The Hotel

A waterside hotel on the outskirts of Colchester, Dragonfly Hotel Colchester sits about a 15-minute drive from the zoo and a 5-minute drive from the Dedham Vale, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The hotel boasts 50 well-appointed and spacious bedrooms rooms with flat-screen TVs and hot drink-making facilities. Families can be catered for by utilising rooms with interconnecting doors.

Guest can dine at The Barley + Graze restaurant which offers rustic lake views and a range of traditional and internationally inspired dishes served daily.

Groupon's Guide To Essex

A host of Grade I- and II-listed buildings offer the base for heritage tourism in Essex, including landmarks like the 7th century Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall in Bradwell-on-Sea, the Hedingham Castle in Braintree District and the Norman style Colchester Castle. On top of the approximately 1400 landmarks of historic interest, Essex also boasts a number of unique highlights.

The county is thus home to Finchingfield, the quintessential British village, deemed one of the most beautiful rural hubs of England, and to Great Bentley in the Tendring district, boasting the second largest village green nationwide. Countryside sceneries are complemented by coastal expanses and seascapes, with destinations such as Frinton-on-Sea, Clacton-on-Sea and Mersea Island catering for visitors interested in beach tourism and water sports.

Nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts can head for the wetlands of Abberton Reservoir or for the ancient woodland of Epping Forest. Further pursuits are occasioned by Saffron Walden, a one-of-a-kind blend of rural charm and medieval features, and by the modern-day Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, a gargantuan 2600000 square feet shopping centre and one of the largest in Europe.