A warm welcome awaits

Nestled in the glorious Essex countryside, this Tudor manor house is exclusively yours and all just over an hour away from Central London.

Three-times winner of Wedding Ideas Magazine ‘Best Wedding Venue’, Leez Priory remains one of the most sought-after wedding venues in the country. Set in 40 acres of parkland, with a sweeping driveway, manicured lawns and lakes, Leez Priory offers a picture-perfect backdrop for a very special day.

http://www.leez-priory.co.uk/

Felsted offers boys and girls aged four to eighteen a first class all round education, based on a safe, rural 80 acre village campus in stunning North Essex, only one hour from London and Cambridge.

We welcome students from all over the world to appreciate a British boarding school education, plus offer day and contemporary boarding options for our more local families, with daily bus routes from across the region.

http://www.felsted.org

Fly in a hot air balloon for a truly unforgettable experience like no other. Enjoy breath-taking views, landmarks and the wonder of nature from a new and unique perspective as you take to the skies in one of our iconic red Virgin hot air balloons. No other experience offers this unique combination of exhilaration and serenity, as you go up, up and away to drift gently across the UK’s stunning landscapes at anything up to 5,000 feet.

https://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/location/braintree/

Maldon is an ancient town sitting where the Rivers Chelmer and Blackwater converge before continuing the journey to the sea. Once a thriving port, the surrounding water is now a haven for leisure craft while the famous Thames Barges now carry their human cargoes on pleasure trips in the Blackwater estuary.  It is most renowned for Maldon Sea Salt which is produced in the area.

Explore Essex's second largest area of common land after Epping Forest, a survivor of a lost way of life

Lose yourself in 214 acres of heath, gorse, and coppice encompassing a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), ancient woodland and military defences designed to give Napoleon a run for his money.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/danbury-commons-and-blakes-wood?PlaceMapClick=5326

RHS Garden Hyde Hall is surely one of the finest gardens in the East of England, its location among rolling hills and fantastic panoramic views can often surprise the visitor to Essex. This 145-hectare (360-acre) estate is constantly evolving, as the gardening team strive to retain the original intimacy and charm of this horticultural gem, while at the same time aiming to restore much of the estate to its former rural glory, including its historic hedgerows and woodland.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall

Andrewsfield Aviation is a flying training organisation offering all the facilities needed to pursue this most exciting of activities. We have a friendly team of staff and first rate instructors. So If you want a Private Pilots Licence (PPL) or Commercial Pilots Licence (CPL) look no further.

We also offer trial 30, 45 and 60 minutes trial lessons.

http://andrewsfield.com

http://www.fortyfivehours.co.uk/?p=2331

 The Gardens are situated in Elmstead Market, a 10 minute drive from Colchester. They were created by award winning gardener, author and lecturer Beth Chatto, who won 10 gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, in 10 consecutive years. Now, they are an inspiration to gardeners and garden lovers and we welcome visitors from all over the world. We are also a renowned nursery and stock over 2000 varieties of plants, many propagated from plants in the Gardens. When you visit, don't miss our guided garden walks, free gardening talks, acclaimed Tearoom and tempting Gift Shop. We are open every day, all year round, except for between Christmas and the New Year.

http://www.bethchatto.co.uk

Our farmer’s markets are extremely popular locally, there is always plenty to see and do. We always have lots of wonderful food stalls with the best, local producers, and it is a great chance to buy our own delcious pork, bacon, gammon and sausages straight from the farm. We also have a huge selection of craft stalls at our markets, along with refreshments.

http://www.greatgarnetts.co.uk

13th-century monastic barn.   One of Europe's oldest timber-framed buildings, it has a cathedral-like interior and is linked to a local Cistercian abbey.

Inside the barn hosts an exhibition of local woodcarving, tools and a collection of agricultural carts.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/grange-barn

Hatfield Forest is the best surviving example in Britain of an almost complete Royal Hunting Forest. It has seen many owners, from Kings to commoners. No other Forest on earth evokes the atmosphere of a medieval hunting Forest so completely.

Hatfield Forest is a managed landscape, which has been created by centuries of human intervention. The traditional woodland management techniques of coppicing, pollarding and grazing are continued today.  It is home to over 3,500 species of wildlife, some of which are rare and threatened. The ancient trees, some over 1000 years old, provide the perfect habitat for some of the Forest's rarest insects, lichens and fungi.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hatfield-forest

Stansted airport was designed by Norman Foster and is only 18 minutes by car from the Laurels.   You will be pleased to know that the Laurels is not on the flight path and so you will not be distrurdisturbed by aircraft taking off or landing.  :-)

There is also a bus number 133 to and from Stansted Airport to Felsted church.  It take less than 35 minutes and costs less that £5.  Depending on the time of day it runs every hour.   Felsted church is less than a 15 minute walk (0.5 miles) from the Laurels.

http://www.stanstedairport.com

http://www.npas.police.uk

An interesting 2 minute video overview of the service offered:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6TlIFBJcA8

Watch an interesting "Day in the Life" video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPRVJbPj_qs