| check-in time: 3:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. some quarters add ipod docks and nespresso machines. suites add sleeping lofts and separate living areas. a 9-minute walk from chelmsford cathedral, this modern hotel in a brick building on a leafy street is 2 miles from chelmsford museum and 6 miles from hylands house, a stately home. parking is complimentary. there's a casual italian restaurant, plus a simple bar and meeting rooms. contemporary, colourful rooms offer free wi-fi, flat-screen tvs, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. there's also a patio with seating
Heathrow Airport 1 hr 19
Beaulieu Park (7 min) Great Notley Country Park (17 min)
Public parkland with horse riding, cycling paths and a large wooden climbing area, plus a bistro. Chelmsford Cathedral (8 min)
Small, free to enter Anglican cathedral with an 11th-century heritage and lunchtime music recitals. Thorndon Country Park (28 min)
Trails through a landscape of ancient oak trees, marshes & meadows, with birdlife & grazing cattle. RHS Garden Hyde Hall (18 min)
Site run by horticulture charity, including bird hide and Dry Garden with bold architectural plants. Promenade Park (23 min)
Victorian riverfront park with ornamental lake, woodland walk and kids' adventure play areas. Essex Police Museum (18 min)
Archival and educational space displaying documents, artefacts, objects and photos on local history. Hylands House (15 min)
Council-run stately home and grounds hosting music festivals and family activities year-round. Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker (28 min)
Large underground bunker with self-guided tours, a Cold War history museum, canteen & ropes course. Barleylands Farm Park (28 min)
Family-friendly attraction featuring farm animals, craft workshops, rides, play areas & more. Hanningfield Reservoir (21 min)
870-acre reservoir with diverse flora & fauna, seasonal fly fishing & paths, plus on-site cafes. Chelmsford Museum (7 min)
Free-admission museum in a Victorian house & modern extension, dedicated to local history & culture. Epping Ongar Railway (22 min) Danbury Country Park (13 min) Riverside Leisure Centre (9 min)
Ice skating | 
