Hotel Review: Talbooth House & Spa, Essex

On the borders of Essex with Suffolk, halfway between Colchester and Ipswich, Talbooth House & Spa is easily accessed by road, while the National Trust site of Flatford Mill is only a 15-minute drive away. The hotel is nestled in the beautiful Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

By car: just a short drive from the A12 and around 2 hours 30 minutes from London. There is free on-site parking.

By train: trains from London Liverpool Street to Colchester take around 1 hour. The hotel is a 15-minute taxi ride from the station. Book trains to Colchester

Talbooth House & Spa feels more like a private stately home rather than a hotel. Think relaxed, country-chic interiors, combined with a fusion of elegant textures and the use of subtle, calming colours throughout.

From the moment you arrive, the friendly, helpful and well-informed staff make you feel welcome. Guests are encouraged to relax in the elegant lounge area or the spacious garden room, while a courtesy car is available for their use.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Garden
• Terrace
• Swimming pool
• Spa
• Dog-friendly
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Each of the hotel's 12 rooms has been individually styled, with all bedrooms different in style, décor and character. All rooms are named after English poets and there is a framed copy of each poet's most famous piece of work in every room.

Room types: Kipling, Betjeman, Wordsworth, Shelley, Browning, Masefield, Eliot, Newbolt, Tennyson, Brooke, Keats, Shakespeare

Key amenities: en suite bathroom and toiletries, luxury bathrobes, tea/coffee maker, magazines, Sky TV, free Wi-Fi

Jack's Bar proudly takes centre stage at Talbooth House & Spa and is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing pre-dinner drink or an after-spa cocktail. Although there is no restaurant on site, the courtesy car will take you to the nearby Milsoms or Talbooth restaurants in just a few minutes.

Milsoms: brasserie and terrace, modern British cuisine. All-day dining, open daily.

Talbooth Restaurant: 3 AA rosette restaurant, fine dining. Open daily for lunch, Mon-Sat for dinner. Lunch set menu from £35.50.