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Colchester
Essex
Despite what TV magnates might have you believe, Essex is
actually rather beautiful – and no, not in that tango-orange kind
of way. Colchester Castle is fine, but we suggest making tracks for
Firstsite, a gleaming
architectural feat of a gallery with a busy schedule of art
exhibitions, film viewings and events. Head to Art Exchange in the
University of Essex for more contemporary art, to the canvas-strewn
home of Alfred Munnings for something a little more trad or
hitch a ride to the beautifully curated Beth Chatto Gardens just
out of town. For dinner, we suggest wrapping up warm and eating
outside, under the wavy canopies of Le Talbooth. It sits pretty on
the banks of the River Stour and serves up an award-winning menu of
classic ingredients whipped into bougie dishes – broad bean fricassée and
Granny Smith soufflé, anyone?
Where to stay? Kingfisher’s Nest