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

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

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 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

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

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

Colchester Ghost Tours brings you the other side of Colchester, Essex with your host and guide Derek Wray, a master storyteller who tells of the blood, gore, mayhem and ghosts, and the past that other tours don't reach. Come journey with him through the dark ways of ancient Colchester on the first Thursday of every month, starting at the town hall in High Street, and go in search of the life, love, death and abominable hauntings in their own words. Colchester Ghost Tours last over two hours through Britain's oldest recorded town, and home to Britain's oldest pubs and ghosts, usually ending in a haunted public house for relaxing drinks. There are three tours to choose from, the Town Centre Tour, the Dutch Quarter Tour and the Legend of the Chattering Corpse Tour, come hear the stories, learn the secrets, the history, legends and ghosts of Colchester.READ MORE

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

Bistro and Bar Below in Colchester, Essex is a restaurant and wine bar offering an excellent venue to dine on sumptuous home made meals and put a British twist on bistro food for the ultimate indulgence in relaxing surrounds. The basement bar is fully air conditioned and offers tasty and traditional favourites in one of the finest Grade II listed buildings in Colchester. The Function room is part of the restaurant but can be booked as a separate corporate venue and they can supply everything you need for your business meeting. Bistro and Bar Below also boasts the Salon Privee for romantic private dining and can seat 4-6 patrons. Come for an unsurpassed dining and drinking experience in stunning surrounds.READ MORE

Leisure World Colchester offers year round fun for the whole family and they have swimming pools, a gym and a fantastic range of sports facilities including multi purpose sports halls for badminton, squash courts, tennis and basketball, and an astro turf pitch for football. Their swimming pools are available for water fitness classes, pool sessions and there's a swim school with teaching pool. Their comprehensive group fitness classes include over 60 exciting classes for people of all ages, levels of fitness and interests. Leisure World Colchester offers holiday fun, and is available for birthday parties with plenty to offer for memorable celebrations, there's a coffee shop with excellent menu and drinks, and Zoggs shop stocks all your swimwear needs and accessories, come visit, there's something for everyone here. READ MORE