Really lovely experience from the outset. All staff very professional, helpful and polite throughout - efficient communication by email beforehand and good / friendly check-in process. Easy parking a big plus. Visited with my Mum and we loved our deluxe room in the garden block, perfect for a relaxing couple of nights, as a base for exploring the area - the room was such a welcoming base to return to. The hotel garden is lovely and ideal for enjoying an afternoon cup of tea! We also enjoyed the restaurant, delicious food at dinner and ample selection at the breakfast buffet - I also loved the variety of coffee options available to order at breakfast! For the style of hotel and what it sets out to achieve, it ticks every box! Thoroughly recommend for a change of scene and recharge - still very much appreciating it a few weeks later!

We didn’t experience any negatives to worry about!

I was offered a free upgrade to a room with a balcony, it was a lovely room, very clean, it made my stay even more enjoyable as I was unable to afford this type of room, plus it was for a special occasion. We had dinner and breakfast, the food was lovely, and presented well. Breakfast was a really nice buffet, and there was also a choice of breakfast from the kitchen which gave you lots of choice. The food was really fresh and good quality.

The bar didn't have a great selection of crisps, the ones we got weren't very nice in flavour. Also I asked for a white wine with a splash of soda, but they filled it up too much with a whole bottle of soda water and ice that didn't ask for, I couldn't taste the wine, where they had sat us down I didn't realise what they had done until they bought it over.

- Wonderful staff that are very kind and treat you like a friend - Beautiful building and interior. Really feels luxurious, as if you step into a Downtown Abbey scene. The grounds around the building are pretty as well, lovely to walk through - Breakfast was splendid, with wonderful food and kind servers - Comfy bed - Pretty view from the window and balcony

I had the unlucky situation that my shower was broken. It only gave hot water, but after a long day in the sweltering English summer sun, I was longing for a cold shower. While this issue could not be resolved, the staff was respectful and professional about it and made me feel seen and heard.

Beautiful place. Lovely welcome. Room was spacious, modern and spotless. Bathroom appeared recently updated and was excellent. Lovely little touches like a little bottle of milk in the fridge, plenty of coffee capsules for the coffee machine and a large bottle of water.

Difficult to find. Unfortunately, the signs to the hotel were not well lit - or not lit at all. Not helpful when you arrive in the dark. The room was very warm; there is a fan but this did make a funny noise when on the higher setting. Also, I did not enjoy the brasserie at all. After reading other reviews, maybe it was just a one off? The soup and the gnocchi were both quite bland. I left 3/4 of the dish. The young waitress just took it away - no question on why I left so much. I did mention it was 'just 'ok' upon paying the bill; and again, nothing was said. The service wasn't great. From the way the head waiter spoke to some of the younger staff, I am not sure if they are in training or apprentices but for me, it was not an enjoyable experience.

Very friendly staff. Hotel is located in the University of Essex campus - as the term had finished the grounds were very quiet. Beautiful spacious bedroom with great views. Excellent breakfast with heated area we could sit with our dog.

Very minor gripe- husband cut his finger on the cubicle of the shower as it had an exposed sharp edge. This was reported and promptly sorted by the hotel staff. Ate in the restaurant, had mussels which were sadly gritty, again restaurant manager swiftly sorted.

The hotel is beautiful, and feels very tranquil and calming. All the staff were friendly and helpful. The rooms were well sized and the beds very comfortable. The hotel is close to the University campus, and close to stunning grounds, perfect for a run or leisurely walk around. The onsite restaurant is very convenient as the hotel is quite a distance from town.

There was no AC and we were staying there whilst it was very hot. There is a ceiling fan and coolers for the rooms provided, the latter being quite noisy and not as effective as AC. The restaurant had a limited menu, especially vegetarian options.

I felt that our cavalier King Charles spaniel was welcome. We tried to take her down to breakfast in the morning. Initially the host told us we were not allowed to bring her in but one of the waiters (I forget his name but he was french) made an area outside for us to eat with our dog. He really contributed to our experience being 5 star, I hope he sees this review.

The host at breakfast told us we weren’t allowed to bring our dog but did not offer us any alternative option, thank god for the quick thinking French waiter who sorted us out.

The room was very comfortable and large. Bathroom was excellent, bed was huge and comfortable, large screen TV (not that I watched it!) and great tea/coffee facility. We ate dinner in the restaurant- superb selection of food and drink, which was all excellent, 4* quality.

It was, for me, a wee bit warm but then I find that in almost all hotels and it was several degrees warmer in England compared to Scotland when I visited. My host at the University, for example, said she thought it was really cold that day :-)

Great hotel, fab stay. Every single member of staff we came across acknowledged us, including the maintenance staff. This really made us feel welcome. I was walking around in my graduation robe and the staff were so lovely giving congratulations and well wishes. The staff are an amazing asset. Breakfast was lovely and they made me veggie breakfast. My husband said his meat breakfast was lovely. Very very clean and comfortable! Excellent location to see Colchester and lovely walk around Uni of Essex. We are at the restaurant and that was delicious and very filling with great service.

it was amazing!

I recently enjoyed a wonderful staycation at Wivenhoe House and were thoroughly impressed. The location was perfect - easy to find and inside the University of Essex, where I need to visit. The house itself is stunning, with a mix of traditional charm and modern touches. My room was spacious and luxurious, with a very comfortable bed and a gorgeous bathroom. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, making me feel welcome and relaxed throughout our stay. I particularly enjoyed the breakfast at the Brasserie restaurant - delicious meals with excellent service. Overall, I had a fantastic experience at Wivenhoe House and would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a relaxing and enjoyable getaway. I will definitely be back!

The bus from and to train station is not often and I am not sure about the availability at night. Probably provide a transport to and from train station?