Hotel Review: Wivenhoe House, Essex

The hotel is in a large and historic park on the outskirts of Colchester, and part of the University of Essex. Surrounded by well-tended gardens, it's a peaceful place to stay and easily reached from London and parts of East Anglia. The surrounding park provides lots of nice spots for a stroll, stretching out towards the university campus and two nearby lakes.

By car: Wivenhoe House is just under 2 hours from London, 1 hour 30 mins from Cambridge and just under 3 hours from Birmingham. There is free parking at the hotel.

By train: London Liverpool Street to Colchester takes around 1 hour, after which a taxi takes 10 minutes. Book trains to Colchester.

The hotel is split between a traditional country house with more traditional accommodation and a slick modern wing with super-contemporary rooms and suites. Despite being a hotel school, it is marketed like any other hotel, but is in part staffed by students who study everything from housekeeping to kitchen service.

Wivenhoe House has the feel of a full-service hotel, with 24-hour room service, a comfy lounge, a small bar and restaurant and several function rooms, some of which host regular weddings. Guests also get to use the university's excellent sports and leisure facilities, which include a gym, squash and tennis courts.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Lounge
• Family-friendly
• Outdoor dining
• Gardens
• Free Parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Some of the rooms are sponsored by well-known chains the hotel school works with, so you can stay in a top-end 'Hilton' or 'Exclusive' suite at a moderate overnight rate. All are good sizes, with big bathrooms and White Company toiletries, tea and coffee-making facilities, robes and slippers.

Room types: Classic Room, Superior Room, Deluxe Room, Luxury Room

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with White Company toiletries, bathrobes, hairdryer, digital TV/radio, writing desk, tea and coffee facilities, free Wi-Fi

The restaurant boasts an outside terrace, serving undemanding three-course brasserie-style menus at fixed prices, plus a bar menu (burgers, fish and chips) and stonebaked pizzas.

Brasserie Bar & Restaurant: modern European cuisine, stonebaked pizzas, classic British bar menu, Sunday roasts. Open daily. Three courses £25.

The Lounge: luxury afternoon teas, sandwiches, scones and cakes. Saturday and Sunday, 12-4pm. From £24.95 per person.