Fall in love with Essex this Valentine’s; the county offers a wonderful mix of luxurious hotels and romantic hideaways, as well as rolling countryside and sunset seascapes. The county’s tourism organisation, Visit Essex, reveals the very best places to woo a loved one this Spring.
Dinner for two and the sky is the limit?
A romantic dinner for two is a must for all couples and Essex boasts some top-class restaurants and hotels. Relax in sumptuous glamour at Down Hall on the Essex/Hertfordshire border. Their ‘Eat, Stay, Love’ package starts from just £292 per couple, and includes dinner, an overnight stay and breakfast the following morning. If you’re feeling extravagant, wow your Valentine by whisking them to Down Hall for a three-course dinner and stay in a luxurious Master suite, plus a truly memorable private helicopter ride over London or Cambridge, from £4,999, www.visitessex.com/accommodation/down-hall-hotel-spa-estate-p1266671.
Love is in the (sea) air!
Wrap up warm and step out together along the seashore. The Roslin Beach Hotel is set beside the golden sands of Thorpe Bay, near Southend, where you can wander past the pretty beach huts and skim pebbles in the sea. The Roslin offers stunning boutique rooms overlooking the shore as well as spectacular views across the bay. Sea view rooms with breakfast start at just £70 and rise to £175 for a luxury sea view room, www.visitessex.com/accommodation/roslin-beach-hotel-p1266401.
Romantic Hideaways
What could be more romantic than being snuggled-up with a loved-one in the beautiful 300-year-old Georgian hotel, Le Bouchon, in Heybridge close to the historic town of Maldon. The location is ideal to discover the ancient port town of Maldon, perfect pubs, and the network of canals in the area. It’s also a wonderful base to head out for romantic walks along Maldon Promenade and date like Daphne Bridgerton and the Duke of Hastings! Double rooms at Le Bouchon start from £95, www.visitessex.com/accommodation/le-bouchon-hotel-p1266271.
The food of love
Travel to Essex’s northern most shore to fall under the spell of The Thorn and The Mistley Kitchen cookery school. Enjoy a romantic break at The Thorn, an award-winning restaurant with rooms located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Foodies can literally take the short stroll to their well-known cookery school to perfect their culinary skills and create a perfect romantic meal. Rooms with breakfast, start at £135; whereas lessons at the cookery school are priced from £135 per person, www.visitessex.com/accommodation/the-mistley-thorn-p1266661.
Love culture?
Essex is also home to the oldest recorded town in Britain, Colchester. The town is famed for its oyster feasts, culture and rich history. The town is a lovely place to explore, shop and dine, with many London style bars providing a fresh vibe. Greyfriars Hotel is set in the cultural quarter and is a classic, yet contemporary Michelin 4* luxury hotel located close to Colchester Castle. The hotel has 26 luxuriously appointed rooms, an afternoon tea lounge and a stylish restaurant, as well as bar, terrace and lounges. The hotel offers special ‘Romance’ packages starting from £215 per room, www.visitessex.com/accommodation/greyfriars-hotel-p1266291.
Championing Essex as a county of love is Councillor Mark Durham, Vice Chairman, Visit Essex, who says: “With beautiful towns, stunning scenery and a real diversity of landscapes, there is so much in Essex to fall in love with. Essex also makes the perfect destination for short breaks and long weekends whatever the occasion!”
To discover more about places to go in Essex this Valentine’s, visit https://www.visitessex.com.
