With its woodland theme and overtones of Scottish baronial living, The Heartwood delivers the wow factor in bucketloads. With tasteful tartans, and a large bath in the main bedroom.Images are representative and may not be the specific accommodation assigned on booking.
The best-known attractions within an easy drive of Mersea Island Holiday Park, with real driving times.
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A full day among elephants, giraffes, big cats and Komodo dragons on the edge of Colchester.
Colchester Zoo has been open since 1963 and is home to many rare and endangered species, including big cats, primates, birds, invertebrates and fish. The animals are arranged in themed zones, so you move from one habitat to the next as you explore.
Tip: Arrive close to opening, and book e-tickets online at least 24 hours ahead to get the cheaper rate. If you arrive after midday, visit Kingdom of the Wild and Elephant Kingdom first, as they close an hour early.
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Explore the largest Norman keep in Europe, built on the foundations of a Roman temple.
Colchester Castle is a Norman castle dating from the second half of the eleventh century. Its keep is mostly intact and is the largest of its kind anywhere in Europe. The Normans built it on the foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius, the largest Roman temple in Britain, so Roman and medieval history sit together in one building.
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England's tallest Tudor gatehouse, with gardens, a farm and a tearoom between Colchester and Maldon.
Layer Marney Tower is a Grade I listed early Tudor house in Essex, built in rich red brick with some of the finest Italianate terracotta in the country. Its gatehouse is the tallest Tudor example in Britain, and it was begun by Henry, 1st Lord Marney, who served Henry VIII as Lord Privy Seal.
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One of the best preserved Norman keeps in England, standing over gardens and parkland on the Essex-Suffolk border.
Hedingham Castle sits on a hill above the village of Castle Hedingham in Essex. Its Norman keep was built around 1140 by the de Vere family, later Earls of Oxford, and is widely described as the best preserved of its kind in England. The estate is still a family home, owned by their descendants, the Lindsays.
Tip: Check the events calendar and book tickets online in advance before you go.
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A Tudor mansion in Ipswich with period rooms and the biggest Gainsborough and Constable collection outside London.
Christchurch Mansion is a Tudor house in Christchurch Park, close to Ipswich town centre. Built on the site of a medieval priory, it has over 500 years of history. You can wander through period rooms, from the Tudor kitchen and the Georgian saloon to the Victorian wing, and imagine how owners and servants once lived.
Tip: Download the free Bloomberg Connects guide before you go, as the Mansion has no Wi-Fi, and note there is no parking at the museum.
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The Sudbury birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough, now a museum with a large collection of his paintings.
Gainsborough's House is the birthplace of the English painter Thomas Gainsborough, in the Suffolk town of Sudbury. It is now a museum and gallery in a Grade I listed building, parts of which date back to around 1500. It is described as the National Centre for Gainsborough, with a large collection of his oil paintings, works on paper and artefacts on permanent display.
Tip: Check the website's exhibitions and events pages before you go to see what is on during your visit.
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A working farm railway and museum with one of Britain's biggest public signalling collections.
Mangapps is a working railway and museum set on a farm near Burnham-on-Crouch. Trains run along a standard gauge line past restored stations and signal boxes brought in from various sites across East Anglia and beyond. The railway has 18 steam and diesel locomotives and over 80 carriages and wagons, some of considerable historic and technical interest.
Tip: It isn't open every day, so check the website for open days before you set off.
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A boat trip out to the legendary former pirate radio ship moored on the River Blackwater.
Ross Revenge is the former pirate radio ship of Radio Caroline, moored on the River Blackwater in Essex. Visitors are taken out by tender from Bradwell Marina at Bradwell-on-Sea, with a fully qualified skipper, then shown round the ship on a guided tour.
Tip: Email to check availability and book ahead, and wear sensible grippy footwear, not sandals or flip-flops.
Drive times are typical times by car with no traffic. Check opening times and book tickets on each attraction's own website before you go.
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38 reviews from guests who stayed at Mersea Island Holiday Park
Looking forward to our next visit soon!
Really enjoyed our stay, the caravan was spotlessly clean and comfy.
The place was so calming, perfect for us and our dog, with a fully enclosed garden. Lovely stay!
We had an amazing time! The caravan was gorgeous, the location perfect and the nearby eateries lovely. Very pet friendly too - well definitely return and consider buying one.
Great spot to unwind, especially as Christmas gets closer. We really enjoyed our visit!
Really enjoyed our stay, the place was lovely and were already planning to return later this year.
Lovely stay with warm hosts and the jacuzzi made our weekend really special! Definitely recommend.
We recently took a much-needed break and really enjoyed it. The place is perfect for families, couples, or even solo travellers looking to unwind. Definitely planning to return!
We stayed here for a week in July with our two little dachshunds and honestly, the place was lovely. The cottage itself is charming and having a hot tub was such a treat-especially during those scorching days when the water stayed refreshingly cool. The hosts were super friendly and welcoming, which made us feel right at home. It was also nice to see their horses being taken out daily; quite a lovely sight. Being close to Stansteds flight path was actually pretty interesting, watching the planes land. Wed definitely recommend this spot!
Really enjoyed the tranquil vibe and the Jacuzzi was a highlight! Definitely returning soon.
Great experience, would recommend it!
We had a lovely stay at this charming cottage. The owners were incredibly friendly and helpful from start to finish, which made us feel really welcome. The place itself is beautifully maintained, super cosy and spotlessly clean. The shower was powerful and the bed was really comfy - we slept like logs! Parking right next to the cottage was a real bonus and the nearby walks to Thaxted are simply stunning. Definitely recommended!
Looking forward to returning soon
We recently spent four nights at this cosy cottage and had a really good time. The owners were super friendly and helpful without being intrusive, which we appreciated. The fenced garden was perfect for our dog to roam freely and the place was fully stocked with everything we could possibly need. The hot tub was fantastic and we even enjoyed a BBQ one evening. Wed definitely come back and already recommended it to friends. Thanks for a lovely stay!
We had a fantastic stay, especially given the circumstances of COVID-19. The cleanliness was impressive and the attention to detail really made our visit special. Would definitely recommend!
We really enjoyed our stay at Goddard Mead! The cottage had everything we needed and the location was perfect for walks right outside. The owners made us feel so welcome, such lovely people!
Really enjoyed our stay, the cottage had everything needed!
The place was lovely, super clean and really comfortable. We had such a great time, hot tub was fantastic!
Honestly, we were really impressed with how spotless everything was when we arrived. The cleaning crew clearly do a fantastic job, especially considering they have to tidy up multiple caravans - theyre pretty impressive! The beds, well, theyre not quite like at home, but three of us slept like logs, which says a lot. The fourth person, being tall, found the sofa bed much more comfy. By the end of the week, we did start missing a proper sofa with better support, but thats a small gripe. The fridge was massive and totally empty when we arrived, so plenty of room for all our stuff. Pots, pans, glasses - all super clean and the glasses looked br and new. The ensuite toilet in the bedroom was a game changer and the shower was surprisingly powerful for a caravan. Overall, really comfortable and clean stay - wed definitely come back!
We loved the cottage! It was perfectly tucked away yet still close to everything we needed. The hot tub was fantastic after a day out and the underfloor heating kept us super cosy. Rob, Sharon and Bonnie made us feel right at home. Cant wait to return soon!
We had a fantastic time! The place was thoughtfully prepared and the hosts were genuinely warm and helpful. Everything about our stay felt special. Cant wait to come back! Definitely a trip to remember!
We had a lovely time here and our dog loved it too! The staff were really friendly and helpful. A bigger bar and dining area would be nice, but overall, a solid 10/10 experience. Definitely coming back!
Chilled out and lovely
Really enjoyed our day out, the scenery was stunning and the dogs loved exploring everywhere!
Really enjoyed our stay, great experience.
Overall, we had a pretty good stay. The beds were really comfy, which was a big plus and we loved the outdoor space-perfect for relaxing. The heating kept us cosy during the chilly days! A few small things, like more hooks and shelves in the shower, wouldve been handy and keeping the dining area tidy was tricky because of the carpet. Still, we enjoyed our time!
The caravan was super clean and ready before we even expected it to be. Loved it!
We had a great stay at this cosy cottage! The place is spotless and super well stocked, making it really comfortable. Loved the fact that there are so many dog-friendly walks right outside the door. The host was lovely and easy to communicate with. Meeting the farm animals and Penelope the pig was a real highlight. Well definitely return!
Honestly, were really impressed. The caravan feels so cosy and well-decorated and its super affordable too. Definitely worth every penny, no doubt about it!
Really enjoyed the stay, lovely amenities and comfy caravan too.
Lovely park with great staff. Nice to have direct access to the beach too.
Fantastic stay and back again this weekend! Great for kids dogs and adults x
Beautiful, meticulously clean caravans. Really spacious too (we had 2 x 3 bed caravans). The site is really quiet, right on the seafront, and all other caravan users were really friendly. Great seafood stall on site - delicious! Highly recommend.
We had a great holiday here, it was the perfect sized park. The facilities were easy to access and it was great to be by the beach and have access to a pool. There’s a great kids park near by. The staff were lovely and the caravan just right. Thank you so much.
Lovely holiday park, not too big. Pool and private beach access as well as play park on site. Small clubhouse and shop also, would have been nice to have a choice of takeaway available but the town is only a short drive away. Overall a nice place for a short break.
Really happy with my jubilee weekend. The caravan was lovely and clean. The area was nice but the weather wasn't great. A nice kiddie play area was available but it would have been great to have one onsite. Luckily our kids were able to swim otherwise no swimming slots available for an adult.
Overall a happy customer.
Didn't need much help as everything ran quite smoothly once we arrived. But they nicely allowed us to leave our bags in the garage until our cab came. Which was really nice of them. Would definitely come back and would definitely bring friends back with me. Thanks for a lovely break away.
Very peaceful get for dogs loved my weekend will definitely be going back
