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 George Hotel Colchester is a 500 year old coaching inn that resonates with history in the heart of historic Colchester, Essex right on the high street, close to Colchester Castle. Boasting choices of executive, superior family, classic double, twin, single and mini double room choices, all individually decorated to a high standard, a fabulous stay awaits both the leisure and business guest. There's a stylish lounge bar with original features, and a Courtyard Brasserie serving English dishes and regional specialties by talented chefs for a memorable dining experience. The George Hotel Colchester is also the perfect venue and setting for private dining and functions in bespoke function rooms and they cater to parties, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, retirements, Bar Mitzvahs and other special occasions, complete with banqueting and events coordinator. 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

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 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

Acacia Cottage is your Colchester comfortably furnished holiday home built in the 1800's with a very central location. This character property with modern facilities is ideal for families or couples on holiday, and boasts a secluded garden with patio area ideal for alfresco dining or a barbeque, and the area is fully enclosed and safe for children to play. Acacia Cottage has two good sized bedrooms, an open plan downstairs living space, a fully fitted kitchen and bathroom. There's garden furniture and a BBQ, a dining room, central heating and much more, come for the perfect home away from home stay.READ MORE

Firstsite offers contemporary visual arts in Colchester, Essex and their programme includes projects, exhibitions and publications by established and emerging artists, they also offer extensive learning opportunities and artists' support initiatives. They have since 1994 supported and invested in artists across the Eastern region, and now have a spectacular new building with front portico rising to 11 metres high comprising exhibition space, gallery spaces, a shop selling creative gifts, and a restaurant all lit throughout with natural light. Firstsite also has a state of the art auditorium which comfortable seats 190 people, and the venue is available for hire and is ideal for conferences, presentations, and product launches as well as celebrations, club and society meetings and private parties with a stunning backdrop.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

Bombay Palace in the town centre of Colchester, Essex offers an exquisite dining experience transporting you to the Middle East with a lavish menu of mouthwatering dishes and all the traditional delights and hospitality that goes with your fabulous journey. Adventure begins with the stylish bar serving an extensive selection of cocktails, wines and premium spirits, continue your eastern inspired experience in the shisha lounge with international flavours and mixes, it's all here. Using specialist ingredients from rare spices the menu combines earthy traditional Indian flavours with cutting edge style as they say and the menu offers sublime choices of Tandoor specialties, Balti dishes, Biryani dishes, chefs specialties, old time favourites and so much more, and there's a buffet. Come for your dining pleasure, they Bombay Palace are honoured to serve you their rich and exotic heritage of Indian culinary culture.READ MORE

Greyfriars Colchester offers luxurious rooms and suites to the discerning in a beautiful building dating all the way back to the 18th Century, and once a grand private family house, after extensive refurbishment, it is today the perfect venue for dining, socialising and celebrating. Accommodation options include superbly appointed rooms and suites including Grand Luxe Signature suites, deluxe suites and junior suites with 5-star standards. They offer dining at the Cloisters, the Rose Room or the Salon with excellent menus and a wide range of options from Breakfast through lunch, afternoon tea and dinner and a superb Sunday lunch. The Baroque Bar, Venetian LOunge and Library lounge are all in the original old quarters of Greyfriars offering an incredible atmosphere of old world charm with solid woods and leather, and there's a large terrace perfect for good weather days. Greyfriars Colchester is a luxurious and elegant venue for special occasions from large to small with high standards of service and exquisite cuisine, and they cater to corporate events and meetings.READ MORE