Essex is now firmly on the UK staycation map. Only 30–90 minutes from central London or Stansted Airport, the county offers everything from grand country-house hotels with Michelin-level kitchens to adults-only spa retreats, 500-year-old coaching inns with serious food credentials, and stylish seafront boutiques that regularly scoop national awards.
The choice is genuinely impressive: proper 5-star estates with huge grounds, dog-friendly designer rooms, restaurants that hold AA rosettes and Michelin Bib Gourmands, and some of the best-value luxury in the south-east.
Here are the 15 best hotels in Essex right now. Click any name for the full individual page with room photos, current pricing, honest pros & cons, parking info, dog policies and direct booking links.
Wivenhoe House Hotel – Colchester
Colchester · ★★★★ 4.6 (1,166 reviews) 40 rooms · Brasserie restaurant · 300-acre parkland · Historic mansion · From £130 B&B Read more reviews &…
Maison Talbooth – Dedham
Dedham, Constable Country · ★★★★★ 4.9 (177 reviews) 12 suites · Pool house · River Stour views · Luxury boutique · From £250 B&B\ Read…
Channels Hotel – Little Waltham
Little Waltham, near Chelmsford · ★★★★ 4.5 18-hole golf · Wedding venue · Modern resort · Business-friendly · From £115 B&B Read more reviews &…
The White Hart Inn – Great Yeldham
Great Yeldham · ★★★★ 4.8 (261 reviews) 8 rooms · Gastropub dining · Village inn · Rural escape · From £130 B&B Read more reviews…
Milsoms – Dedham
Dedham, Constable Country · ★★★★ 4.7 (333 reviews) 9 rooms · Brasserie dining · Dog-friendly · Contemporary country · From £140 B&B Read more reviews…
Prested Hall – Feering
Feering, near Kelvedon · ★★★★ 4.8 (937 reviews) 20 rooms · Real tennis courts · Health club · Country house · From £160 B&B Read…
The Kings Head – Chigwell
Chigwell, near Epping · ★★★★ 4.5 Tudor inn · Original features · Near London · Character stay · From £120 B&B Read more reviews &…
Roslin Beach Hotel – Thorpe Bay
Thorpe Bay, Southend-on-Sea · ★★★★ 4.7 (3,534 reviews) 62 rooms · Beachfront · Sea-view restaurant · Boutique coastal · From £150 B&B Read more reviews…
Lifehouse Spa & Hotel – Thorpe-le-Soken
Thorpe-le-Soken, near Clacton · ★★★★ 4.8 (2,706 reviews) 89 rooms · 40+ treatments · 130-acre grounds · Adults-only · From £220 DBB Read more reviews…
Five Lakes Resort – Tolleshunt Knights
Tolleshunt Knights, near Colchester · ★★★★ 4.4 (2,409 reviews) 194 rooms · 2 golf courses · Spa & leisure · Resort-style · From £120 B&B…
Greenwoods Hotel & Spa – Stock
Stock, near Ingatestone · ★★★★ 4.5 (1,529 reviews) 39 rooms · 20m indoor pool · Victorian mansion · Full spa · From £140 B&B Read…
Haywards at The George – Saffron Walden
Haywards at The George Saffron Walden · ★★★★★ 4.9 6 rooms · Michelin Bib Gourmand · Historic inn · Food-focused · From £160 B&B Read…
Down Hall Hotel & Spa – Hatfield Heath
Hatfield Heath, near Bishop’s Stortford · ★★★★★ 4.7 (2,200+ reviews) 154 rooms · Eden Spa · 110-acre estate · 2 AA Rosette dining · From…
The Rose & Crown – Colchester
Colchester town centre · ★★★★ 4.5 (261 reviews) 9 rooms · Historic inn (1465) · Beamed character · Central location · From £110 B&B Read…
The Pier at Harwich – Harwich
Harwich · ★★★★ 4.7 (826 reviews) 14 rooms · 2 AA Rosette restaurants · Harbour views · Boutique quayside · From £150 B&B Read more…