2, 000 years of history to explore. Discover the largest Norman Castle Keep in Europe, now an award winning museum, and Britain’s best preserved gateway. Close by are the quaint narrow streets of the Dutch Quarter, where the cloth industry once flourished. Colchester also has excellent shopping and leisure facilities.
Colchester Castle Park is a classic Victorian park, with 23 gently sloping acres of parkland, flower beds and gardens, children’s playground, boating lake and pitch and putt in the summer time, river walks and café.
Colchester Castle Museum takes you through 2000 years of some of the most important events in British history. Since the 16th C the Castle has been a ruin, a library and a gaol for witches! Now it is a fabulous museum featuring many hands-on displays to help explain the townspeople’s experience of Colchester’s varying fortunes.
Saint Botolphs Priory, the remains of a 12th C Priory is also near the town centre, and this is one of the first Augustinian priories in England.
Colchester Leisure World has a large indoor pool with flumes, rapids and a wave machine, and for those looking to relax there is also a sauna and spa.
Colchester Zoo is one of Europe’s finest Zoo’s with over 200 species in 60 acres of gardens. Enjoy the Playa Patagonia Sealion Experience with a 24 meter tunnel under the water, and the African Zone where you can feed the elephants and giraffes.
Just south of Colchester visit the stunning Layer Marney Tower - perfect for a family day out!
Nearby at Elmstead Market The Beth Chatto Gardens are very interesting, with many rare species of plants. There is also a tea room.
For those interested in antiques Coggeshall, once an important place in the trade of wool and lace making, is now a major antiques centre. There are many fine timber-framed buildings, including the 16th C Paycockes, once home to a wealthy wool merchant.
Set by the River Stour, Dedham is in the heart of Constable Country. It was here that the 18th C. landscape artist went to school. The attractive main street is lined with Georgian fronted houses, and there is a large Art & Craft Centre, spread over 3 floors. For something a little unusual you could visit Gnome Magic, a delightful garden and an amazing 5-acre wood where gnomes and their friends live!
We have B&B accommodation and holiday cottages near Colchester at Stutton, Wix near Manningtree, Shotley, Stoke by Nayland, Hintlesham near Hadleigh, Clacton and St Osyth on the Essex Coast. We also have B&B accommodation at Tolleshunt Major near Maldon
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