Fiona’s guidebook
Nature and gardens
From overgrown wasteland in 1960, Beth Chatto transformed over 7 acres into informal, inspirational gardens comprising of the Gravel Garden, Water Garden, Reservoir Garden, Woodland Garden and Scree Garden – all harmonising with the surrounding countryside. There is also an onsite café and nursery. Its peaceful, tranquil and just beautiful to wander round .
30 recommandé par les habitants
Beth Chatto's Plants & Gardens
Clacton RoadFrom overgrown wasteland in 1960, Beth Chatto transformed over 7 acres into informal, inspirational gardens comprising of the Gravel Garden, Water Garden, Reservoir Garden, Woodland Garden and Scree Garden – all harmonising with the surrounding countryside. There is also an onsite café and nursery. Its peaceful, tranquil and just beautiful to wander round .
Colchester Zoo with its 220 species of animals, set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes, makes for a wonderful day out for the whole family! Book tickets in advance to avoid queues, get there early and take a picnic to help budget costs. There are cafes and picnic areas, ice creams and a zoo shop ( which you have to walk through to exit , be warned!)
39 recommandé par les habitants
Colchester Zoo station
Colchester Zoo with its 220 species of animals, set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes, makes for a wonderful day out for the whole family! Book tickets in advance to avoid queues, get there early and take a picnic to help budget costs. There are cafes and picnic areas, ice creams and a zoo shop ( which you have to walk through to exit , be warned!)
Sightseeing
Visit Colchester Castle Museum where you can follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers, Norman invaders and the devastation of Queen Boudica . Enjoy the surrounding park, river, boating lake, play areas , adventure play equipment and mini golf. Take a picnic and ball or enjoy the cafe and ice cream parlour. In summer look online to book one of the live concerts, colchester events , ticket master or songkick
80 recommandé par les habitants
The Castle Museum
Castle ParkVisit Colchester Castle Museum where you can follow in the footsteps of Roman soldiers, Norman invaders and the devastation of Queen Boudica . Enjoy the surrounding park, river, boating lake, play areas , adventure play equipment and mini golf. Take a picnic and ball or enjoy the cafe and ice cream parlour. In summer look online to book one of the live concerts, colchester events , ticket master or songkick
Dedham is at the heart of Constable country, with some of England’s most beautiful lowland landscapes. Here you can explore the 15th century church, art and crafts centre and walk or row along the River Stour which inspired some of Constable’s iconic works known as his Stour Series. The restaurant The Boathouse is a lovely spot to eat and hire boats from. The Tiptree Jam tea shop serves delicious cream teas and is on the high street near to the craft centre and wonderful church. You can walk along the river to flatford too, its popular so arrive early to secure parking in high season.
65 recommandé par les habitants
Dedham
Dedham is at the heart of Constable country, with some of England’s most beautiful lowland landscapes. Here you can explore the 15th century church, art and crafts centre and walk or row along the River Stour which inspired some of Constable’s iconic works known as his Stour Series. The restaurant The Boathouse is a lovely spot to eat and hire boats from. The Tiptree Jam tea shop serves delicious cream teas and is on the high street near to the craft centre and wonderful church. You can walk along the river to flatford too, its popular so arrive early to secure parking in high season.
Lavenham is well worth the 45 minute drive in to the Suffolk countryside to see what is considered to be Britain’s best preserved medieval village. With its timber framed buildings and historic market place, Lavenham was one of Suffolk’s most important wool towns.
Among over 300 listed buildings listed as being of architectural and historic interest, are the church of St Peter and St Paul, The Guildhall, Little Hall, and De Vere House.
122 recommandé par les habitants
Lavenham
Lavenham is well worth the 45 minute drive in to the Suffolk countryside to see what is considered to be Britain’s best preserved medieval village. With its timber framed buildings and historic market place, Lavenham was one of Suffolk’s most important wool towns.
Among over 300 listed buildings listed as being of architectural and historic interest, are the church of St Peter and St Paul, The Guildhall, Little Hall, and De Vere House.
Family friendly days out
Hastys Adventure Farm is an award winning great day out designed to offer fun activities for little adventurers aged 3-11 years. Previous guests have given great feedback and recommended it to others with small children.
Hastys Adventure Farm is a great day outdoors designed to offer fun activities for little adventurers aged 3-11 years. Previous guests have given great feedback and recommended it to others with small children.
12 recommandé par les habitants
Hastys Adventure Farm
West RoadHastys Adventure Farm is a great day outdoors designed to offer fun activities for little adventurers aged 3-11 years. Previous guests have given great feedback and recommended it to others with small children.
Clacton Pier provides hours of family fun whatever the weather with rides, aquarium, bowling, arcades and much more – or simply walk along the beach and take in the sea air! Classic seaside family day out, lots of sandy beach, cafes, long promenade to walk along or take the road train, watch out for Clacton Air show in August every year.
41 recommandé par les habitants
Jetée de Clacton
Clacton Pier provides hours of family fun whatever the weather with rides, aquarium, bowling, arcades and much more – or simply walk along the beach and take in the sea air! Classic seaside family day out, lots of sandy beach, cafes, long promenade to walk along or take the road train, watch out for Clacton Air show in August every year.
A nature reserve of over 102 acres of unique coastal landscapes, habitat and heritage overlooking the Colne and Blackwater Estuaries with sandy beaches, walking trails, kid’s play area, picnic area and birdwatching. Cudmore Grove Country Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
33 recommandé par les habitants
Cudmore Grove Country Park
Broman's LaneA nature reserve of over 102 acres of unique coastal landscapes, habitat and heritage overlooking the Colne and Blackwater Estuaries with sandy beaches, walking trails, kid’s play area, picnic area and birdwatching. Cudmore Grove Country Park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The enchanted kingdom of Wyvernwood is an exciting adventure park for families with children aged 2 to 12 located in a beautiful outdoor setting just 5 miles from The Hayloft. Meet wizards, dragons, fairies and goblins and participate in quests, scale castle walls, crawl through tunnels plus so much more.
Wyvernwood
The enchanted kingdom of Wyvernwood is an exciting adventure park for families with children aged 2 to 12 located in a beautiful outdoor setting just 5 miles from The Hayloft. Meet wizards, dragons, fairies and goblins and participate in quests, scale castle walls, crawl through tunnels plus so much more.
Shopping
A fully pedestrianised, safe, customer friendly shopping environment which has undergone a full redevelopment and features a range of stores including fashion, footwear, jewellery, gifts, homewares, furniture, outdoor equipment, cosmetics, gifts, confectionery and more – all at discounts of up to 60% on high street prices. After you’ve shopped, there’s plenty of food and drink on offer to refuel.
12 recommandé par les habitants
Clacton Shopping Village
Stephenson Road WestA fully pedestrianised, safe, customer friendly shopping environment which has undergone a full redevelopment and features a range of stores including fashion, footwear, jewellery, gifts, homewares, furniture, outdoor equipment, cosmetics, gifts, confectionery and more – all at discounts of up to 60% on high street prices. After you’ve shopped, there’s plenty of food and drink on offer to refuel.
City/town information
Your typical large town , great for a wide selection of high street favourites and small independents, cafe culture , restaurants , leisure and sport, cinemas and nightlife. There are plenty of out of town retail outlets especially at Stanway tollgate. Parking is plentiful but there is a park and ride ( off the A12) which is a nice bus journey around the town . The train station is quite central too.
70 recommandé par les habitants
Colchester
Your typical large town , great for a wide selection of high street favourites and small independents, cafe culture , restaurants , leisure and sport, cinemas and nightlife. There are plenty of out of town retail outlets especially at Stanway tollgate. Parking is plentiful but there is a park and ride ( off the A12) which is a nice bus journey around the town . The train station is quite central too.
A very large town with good shopping and entertainment venues including cinemas and theatres. A very nice marine area with cafes or even boat trips can take you from the harbour ,cruising up the river Orwell.
43 recommandé par les habitants
Ipswich
A very large town with good shopping and entertainment venues including cinemas and theatres. A very nice marine area with cafes or even boat trips can take you from the harbour ,cruising up the river Orwell.