Short Summary
Victorian cottage with fireplace, private garden, free parking. 3 min to riverside pubs.
Summary
Welcome to Secret Cottage, a Victorian hideaway in Wivenhoe’s historic fishing village.
SLEEPS 4: Two double bedrooms upstairs, one bathroom.
PEACEFUL BUT CONVENIENT: Tucked away from roads, yet 3 minutes’ walk to pubs, restaurants, and the riverside quay.
PRACTICAL: Open fireplace, fully equipped kitchen, Smart TV (Netflix/Prime/Disney+), unlimited WiFi, washing machine. Private fenced garden – rare for village centre.
Free on-street parking directly outside.
Notes
Welcome Drink
A chilled bottle will be waiting for you when you arrive. We think the small touches matter.
Pets
Your dogs are genuinely welcome here. The fully fenced garden means they can explore safely, and we provide bowls and a few treats.
Families
We have a travel cot/pack ‘n play and children’s books and toys available on request.
Important — Please Read Before Booking
The cottage is a period property over two levels with characterful quirks:
The original Victorian staircase is steep and has painted treads
No stair gates are provided
The cottages’ original period back door can be a bit ‘sticky’ at certain times of the year
We don’t recommend the cottage for guests with mobility concerns, those unsteady on their feet, or families with young children requiring supervision near stairs.
Please message us if you have any questions about accessibility.
Access
Guests will have private and exclusive access to the entire cottage and its amenities. This includes the living room, kitchen, both bedrooms, the bathroom, and the private garden with its sun-trap terrace. Enjoy the entire space to yourselves for a comfortable and private stay.
Self check-in via secure lockbox. We’ll send you the code and detailed arrival instructions before your stay. Come and go as you please.
Free on-street parking directly outside the cottage.
Transit
WELL CONNECTED
Wivenhoe has its own railway station (65 min to London Liverpool Street), frequent buses to Colchester (10 min) and other Essex coastal resorts, plus a summer river ferry to Rowhedge.
RAIL
Wivenhoe Station – 5-7 min walk
– London Liverpool St: 65 min
– Colchester Town: 8 min
– Harwich Ferry: 59 min
– Clacton-on-Sea: 21 min
– Frinton/Walton: 30-33 min
BUS
High Street stop – 2 min walk
– Colchester: 30 min (every 12 min)
– Brightlingsea: 23 min (every 15 min)
DRIVING
A12/A120 accessible in 10 min. Free parking at King George V Playing Field if street parking unavailable.
Interaction
I take great pride in creating a welcoming and comfortable space for all my guests.
While I respect your privacy and will not be present during your stay, I am available should you need anything and am committed to making your stay unforgettable!
I look forward to welcoming you.
Neighbourhood
Wivenhoe is not only situated in an area of natural beauty but is also a cosmopolitan village influenced by its proximity to Essex University and is home to scholars, artists, poets and musicians, all of whom very much add social colour to this pretty little village.
There are many interesting pubs here; ‘The Greyhound’, which offers an open fire-place, a spacious garden bar with raised terraces, covered pergolas and a range of delicious meals all topped off with courteous & friendly service; ‘The Black Buoy’, a community-run pub, with a varied and interesting menu and very welcoming hospitality; ‘The Rose & Crown’, right on the river-front with outdoor seating from which to sit & enjoy the Colne drift by; ‘The Railway’, which hosts travelers looking for a quick drink or bite to eat between trains!
If pubs aren’t your thing we also have a plethora of restaurants and cafes; Indian, Italian, Spanish and Middle Eastern that can satisfy your need for either a Full English, a slice of Victoria Sponge or tasty tapas. Not forgetting of course, our two ‘chippies’ (fish-and-chip shops) serving scrumptious and traditionally cooked fresh fish. One is located not far from the river-front action and the other our award winning fish & chip takeaway, ‘Henleys of Wivenhoe’ is situated in upper Wivenhoe.
The Wivenhoe Trail is a footpath and cycle path which connects the village to the University and to Colchester. It’s mainly wooded so offers good shelter in the summer months and does open up as you get nearer to Colchester. It’s lovely walking alongside the river. There are also footpaths along the river in the opposite direction that will lead you to nearby Alresford and Brightlingsea. Dogs love the freedom of these walks.
Another idea, is to jump on a ‘foot ferry’ during the summer months, departing from the Wivenhoe jetty, to nearby Rowhedge and to Fingeringhoe just across the Colne river. Both are worth a visit but do look up the ferry timetable as it only operates during the months April thru October and trips are subject to tide fluctuations.
Mersea Island is another fantastic destination for both seaside and rural vistas. You can easily drive there in less than 30 min or catch a bus from Wivenhoe (via Colchester). However be aware of the tide times when planning your arrival and/or departure from the island as the road can be cut off for short periods by high tides.
We have a sailing club and the village hosts an annual town regatta in July. Wivenhoe has been holding this regatta since the 1800’s and people flock to the quayside to watch a variety of sailing craft, including smacks (traditional East Coast craft), gigs, canoes and kayaks ply the estuary. The hotly contested ‘raft race’ draws the biggest crowds and laughs… There are also stalls galore, selling a variety of food and artwork made by locals including jewelry and beautiful pottery. A great day out by anyone’s standards!
As you can see, Wivenhoe offers a lot!
Space
Ground Floor
Sun-drenched living room with open fireplace and Smart TV (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+).
Modern kitchen with gas hob, oven, microwave, and full-size fridge/freezer, washing m/c
First Floor
Two comfortable double bedrooms and a modern bathroom. The main bedroom catches morning light; the second is cosy and quiet.
Outside
Private, fully fenced garden with comfortable furniture — a genuine rarity for a village-centre location.
For Working Guests
Reliable unlimited WiFi. Five minutes to Wivenhoe station for London Liverpool Street connections.
