Food Scene
A quirky vintage tea room in the famous Sail Lofts in Tollesbury. Run by local residents Lisa and Dave with yummy home made lunches and cakes. Art displayed by local artists with much of it for sale.
The Loft - Tea By The Sea
Woodrolfe RoadA quirky vintage tea room in the famous Sail Lofts in Tollesbury. Run by local residents Lisa and Dave with yummy home made lunches and cakes. Art displayed by local artists with much of it for sale.
The Harbour View restaurant at Tollesbury Marina overlooks the picturesque moorings in Tollesbury. Great to sit with a drink and listen to the clinking of the lanyards and the boats bobbing up and down. Good for lunches and dinner.
Tollesbury Cruising Club
The Harbour View restaurant at Tollesbury Marina overlooks the picturesque moorings in Tollesbury. Great to sit with a drink and listen to the clinking of the lanyards and the boats bobbing up and down. Good for lunches and dinner.
Colchester was a large Roman settlement and Roman remains are found throughout the town. The Lemon Tea is built on the side of the original Roman wall and has a magnificent feature wall.....the old Roman wall! Much be pretty unique.
Victus Bistros
48 St John's StColchester was a large Roman settlement and Roman remains are found throughout the town. The Lemon Tea is built on the side of the original Roman wall and has a magnificent feature wall.....the old Roman wall! Much be pretty unique.
Tucked away in Maldon High Street this is a small, friendly owner run restaurant. There are lots of places to eat in Maldon but this is unique and different.
8 locals recommend
The Secret Garden
17 Friars StTucked away in Maldon High Street this is a small, friendly owner run restaurant. There are lots of places to eat in Maldon but this is unique and different.
Real ale pub in a nearby village that does extremely good pub grub as well as an excellent pint.
9 locals recommend
The Chequers Inn
1 Church StReal ale pub in a nearby village that does extremely good pub grub as well as an excellent pint.
Iconic Mersea oysters and sea food. 20 minute drive away but a must for seafood lovers along with The Shed (this site could't find a listing for this restaurant), a famous and long term eatery much recommended by Jamie Oliver.
24 locals recommend
West Mersea Oyster Bar
Coast RoadIconic Mersea oysters and sea food. 20 minute drive away but a must for seafood lovers along with The Shed (this site could't find a listing for this restaurant), a famous and long term eatery much recommended by Jamie Oliver.
Drinks & Nightlife
An old fashioned pub that is rarely found, a free house with excellent beer, a roaring fire in the winter, and much used by the locals. No food though!
The Kings Head
High StreetAn old fashioned pub that is rarely found, a free house with excellent beer, a roaring fire in the winter, and much used by the locals. No food though!
Sightseeing
Colchester was a major Roman settlement and many parts of the walls of the town are still visible. The town has a good Castle museum, an interesting Dutch quarter and there is much to explore in the town.
70 locals recommend
Colchester
Colchester was a major Roman settlement and many parts of the walls of the town are still visible. The town has a good Castle museum, an interesting Dutch quarter and there is much to explore in the town.
We are a 45 minute from the famous Dedham Vale, known as Constable Country. Take a drive out and see the setting of the Haywain, and potter around lovely Dedham, taking tea at one of the tea shops or restaurant.
19 locals recommend
Flatford and Constable Country
We are a 45 minute from the famous Dedham Vale, known as Constable Country. Take a drive out and see the setting of the Haywain, and potter around lovely Dedham, taking tea at one of the tea shops or restaurant.
Parks & Nature
If you love isolated sea and river walks, birdwatching and general rambling in the countryside you are spoilt for choice in this rural part of Essex. Most of the land is managed by Essex Wildlife Trust or the RSPB and is my idea of heaven!
Essex Wildlife Trust
Maldon RoadIf you love isolated sea and river walks, birdwatching and general rambling in the countryside you are spoilt for choice in this rural part of Essex. Most of the land is managed by Essex Wildlife Trust or the RSPB and is my idea of heaven!
Tollesbury is surrounding by water with a sea/river path running from the village to Maldon, so you can walk anything along this path from a few hundred yards to an 18 mile plus more hike. There are many short circular walks around the village and surrounding countryside. Tollesbury Wick, leading out from Tollesbury Marina is managed by Essex Wildlife and is a salt marsh nature reserve with a hide for bird watching. The circular walk around the Wick is approximately 6 miles and it is impossible to imagine on this walk, watching the cattle grazing, the birds swooping and the Essex barges on the river that you are only 40 miles out of London.
Tollesbury
Tollesbury is surrounding by water with a sea/river path running from the village to Maldon, so you can walk anything along this path from a few hundred yards to an 18 mile plus more hike. There are many short circular walks around the village and surrounding countryside. Tollesbury Wick, leading out from Tollesbury Marina is managed by Essex Wildlife and is a salt marsh nature reserve with a hide for bird watching. The circular walk around the Wick is approximately 6 miles and it is impossible to imagine on this walk, watching the cattle grazing, the birds swooping and the Essex barges on the river that you are only 40 miles out of London.
Abberton Reservoir is a bird watchers heaven, well known in the area with many vantage points and a brand new visitors centre.
14 locals recommend
Abberton Reservoir
Abberton Reservoir is a bird watchers heaven, well known in the area with many vantage points and a brand new visitors centre.
25 minutes drive brings you across the Strood, which floods at high tide, taking you to the Essex Island of Mersea. Enjoy the country park on East Mersea or the beach and prom at West Mersea. Here you can hire a fully restored Beach Hut for the day and swim at high, or enjoy the famous Mersea oyster and sea food at The Shed or Oyster Bar.
41 locals recommend
Mersea Island
25 minutes drive brings you across the Strood, which floods at high tide, taking you to the Essex Island of Mersea. Enjoy the country park on East Mersea or the beach and prom at West Mersea. Here you can hire a fully restored Beach Hut for the day and swim at high, or enjoy the famous Mersea oyster and sea food at The Shed or Oyster Bar.
Arts & Culture
Firstsite is a newly purpose built art gallery designed by architect Rafael Vinoly. The building itself is worth a visit and hosts a revolving programme of exhibitions and events.
35 locals recommend
Firstsite
Firstsite is a newly purpose built art gallery designed by architect Rafael Vinoly. The building itself is worth a visit and hosts a revolving programme of exhibitions and events.
A purpose built large theatre with an complete mix of a programme so something to suit everyone.
21 locals recommend
Mercury Theatre
A purpose built large theatre with an complete mix of a programme so something to suit everyone.
A brilliant venue with contemporary theatre, dance, music, comedy and much more.
11 locals recommend
Colchester Arts Centre
Church StreetA brilliant venue with contemporary theatre, dance, music, comedy and much more.
Essentials
Tollesbury has a butcher, baker, post office, convenience store and Fred's, a great independent shop selling the groceries you would need for a self-catering stay. Everything you need on your doorstep in fact but not the candlestick maker!
Fred's Store
7 Mell RdTollesbury has a butcher, baker, post office, convenience store and Fred's, a great independent shop selling the groceries you would need for a self-catering stay. Everything you need on your doorstep in fact but not the candlestick maker!
Getting Around
Kelvedon about a 20 minute drive away is our nearest station with a good service into London Liverpool Street (50 minutes) and connecting services out to East Anglia.
Kelvedon station
Station RoadKelvedon about a 20 minute drive away is our nearest station with a good service into London Liverpool Street (50 minutes) and connecting services out to East Anglia.