Features

On the Map: Unusual Escapes in Essex

12 May 2019

We’ll admit to having a soft spot for Essex. For starters, we’re based in Leigh-on-Sea, which was crowned the UK’s Happiest Place to Live in 2018.

But it’s not just happiness you’ll find in Essex. This is an extremely diverse county that’s home to windswept coastal havens, soothing rural retreats, and adventurous escapes filled with fun!
 
(The Clockwork Hotel includes a thrilling escape game as part of your stay, while on the private and unique Osea Island you can revel in unsurpassed nature…whilst taking advantage of the onsite recording studios that have hosted celebrities from Jessie J to Tinie Tempah).

Convenience rates high on the list, too. Being so close to London, Essex is an easily-accessible antidote to the standard city bustle, yet you’ll feel as though you’ve been spirited to another world.

So if you’re ready to have your expectations good and challenged, simply head for Essex and enjoy a truly unforgettable break.

Main image: Lushna Suites at Lee Wick Farm, St Osyth

Osea Island

UK / Blackwater Estuary, Essex, England
A blissfully exclusive private island retreat in the Blackwater Estuary in Essex with a range of onsite amenities.  
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: Varies
From
£250 / night (Puffin Burrow)

Lee Wick Farm Cottages and Glamping

St Osyth, Essex, England
A petite and pretty glamping site featuring Megapods, a CargoPod, Armadillas and two farm cottages with glorious countryside and estuary views.
Bedrooms: varies
Sleeps: varies
From
£80 / night

Browning Bros Teybrook Orchard

Great Tey, Colchester, Essex, England
Take your pick of unforgettable group glamping in the heavenly Teybrook Orchard, tucked away in rural North Essex.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2-4 per unit
From
£60 / night (midweek)

Water Lily Lodge

Great Tey, Colchester, Essex, England
Hidden away in Colne Valley, at the end of a country track, is the Log Cabin - a wonderful hot tub lakeside holiday retreat oozing style, class and total luxury.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 6
From
£220 / night

Lushna Suites at Lee Wick Farm

St Osyth, Essex, England
Eco-friendly glamping on a working potato farm... complete with spectacular sea views.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2 or 2(+2) per Suite
From
£80 / night

Creeksea Place Barns

Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, England
Six luxurious barns, peacefully set on a scenic, family-friendly Essex farm complete with gym, spa, café and adventure.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: Varies (2-8 per Barn)
From
Varies

The Clockwork Hotel

Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, England
An enchanting group experience that combines puzzle-solving adventure with an exclusive boutique hotel stay in Essex.
Bedrooms: 11
Sleeps: Up to 22
From
£160 / /son (midweek)

Eaton House Studio

Tiptree, Essex, England
An outrageously creative, completely unique ‘pink paradise' to live out those fairytale dreams, for quirky large group stays in Essex.
Bedrooms: 7
Sleeps: Up to 20
From
£2,400 / night

Kingfisher's Nest

Great Tay, Colchester, Essex, England
A hand-crafted hot tub retreat for two, secluded along a country track on the edge of a shimmering lake in the heart of Essex countryside.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2 (+2)
From
£220 / night

Koya Unplugged Cabin

Nr Audley End, Essex, England
Lock your phone away and escape to the country, on a three-day digital detox that's carefully curated for you to rediscover the natural joys of life.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£390 (3 nights)

Piglets Boutique B&B

Saffron Walden, Essex, England
A welcoming and award-winning sanctuary in the heart of Essex countryside, complete with home-cooked meals, sun-drenched patios, and an eco-swimming pond.
Bedrooms: 5 guest rooms
Sleeps: 2 per room
From
£170 / night

LandyCampers

Broxted, Essex, England
Indulge your wanderlust with an off-grid, self-drive adventure aboard your very own Land Rover Defender, complete with rooftop tent set-up, a cosy lounge, and all the equipment you could want!
Bedrooms: 1 or 2 roof tents
Sleeps: 2-7 guests
From
£165 / night

Malting Farm

Little Bentley, Essex, England
A small and idyllic escape, secluded on a 300-acre family-run farm in North Essex, you will find three oak-framed cabin retreats with private hot tubs, that offer a little something for everyone.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps:
From
£70 / nt

Mill Lodge Retreat

Ingatestone, Essex, England
An enchanting treehouse and a selection of luxurious glamping pods with hot tubs and creature comforts, perfectly positioned by a shimmering lake in the heart of rural Essex.
Bedrooms: 1 or 2 per unit
Sleeps: 4 per unit
From
£150 / night (treehouse)

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