The Colchester Zoo offers an award winning experience with over 270 species over 60 acres of beautiful parklands and lakes, and is constantly developing. Come for an action packed visit into the magnificent world of these animals, see white rhinos, maybe even feed the elephants and giraffes, there's ostrich and kudu a roaming at Kingdom of the wild, and even an underwater walk at the tunnel of the Playa Patagonia sealion pool, as well as Komodo Dragons and many daily displays, and the road train, the Lost Madagascar Express will take you on a magical ride. The Colchester Zoo has a Butterfly Glade with free flying butterflies, a state of the art enclosure housing two beautiful sun bears, a tropical walkthrough with lorikeets, plus the sensation station where you can handle some scaly species and furry friends. The Colchester Zoo offers an excellent visitor experience, and they have delicious food outlets, two souvenir gift shops with unique products and so much more, come for a memorable day out.READ MORE

The Mercury Theatre of Colchester, Essex is one of the leading performing arts and producing theatres in the country, and their aim is to put theatre at the heart of the community. The main theatre and studio theatre combined reach and audience of 586 people, and they do on-site productions and their workshop facilities create sets, props and costumes for in-house productions and touring companies, this welcoming theatre also offers award winning customer service, and they nurture new talent in all areas of theatre. The Mercury Theatre is also available for venue hire, and they offer a comfortable and versatile space ideal for meetings, conferences, drink receptions and events, and spaces for hire include the main theatre and studio theatre, the bar and digby gallery. Come view the exceptional quality of the theatre's homegrown work by a talented team, or get involved.READ MORE

Go Bananas in Colchester, Essex offer's a jungle's worth of adventure and fun as they say, and welcomes all young adventurers with something for every little monkey to enjoy, exlore and conquer. There's and Aztec Ruins adventure area with challenges and 3 levels to conquer, many sites and Funky Monkey's jungle home, they also have a lane water Astra slide, wobbly planks, stepping stones and a swing through the ruins. Tiny Town is a mini version of the Aztec Adventure for young one's aged 4 and under and here toddler rule, assisting with challenges they may face in the future. The Go Bananas cafe offers excellent meals, snacks and coffee as well as a wide range of children's meals, free WIFI and homemade cake. There's an after school club, and this is the perfect venue for children or adult parties where the fun never ends, with many kiddies packages and choices, or the ideal adult venue for corporate events, birthdays, hen nights, stag nights, team building and much more.READ MORE

The Rose and Crown in Colchester, Essex is located in the oldest recorded town in England boasting 39 luxurious rooms with en-suites, free high speed WIFI, complimentary tea and coffee, freeview and all the luxuries one would expect from a 3-star hotel and more. With a formal restaurant and Tudor Bar Brasserie, classic yet modern cuisine prevails in a stylish yet comfortable setting steeped in history with oak beamed walls and a log fire. The Rose and Crown offers conference facilities in 14th century surrounds with all the necessary audio visual equipment, free parking and WIFI, and corporate stays. This is also the perfect wedding venue with a beautiful historic setting, a wedding co-ordinator, and happily ever after days for a wedding which is anything but ordinary, come say I do in magical surrounds.READ MORE

The Essex Wine School in Colchester, Essex offers fun and informal Essex wine tastings and Essex wine courses and are not affiliated to any wine merchants or retailers. This independent company is for people who love and enjoy wine, and would like to know more about it, and no previous wine tasting experience is necessary. The Essex Wine School offers a wonderful programme of events from wine tasting days and evenings to food and wine matching, spirit and beer tastings, and they host corporate events and private wine tastings. They even offer professional and accredited wine and spirit qualifications from WSET an internationally recognised, awarding body for the wine trade. So come relax, have fun in a casual setting and enjoy learning all about wine.READ MORE

Cants Of Colchester brings you the oldest recorded rose growers in the United Kingdom in the oldest recorded town, and having been established in 1765, they bring over 245 years experience. They offer expert advice and knowledge on how to plan your rose garden or simply select the correct rose, plus guidance on preparation and after care, so come visit their rose field according to season, or buy direct from their office or mail order. Cants Of Colchester collections include the Cants Classic Collection, the Floribunda Collection, the Fragrant Hybrid Tea Collection, and the Fragrant Floribunda Collection, and they have a gift scheme with greeting cards and gift tokens, plus offer occasion suggestions. They also stock a good selection of sundries which are related to the planting and aftercare of roses.READ MORE

The Red Dog Cafe and Restaurant in Colchester, Essex offers a wonderful dining experience, with the cafe separate from the restaurant in the Inworth Barn serving an extensive selection of full day breakfasts and snacks with full table service, and is historic and rustic with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. The restaurant in the Prince of Wales freehouse boasts a contemporary a la carte menu and is most famous for it's steaks and prime beef burgers, they also have a stunning wine selection. The Red Dog Cafe and Restaurant hosts regular events and have a fabulous Christmas menu every season. They specialise in small parties and groups and will design a menu that suits from the basic buffet to the burger bar, a fantastic dining experience with delicious menu awaits.READ MORE

The Old New Inn Pub simply known as the Pub in Colchester, Essex is a traditional English local at the heart of the community welcoming all. There's a secluded beer garden for sunny days and they have a lounge bar which is the quieter of the two bars with open log fire and comfy seating and the old fashioned public bar with ever changing selection of real ales boasts a pool table, darts and Sky sports and is a popular meeting place. The food menu is available 7 days a week with burger choices, doorstep sandwiches, casserole of the day breaded scampi and chips, chili con carne and more and there's a traditional Sunday Lunch. The Old New Inn Pub has a function room which is free to hire available for parties of up to 25 with big screen TV and food by chef Myles.READ MORE

Trotters Bar and Kitchen in the heart of Colchester, Essex is small and cosy offering a variety of draught beers, wines and cocktails with a great menu for breakfast and lunch, and they are the ideal party venue for anything from 20-100 people. They also have convenient on-line ordering for take aways, and offer freshly made coffees and orange juice, and menu items include full or Small English breakfasts, a healthy starts, sandwiches and toast, and for lunch there are sandwiches and baguettes, jacket potatoes, soups, omelettes, wraps, lasagne, chili con carne, cheesy chips, a Mexican chicken salad and more. Trotters Bar and Kitchen is also great for office and Christmas parties, drinks events, Summer barbeques, business meetings, anniversary parties and more, and they have free WIFI.READ MORE

Dedham Vale Vineyard in Colchester, Essex produces six styles of award winning wines set in 40 acres of rolling English countryside, they also have a proprietary cider and signature fruit liqueurs. There's an on-line shop if you can't visit personally, and during wet walnut season, the Wet Walnut & Vineyard Shop, Trail and Tasting Barn are open seven days a week. The Dedham Vale Vineyard Trail welcomes you on a self conducted tour, to see how the grapes become wine in a bottle, with wine tasting and the Grand Tour and Tasting welcomes you on a full English wine experience with guided tour and tasting from their expert winemakers followed by afternoon tea or lunch in the Tasting Barn, plus there are group tours available in this idyllic setting with catering as required.READ MORE