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Hotel Stays
Solo Travellers
Special Interest
University
The University of Essex
Colchester, Essex
Whether you want to immerse yourself in Roman history, explore beautiful gardens, enjoy great shopping or just spend time in a pleasant city with a lovely atmosphere, Colchester is perfect. Set in Northeast Essex, near the Suffolk border, Colchester is ideal for exploring on foot, and on this holiday which is ideal for single travellers, couples and groups you stay at the University of Essex Colchester Campus located two miles from the city centre. Enjoy included excursions to Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens and RHS Garden Hyde Hall, plus two nights of live entertainment so you can meet fellow guests.
Facilities
Shared kitchen with tea and coffee-making facilities, microwave and fridge
Self-service student café-style restaurants
Wi-Fi
Buffalo Joe’s (open Monday to Sunday noon and 2000)
Crumbs food outlet offers cookies and coffee (open Monday to Sunday 0900 to 1500)
A small convenience shop (open Monday to Friday 0800 to 1800, and 0900 to 1700 at weekends).
Included excursions
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Beth Chatto’s Plants and Gardens (half day)
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Covering six glorious acres, the Beth Chatto Gardens were established in 1960 on an overgrown wasteland, and have become world famous for their beauty and innovation, with planting led by Beth Chatto's mantra 'The right plant for the right place'. Explore this informal garden that harmonises with the surrounding East Anglian countryside, and marvel at the world-famous drought-resistant Gravel Garden, created as an experiment in 1992 to replace sun-scorched grass with a living garden of drought-tolerant plants.
RHS Garden Hyde Hall (half day)
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Set in the heart of rural Essex, and enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, RHS Garden Hyde Hall is one of the finest gardens in the East of England. Discover a diverse mix of traditional and modern garden styles, explore the Dry Garden with its drought-resistant plants, the Hilltop Garden with colour-themed herbaceous borders, and the Global Growth Vegetable Garden showcasing edible from around the world.
Location
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The University of Essex Colchester Campus is based at Wivenhoe Park on the outskirts of Colchester in north Essex, and is set across 200 acres of attractive parkland. Much of it landscaped in the 18th century, Colchester Campus was one of the new ‘plate glass’ universities founded in the 1960s. The core academic and social hub, including eateries, is laid out as a series of interconnected concrete squares. The campus is a great base from which to explore Colchester and is a two-mile walk from the centre of town and local amenities. There is a regular bus service connecting the campus with the town centre.
Out and about
Colchester has a lot to boast about. It was Britain’s first ever capital city, it has the oldest Roman ruins in the UK, and the largest Norman keep in Europe. It is a city that will delight and surprise you with its quaint Dutch Quarter complete with timber-framed townhouses, pretty Castle Park, chic boutiques and antique shops. Colchester is ideal for exploring on foot and taking in the must-see sights.
Colchester Castle
The largest Norman Keep in Europe, Colchester Castle was constructed on the foundations of the Temple of Claudius, built when Colchester was the first Roman capital of Britain. In the Castle Museum today you can enjoy the fascinating archaeological collections of artefacts covering over 2,500 years of history, including of the most important Roman finds in Britain.
Colchester’s Roman City Walls
Walking the walls is a fun way to explore Colchester's rich history. The city's Roman Walls were constructed in the years following Boudicca's attack on Camulodunum, have stood for 2000 years and have the scars to prove it. Around two thirds of the wall is still standing making it the earliest, best preserved and longest town wall in Britain.
Firstsite art gallery
Housed in an extraordinary golden building designed by Rafael Vinoly Architects, Firstsite is a gallery showcasing a variety of work from local and internationally recognised artists. A partner of Plus Tate, an 18-strong affiliation of regional galleries, including The Baltic in Gateshead, Turner Contemporary in Margate and The Hepworth Wakefield, Firstsite brims with creativity and colour, and at its heart is a Roman mosaic permanently installed under glass panels.
Address
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ
Hotel details
Breakfast and dinner are buffet-style, self-service, with a walk of up to 600 yards from your accommodation. Breakfast is served in Buffalo Joes, an American diner-style venue, and includes a selection of hot items as well as cereals, fruit, pastries and yoghurt, plus tea and coffee. Dinner is served in the Zest Fresh café-style restaurant and includes a choice of three simple main courses including a vegetarian option with a selection of salads, starters and desserts. Wine, beer, soft drinks and bottled water can be purchased at an additional cost.
Breakfast is available between 0730-1100
Dinner is available between 1800-2000
Timings are subject to change.
There are 250 student-style basic rooms in South Courts, which are a series of small accommodation blocks in one location. Saga guests will stay in the same block. Rooms include single beds, bedding and towels, and en-suite bathroom with toilet, walk-in shower and sink. Accommodation is over three floors. There is no lift, however ground floors rooms are available. Please note: porterage is not offered on university stays. The distance between reception and your accommodation maybe up to 100 yards.
Important information
§Travel insurance is underwritten by Astrenska Insurance Limited, subject to medical screening. A price reduction will be applied if the included travel insurance is not required. Pre-departure cancellation cover (cancellation rights) is provided by Saga and is only available when taking out the included insurance. Read more