Gourmet Garden Trail through Essex -

Weekend Staycation Guide

Who misses spontaneously jetting off to Europe for a weekend break? I certainly do and although those days of careless travels through the continent may be gone for now, this is the perfect opportunity to explore closer to home.

I found myself with a free weekend and the urge to escape the everyday. So I looked up the wonderful Gourmet Garden Trails showcasing the breathtaking gardens and superb local produce around the UK. As I only had a few days, I decided to explore the food and gardens of Essex for the weekend, as it’s the perfect distance from London for a weekend getaway. It also gave me the opportunity to support some local businesses, particularly in hospitality as they recover from a tough period. In addition I felt more prepared for a trip in the UK, as I am more aware of the guidelines and restrictions here compared to abroad.

Essex Staycation Itinerary:

Rural, rustic and offering some of the finest food and drink in the UK, Essex has the perfect combination of rugged coastlines, manicured gardens, and historic houses. As well as the sites, Essex also boasts an array of chic restaurants, quirky cafes and local vineyards. I had heard of the rich local produce that is grown in Essex and I couldn’t wait to see for myself.

Here’s my itinerary for a weekend Gourmet Garden Trail through beautiful Essex:

Day 1:

Admire a Local Vineyard with a Tour and Wine Tasting at Bardfield Vineyard

This beautiful boutique vineyard is bursting with history and gorgeous green spaces. It houses a sixteenth century Grade I listed Anne of Cleves Barn, as well as charming walled gardens, a white flower garden, kitchen garden, and of course the vineyard.

We enjoyed a tour through the grounds, which included feeding the friendly and adorable alpacas. We then settled into a wine tasting where we sampled the four wines produced by the Bardfield Vineyard. I loved the Sparkling Brut in particular as it is perfect for light Summer sipping.

Book a wine tasting and tour at Bardfield Vineyard

Check-in to a Luxury Country House Hotel at Wivenhoe House Hotel

Based on the Suffolk and Essex borders, the Wivenhoe House Hotel is a beautiful 18th Century four-star hotel located in a beautiful historic building. It boasts a fantastic location, as Wivenhoe is Britain's oldest recorded town, and there is plenty to see and do in the local area.

We checked into our spacious room located in the old building, which had plenty of space to move around as well as great views of the grounds. We were even surprised with a bottle of prosecco and fresh strawberries when we checked-in as part of our staycation package.

After enjoying a lovely Cream Tea on the outdoor terrace, we headed out on a walk of the lush and expansive grounds, which took us through the Essex University Campus too. It was refreshing to see so much greenery and open space, and to enjoy the vast grounds around the hotel.

Enjoy a set menu for dinner at Wivenhoe House Hotel

Dinner at Wivenhoe House hotel takes place in the stylish brasserie restaurant. There is an alfresco terrace to dine on warmer Summer evenings, but we decided to dine in a comfy booth inside.

The brasserie offers a combination of classic dishes and modern cuisine. We tried the three course set menu, which included a variety of dishes such as pork belly, steamed cod, fish and chips, and delicious desserts too. All the dishes were presented very well, and there was a nice atmosphere in the restaurant too. Although it was busy, it was nice to see people out enjoying themselves, all whilst adhering to social distances and respecting the hotel’s Covid safety policy.

Dining at the hotel meant we could have more of a relaxing evening, however there are plenty of restaurants in the vicinity which are located a short drive away.

Discover Wivenhoe House Hotel in Essex

Day 2

Savour some coffee, cake and sea views at Tiptree Tea Room

Did you know world-renowned jam producers Tiptree have Tea Rooms around the country? I was super excited to learn this and couldn’t wait to visit one!

The Tiptree Tea Room in Essex is located right by the waterfront at Heybridge Basin. They have both indoor and outdoor tables, which offer beautiful views of the Blackwater estuary. This former ship’s chandlers and café serves traditional breakfasts, home-made lunches, and ‘Tiptree’ cream teas which all make use of the fresh local produce.

We enjoyed some coffees and delicious home-made cake with some extraordinary views of neighbouring small islands. The staff and service was friendly and welcoming and really set us up for our day.

We then took a walk around this Essex riverside village, which has retained the character of a bygone age and is a wonderful place to unwind and enjoy the stunning views. We certainly could have walked the trails for hours, but had to get back to the car for our next destination!

Discover Tiptree’s Tea Rooms around the UK

Wander through Immaculate Gardens at RHS Hyde Hall & Flower show

I love taking a leisurely stroll through gardens and visiting RHS Hyde Hall was perfect for us, as we managed to coincide our visit with their Flower Show!

The RHS Hyde Hall has a fantastic mix of horticultural styles which I really enjoyed wandering through. They boast a beautiful Rose Garden, Dry Garden which is never watered, traditional cottage garden, ponds and lush green lawns, to mention a few! There are also unmissable views of the Essex countryside and landscape from the restaurant which are a must see.

My favourite has to be the Global Growth Vegetable Garden, as this has an array of fruit and vegetable plants from around the world. I was really impressed with the sheer variety here, which included everything from immensely sweet stevia plants, citrus plants galore, rows of onions, tomatoes and beans and even the unusual including avocado, quinoa and kumquat. We had a fantastic tour around the Vegetable Garden and Green House with the extremely passionate and knowledgable Head Gardener and it was great to see that most of the food grown here is used in the on-site restaurant and cafe.

As well as the Flower Show, RHS Hyde Hall organises a range of events, including craft fairs, sculpture trails and food festivals too. I relished the opportunity to explore RHS Hyde Hall and the grounds and would highly recommend it for a fantastic day out.

Explore RHS Hyde Hall

We then headed back into London which was about an hour and a half drive and arrived just in time to enjoy a relaxing late Sunday evening at home.

Overall?

I loved exploring Essex and discovering the range of local produce it has to offer - from Tiptree Jam to boutique wine. It was wonderful to get the chance to experience the outstanding gardens and beautiful manor houses and hotels, and we were lucky enough to stay in one too.

My weekend staycation in Essex took me from the coastline to hilltops with panoramic views, all coupled with delicious food and drink. Not only was it easy to plan and navigate, but it felt safe and accessible too, in a way which travelling further afield wouldn’t at the moment. The ease and the spontaneity of UK breaks is definitely a winner for me, and I’ll be booking in a few more to escape the everyday.