Essex Family Friendly Hotel Alternatives

Kooky Cabin

• 2 guests

• 1 bedrooms

Layer de la Haye, Colchester

Hidden away next to ancient woodland in rural Essex, this cabin is a British getaway that overflows with quirk and charm. Inside, classically styled furnishings, such as the tufted Chesterfield, oak dining table and the four-poster bed that's come straight out of a fairytale, rub shoulders with the eclectic animal portraits that dot the wall, the antler chandelier and antique-style gramophone — which actually works in case you're in the mood for a boogie.

Butterfly Barn

• 10 guests

• 4 bedrooms

Dunmow, Essex

This rustic barn conversion is a delightful place to stay in the Essex countryside. It has been lovingly restored, and retains its original wooden beams, which give the home a traditional, cottage-like feel.

Gooseberry Fool

• 4 guests

• 2 bedrooms

Little Bentley, Colchester

Just outside the village of Little Bentley, a five-minute walk from the local pub and a ten-minute drive from Colchester, this rustic barn is nestled on a working farm. Previously a popular children's café with fun play areas both indoors and out, it's an ancient barn that retains a great deal of rustic charm.