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Essex has been maligned for years. Some of the county is within the urban sprawl of London, and there’s a solid ratio of places you can get a spray tan, but the majority of the county is green, pleasant and rolling, dotted with charming, medieval villages and much adored by Constable, known for painting English idylls. Our collection of the 5 most romantic hotels in Essex are a mixed bag of restaurants-with-rooms, beautiful old inns in Constable country and countryside escapes in the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Best Special Occasion Hotels in Essex
- The Sun Inn, in Constable’s home town of Dedham, right across from the church he painted, is a charming, 15th century built coaching inn with just seven rooms. Some of the rooms have four poster beds, some views of the church, all of them are light and airy and have all the mod. cons.. There’s a very nice restaurant and they’ll do you a picnic if you fancy it.
- The Mistley Thorn in Mistley - which is right on the Stour Estuary - is a restaurant with seven simple rooms. The views and the food are highly recommended, but the price makes it easy to justify, with rooms starting from around £90 a night.
For a romantic coastal break
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- The Pier at Harwich is a charming small hotel and restaurant situated right in Old Harwich's harbour. Its fourteen rooms are done in contemporary style, but for something really special book the Mayflower Suite with its sweeping views over the estuary and telescope too! The restaurant is excellent and the Navyard serves continental snacks and a wide range of drinks.
If you like the sound of this property, have a look at all of our Guru's recommendations for hotels with hot tubs in Essex.
Still not sure which to book?