The Beth Chatto Gardens in Colchester, Essex is an informal garden harmonising with the surrounding countryside and was transformed from an overgrown wasteland. Come view the art of planting at its best, and they began all the way back in 1960, you can even shop at the on-line nursery and enjoy plants from them in your own garden, they have over 2000 plants of good quality that they send out year round. The Beth Chatto Gardens offers excellent events and courses, and the gardens and nursery cover roughly 7 acres, plus they are open year round, and they welcome coaches and groups. Come view the world famous Gravel Garden, the Water Gardens, the pind and Scree Gardens, small raised beds and Woodland as well as reservoir Garden, it's all here. The tearoom offers a selection of breakfasts and light lunches with hot daily specials, homemade cakes, freshly ground coffee and specialty teas, and is the venue for workshops and events throughout the year.READ MORE

Sorano's Ristorante in Thorrington, Colchester, Essex brings you the Italian divine with tradition and passion and you will always feel at home at this family run Italian restaurant and experience attentive service. The menu offers hot and cold starter choices exquisite fish, pasta and risotto and side dishes, and they are open for breakfast from English to other choices, as well as lunch and dinner and have a bambini menu, and leave space for mouthwatering desserts. Sorano's Ristorante regularly host not to be missed events and come highly recommended, come for a fabulous dining experience of Italian delights.READ MORE

The Brook Red Lion Hotel in Colchester, Essex welcomes you to a historical and magical stay in this Grade 1 listed building dating all the way back to 1465, and is one of the oldest inns in England, right in the centre of town. Enjoy magnificent Tudor features and exposed wooden beams, warm red and gold fabrics and 3-star luxury in the 24 individually furnished rooms with all the amenities of a modern hotel. The Red Lion Brasserie in the unique setting of this medieval hotel offers exquisite dining choices with fine wines for lunch and dinner with many original features and a special atmosphere. The Brook Red Lion Hotel also boasts function and event rooms with natural daylight, free WIFI and LCD projectors and more, and is the perfect venue wedding receptions, banquets, business meetings and celebrations in this spectacular Tudor hotel.READ MORE

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

The Foundry Arms in Colchester, Essex is a family friendly freehouse with a warm welcome, originally a beer house, the name is associated with the foundry workers from days of old. This is a great venue for families with kids, and there's a beer garden, comfortable sofas and the bar in a welcoming environment for a relaxing drink with family and friends. The Foundry Arms landlord and lady have a dream to restore the venue to it's former glory and look forward to meeting you soon. 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

Castle Road Cottages are ideally located in the heart of Colchester, Essex offering a high quality self catering stay with the perfect blend of stylish accommodation and a good location as they say. They ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible with fine quality towels and bed linen, complementary tea and ground coffee as well as fresh fruit to welcome you. Hope Cottage, a one time Quaker bakehouse is the perfect retreat for couples and boasts an intimate atmosphere, snug lounge and cosy kitchen breakfast room and much more with upstairs Edwardian elegance. The 6 Castle Road Cottage is a classic Victorian artisan cottage with lovingly restored period details including cast iron fireplaces, antique furnishings, pretty back garden and much more ideal for three to four guests. Castle Road Cottages true delights in beautiful surrounds, come for a magical stay. 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 Riverside Hotel, Colchester is housed in a 17th century building on the banks of the River Colne, just 5 minutes walk from the heart of Colchester, England's oldest recorded town. With 18 en-suite rooms and choices of single, twin, double and family all are welcome and there's free parking and a complementary English breakfast for all guests. The Riverside Hotel, Colchester has a bar and lounge area, 24 hour reception, free WIFI in public areas and is ideally located close the town's main train station. Come for a fabulous stay in this Grade 2 listed building built all the way back in 1604, and to this day still retaining many original period features.READ MORE