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 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

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

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

Il Padrino meaning The Godfather is located in Colchester, Essex and is a wonderful Italian restaurant with mouthwatering food offering great value for money in a relaxed atmosphere, it's everything you want for great dining out. Open for lunch and dinner with head chef and owner Fausto, this 70-seat restaurant offers an intimate atmosphere over three floors, with open plan kitchen on the ground floor where the meals are prepared. Il Padrino offers an exquisite a la carte menu and there's a mouthwatering selection of fish and seafood specials on the blackboards. They also have brunch dishes, starters, pasta and rice dishes, chef's salads and drinks, and will create a menu specifically for groups, come experience the Italian divine.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

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

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

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

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