Quality-rated places to stay and eat in Essex

Food outlet

The Lion

Boreham, Essex

Family-friendly dishes in relaxed pub

Inn

The Lion Inn

Boreham, Essex

★★★★

Quality underpins everything at this inn.

Public house

The Lion Inn

Chelmsford, Essex

Confident cooking in a stylish gastropub

Racecourse

Chelmsford City Racecourse

Chelmsford, Essex

Quality Assessed

Restaurant

Galvin Green Man

Howe Street, Essex

Pulls in foodies from all over.

Restaurant

Pig & Whistle Restaurant

Chelmsford, Essex

Confident cooking in an intimate setting.

Things to do

Chelmsford Cathedral

Chelmsford, Essex

Food outlet

Samphire Restaurant at The County Hotel

Chelmsford, Essex

Elegant hotel serving contemporary food

Hotel

County Hotel

Chelmsford, Essex

★★★★

Soundly appointed, comfortable rooms in a popular and stylish hotel

Restaurant

The House by Hilly Gant

Braintree, Essex

A quirky, relaxed restaurant with an unfussy cooking ethic.

Things to do

Danbury Commons and Blakes Wood (NT)

Danbury, Essex

Hotel

Pontlands Park

Chelmsford, Essex

★★★

Set in a peaceful rural location in attractive landscaped grounds.

Visitor attraction

Museum of Chelmsford

Chelmsford, Essex

Quality Assessed

The Museum of Chelmsford is an exemplar for local museums – the galleries are presented beautifully.

Visitor attraction

Combined Military Services Museum

Maldon, Essex

Quality Assessed

A fantastic collection of authentic military items, reflecting centuries of history.

Things to do

Grange Barn (NT)

Coggeshall, Essex

Things to do

Paycocke's

Coggeshall, Essex

Restaurant

The Noble Goose

Coggeshall, Essex

British brasserie dishes with a French accent.

Visitor attraction

Hylands House & Estate

Chelmsford, Essex

Quality Assessed

Take all day to explore the grounds of this impressive country estate.

Holiday park

Osea Leisure Park

Maldon, Essex

★★★★★

Where kids can have fun

Holiday park

Osea Meadows

Maldon, Essex

★★★★★

Great location for coastal and inland walks.

Things to do

Northey Island (NT)

Maldon, Essex

Bed & breakfast

Motts Cottage

Stebbing, Essex

★★★★

Everything for an overnight stay

Visitor attraction

RHS Garden Hyde Hall

Chelmsford, Essex

Quality Assessed

Hotel

Ivy Hill Hotel

Chelmsford, Essex

★★★

Welcoming hospitality from genuinely friendly staff.

Inn

Saracens Head - Great Dunmow

Great Dunmow, Essex

★★★★

Among other things, a great place for afternoon tea.

Restaurant

Ellis’s Restaurant

Stock, Essex

Accomplished modern cooking in stylish manor house hotel.

Hotel

Greenwoods Hotel & Spa

Stock, Essex

★★★★

Charming 17th-century manor house with impressive spa facilities.

Spa

Greenwoods Hotel & Spa

Stock, Essex

Restaurant

The Hoop

Stock, Essex

Great cooking at this 15th-century weatherboarded pub.

Public house

The Hoop

Stock, Essex

Traditional pub with a focus on food.

Things to do

Layer Marney Tower

Layer Marney, Essex

Holiday village

Potters Resorts Five Lakes

Tolleshunt Knights, Essex

★★★★★

Large adults-only park with lots to see and plenty of entertainment.

Things to do

Ingatestone Hall

Ingatestone, Essex

Things to do

Premier Sailing

North Fambridge, Essex

Restaurant with rooms

Downham Hall

Billericay, Essex

★★★★★

An elegant and romantic boutique country house in lovely countryside.

Restaurant

North Wing Restaurant @ Downham Hall

Billericay, Essex

Careful cooking in a charming hotel restaurant.

Self-catering

Wakes Hall Lodges

Wakes Colne, Essex

★★★★★

Idyllic lodges overlooking undulating countryside on a private estate.

Visitor attraction

East Anglian Railway Museum

Colchester, Essex

Quality Assessed

Holiday park

The Star Inn Caravan Park

Southminster, Essex

★★★★

One for country lovers

Visitor attraction

Colchester Zoological Society

Colchester, Essex

Quality Assessed

All kinds of animals and plenty more for all the family.

Self-catering

Field View

Little Maplestead, Essex

★★★★★

Self-catering

Garden Suite

Little Maplestead, Essex

★★★★★

Restaurant

The Three Horseshoes

Colchester, Essex

Modern cooking in friendly rural pub.

Things to do

Hedingham Castle

Castle Hedingham, Essex

Things to do

Copt Hall Marshes (NT)

Little Wigborough, Essex

Restaurant

The Magic Mushroom

Billericay, Essex

Confident cooking on the edge of Billericay.

Things to do

Hatfield Forest National Nature Reserve

Takeley Street, Essex

Things to do

Rayleigh Mount (NT)

Rayleigh, Essex

Visitor attraction

Rayleigh Windmill

Rayleigh, Essex

Quality Assessed

Available on the ground floor for less agile visitors.

Things to do

Lexden Earthworks and Bluebottle Grove

Colchester, Essex

Holiday park

Colchester Country Park

Colchester, Essex

★★★★★

Green and pleasant site an easy walk from ancient Colchester.

Restaurant

The Dog & Pickle

Ongar, Essex

Modernised pub serving wide-ranging menu.

Public house

The White Hart

Great Yeldham, Essex

Fine dining in historic inn

Restaurant

The White Hart

Great Yeldham, Essex

Imaginative modern cuisine in a 15th-century setting.

Inn

The White Hart

Great Yeldham, Essex

★★★★★

Smart bedrooms, well-executed cuisine and high quality service.

Self-catering

The Nook

Colchester, Essex

★★★★

A cosy little house in a quiet residential area

Things to do

The Mega Centre Rayleigh

Rayleigh, Essex

Restaurant

The White Hart Inn

West Mersea, Essex

A lovely ambience for diners.

Inn

The White Hart Inn

West Mersea, Essex

★★★★★

Attractive modern building close to the Blackwater Estuary.

Visitor attraction

Mersea Museum

West Mersea, Essex

Quality Assessed

Things to do

Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

Brentwood, Essex

Self-catering

No 1 Mill Road

Burnham-On-Crouch, Essex

★★★★

Self-catering

No 3 Mill Road

Burnham-On-Crouch, Essex

★★★

Restaurant

Church Street Tavern

Colchester, Essex

Quality food in an old bank.

Things to do

St John's Abbey Gate

Colchester, Essex

Things to do

Colchester, St Botolph's Priory

Colchester, Essex

Things to do

Bourne Mill (NT)

Colchester, Essex

Visitor attraction

Firstsite

Colchester, Essex

Quality Assessed

Fully accessible for disabled visitors

Hotel

GreyFriars

Colchester, Essex

★★★★

Luxurious hotel in a historic part of the city.

Restaurant

GreyFriars

Colchester, Essex

Fashionable European dining in the heart of Colchester.

Restaurant

The Punch Bowl

Rochford, Essex

Seasonal modern cooking in a cosy country inn

Self-catering

The Great Barn

Ongar, Essex, Essex

★★★★★

Spacious and well-equipped, with its own games room.

Self-catering

The Annexe at Scarletts Cottage

Colchester, Essex

★★★★

Offering guests and families more than sufficient space to enjoy their stay.

Self-catering

Little Long Cabin

Saffron Walden, Essex

Awaiting assessment

Self-catering

Piglet Cottage

Saffron Walden, Essex

Awaiting assessment

Self-catering

Sleepy Hollow Cabin

Saffron Walden, Essex

Awaiting assessment

Self-catering

Wiggles Cottage

Saffron Walden, Essex

Awaiting assessment

Things to do

Mountfitchet Castle Experience

Stansted, Essex

Holiday park

Waldegraves Holiday Park

Mersea Island, Essex

★★★★★

Something for everyone at friendly park on beautiful Mersea Island.

Hotel

Holiday Inn Southend

Southend-On-Sea, Essex

★★★★

Plane spotting made easy from the 5th floor restaurant.

Hotel

Marygreen Manor Hotel

Brentwood, Essex

★★★★

A friendly team offer warm service throughout the stay.

Self-catering

Stable Cottage

Little Henham, Essex

★★★

Converted cottage on a working farm

Things to do

Hadleigh Castle

Hadleigh, Essex

Things to do

Prior's Hall Barn

Widdington, Essex

Restaurant

Park Brasserie

Colchester, Essex

Modern cooking in a grand setting.

Hotel

Wivenhoe House Hotel

Colchester, Essex

★★★★

Grade II-listed hotel closely involved in hotel management education.

Caravan & camping

Fen Farm Caravan Site

Mersea Island, Essex

★★★★

Long-established park beside the Blackwater Estuary.

Inn

The Cricketers Arms

Saffron Walden, Essex

★★★

A proper traditional inn that overlooks the village green.

Restaurant

The Cricketers Arms

Saffron Walden, Essex

The classic village green pub with a fine dining menu.

Holiday park

Mersea Island Holiday Park

Mersea Island, Essex

★★★★

Family-friendly park with plenty to do on the Essex coast.

Things to do

Southend Museum and Planetarium

Southend-On-Sea, Essex

Things to do

Hill Hall

Epping, Essex

Visitor attraction

Adventure Island

Southend, Essex

Quality Assessed

One of Southend-on-Sea’s most family-friendly attractions.

Hostel

Harlow International Hostel and Tearoom

Harlow, Essex

★★★

Private and dorm rooms

Things to do

Southend's Pier Museum

Southend-On-Sea, Essex

Visitor attraction

Sea Life Adventure

Southend, Essex

Quality Assessed

Explore a world under the sea, right on Southend’s Esplanade

Visitor attraction

Beth Chatto Gardens

Colchester, Essex

Quality Assessed

Five different garden styles, all of which are a delight.

Food outlet

Camelia Hotel and Restaurant

Southend, Essex

Enjoyable food with sea views

Hotel

Camelia Hotel and Restaurant

Southend, Essex

★★★

Family-run seafront hotel ideal for a family holiday

Holiday park

Orchards Holiday Village

St Osyth, Essex

★★★★

Essex coast location with popular leisure and entertainment facilities.

Hotel

Roslin Beach Hotel

Southend, Essex

★★★★

Smart accommodation and dining terrace overlooking the sea.

Food outlet

Roslin Beach Hotel

Thorpe Bay, Essex

Good food with an excellent view across the water.

Restaurant

The Roslin Beach Hotel

Southend-On-Sea, Essex

Well-conceived dishes in a buzzy seaside setting.

Restaurant

Sushi and Salad

Saffron Walden, Essex

Contemporary Japanese food in the heart of Essex.

Visitor attraction

Saffron Walden Museum

Saffron Walden, Essex

Quality Assessed

Self-catering

The Granary

Hundon, Essex

★★★★

A peaceful countryside location stunning views and beautifully maintained grounds.

Self-catering

Drake Cottage

Saffron Walden, Essex

★★★★

Plenty of original features all adding to the ambience and character of the property.

Inn

The Cricketers

Clavering, Essex

★★★★

Warm welcome amid Essex countryside at tastefully updated 16th-century inn.

Things to do

Audley End House & Gardens

Audley End, Essex

Visitor attraction

Audley End Enchanted Railway

Saffron Walden, Essex

Quality Assessed

Enjoy a day of steam, nature, magic and teddy-bear spotting

Hotel

milsoms

Dedham, Essex

★★★★

Smart hotel with a good degree of comfort and attention to detail.

Restaurant

milsoms

Dedham, Essex

Striking decor and comforting food is a great Essex combo.

Hotel

Talbooth House & Spa

Dedham, Essex

★★★★

A warm welcome awaits at this Victorian country house.

Spa

Talbooth House & Spa

Dedham, Essex

Tranquil treatments overlooking ‘Constable Country’.

Restaurant

Talbooth Restaurant

Dedham, Essex

Very well maintained and presented.

Visitor attraction

Redwings Horse Sanctuary – Ada Cole

Harlow, Essex

Quality Assessed

Spend some time in the company of rescued horses, ponies and donkeys

Inn

The Crown Inn

Saffron Walden, Essex

★★★

Comfortable rooms in attractive and characterful 17th-century coaching inn.

Public house

The Sun Inn

Dedham, Essex

A centuries-old inn with Mediterranean-influenced cuisine

Restaurant

The Sun Inn

Dedham, Essex

Italian influences in a comfortable village inn.

Inn

The Sun Inn

Dedham, Essex

★★★★★

Old and new combine effortlessly in charming village inn

Things to do

Dedham Art and Craft Centre

Dedham, Essex

Self-catering

The Hayloft

Colchester, Essex

★★★★

An impressive barn conversion that suits couples, groups of friends, or families with children.

Public house

The Crown House

Great Chesterford, Essex

Elegant manor hotel with peaceful gardens

Inn

The Crown House

Great Chesterford, Essex

★★★★

Georgian coaching inn retaining much original character.

Things to do

Mistley Towers

Mistley, Essex

Holiday park

Homestead Lake Park

Weeley, Essex

★★★★

A popular choice for fishing holidays

Visitor attraction

Epping Forest District Museum

Waltham Abbey, Essex

Quality Assessed

Local museum that deals with the area’s rich historical heritage

Things to do

See London By Night

Purfleet, Essex

Things to do

Waltham Abbey Gatehouse, Bridge & Entrance to Cloisters

Waltham Abbey, Essex

Things to do

Tilbury Fort

Tilbury, Essex

Visitor attraction

RSPB Rainham Marshes Nature Reserve

Purfleet, Essex

Quality Assessed

Guest accommodation

The Chudleigh

Clacton-On-Sea, Essex

★★★★

Genuine hosts greet guests with a wealth of experience.

Caravan & camping

Lee Valley Campsite, Sewardstone

Chigwell, Essex

★★★★

Get back to nature on pleasant woodland site in Chingford.

Self-catering

Holland Beach Bungalow

Clacton-On-Sea, Essex

★★★★★

A delightful home-from-home, just a short walk from the beach.

Hotel

Lifehouse Spa and Hotel

Clacton-On-Sea, Essex

★★★★

Smart modern property in a picturesque Essex village.

Spa

Lifehouse Spa and Hotel

Clacton-On-Sea, Essex

A relaxing adults-only retreat offering a range of luxury treatments.

Restaurant

The Restaurant at Lifehouse Spa

Clacton-On-Sea, Essex

Stylish hotel dining with great views.

Things to do

RSPB Stour Estuary

Ramsey, Essex

Bed & breakfast

Seaview B+B

Harwich, Essex

★★★★

Friendly B&B by the sea, convenient for the town centre and ferry port.

Things to do

Harwich Redoubt Fort

Harwich, Essex

Hotel

The Pier at Harwich

Harwich, Essex

★★★★

Cosy and contemporary rooms on the quay.

Restaurant

The Pier at Harwich

Harwich, Essex

Harbour fresh seafood and wonderful estuary views.

ESSEX