| check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. parking is complimentary. off the a12 motorway, this laid-back hotel is 3 miles from colchester zoo and 7 miles from medieval colchester castle. there's also a casual restaurant and a lounge/bar, plus a business centre and meeting space. other amenities include a gym, a sauna and a steam room, as well as tennis courts and an indoor pool. unassuming rooms offer free wi-fi, flat-screens and sitting areas, plus tea and coffeemaking facilities
Heathrow Airport 1 hr 33
Flatford Mill (25 min)
Early-1700s riverside mill once owned by family of artist John Constable & used in his paintings. Beth Chatto's Plants & Gardens (21 min)
Renowned gardener's creative, themed gardens with woodland and water areas, plant shop and tearoom. Layer Marney Tower (12 min)
Historic gatehouse with tea rooms in former stables, flower gardens open for picnicking and a farm. Colchester Castle (15 min)
Stately castle completed in 1100, featuring interactive exhibits, a jail & landscaped gardens. East Anglian Railway Museum (13 min)
Original Victorian buildings housing railway memorabilia, plus a functioning restoration workshop. Promenade Park (25 min)
Victorian riverfront park with ornamental lake, woodland walk and kids' adventure play areas. Cudmore Grove Country Park (29 min)
Park & beach with walking trails through meadows, a playground & the ruins of a 16th-century fort. Osea Island (39 min)
Estuary and beach Colchester Zoo (8 min)
Zoo in 60 acres of parkland with lots of animals plus interactive feeding times, plus play areas. Firstsite (15 min)
Eclectic contemporary art from new and emerging creatives among free galleries, plus films and cafe. Marks Hall Estate (13 min)
Geographically themed landscaped gardens with an arboretum and lakes, plus wood walks and play area. Abberton Reservoir (16 min)
A 1,770-acre reservoir created in 1939 & nature reserve teeming with birdlife plus a visitor center. Dedham Vale (22 min)
Scenic rural area of farms, woodland & quaint villages, with walking & cycling paths. Colchester Castle Park (15 min)
Lush, expansive park and gardens hosting varied programme of shows, music concerts and festivals. Hedingham Castle (32 min)
Vast country estate with a well-preserved Norman fortress, picnic areas, a cafe and a gift shop. | 
