Top 10% of guest reviews in this areaTop 10% of guest reviews in this area
2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 4
Popular amenities
Onsite parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Deck or patio
Free Wi-Fi
Balcony or patio
Explore the area
Mersea island, ENG
Mersea Island Museum
Place, Mersea Island Museum
4 min walk
Colchester Zoo
Place, Colchester Zoo
16 min drive
Ipswich Waterfront
Place, Ipswich Waterfront
48 min drive
London (STN-Stansted)
Airport, London (STN-Stansted)
54 min drive
Rooms & beds
2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)
Bedroom 1
1 Double Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
1 bathroom
Bathroom 1
Bathtub or shower · Toilet
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area
About this property
West Mersea Cottage, Beach/seaside area. Take the train. April/May dates
Island Cottage is a traditional old cottage with wifi and parking, sleeping 4 people in 2 bedrooms. It is just moments from Mersea Island swimming and beach as can be seen in the pictures. This cottage dates back to 1700s with the inherent charm and characteristics of an old cottage. It has a delightful, sunny, beach-house feel, a comfortable sitting room, dining area, well -equipped kitchen (washing machine, hob/cooker, microwave) and bathroom, all downstairs. Upstairs there are two bedrooms - a good sized double and a twin (2' 6' beds) with a 10 step staircase to the upstairs, see pics. It is in a perfect location with a path to the water and beach just yards away, 3 minutes from the village shops and a short stroll along the coast to the waterside restaurants e.g. The Company Shed (renowned as one of the best fresh fish/shellfish places in the UK), the Coast Inn and the Dukes waterside eating.
Bookings start any date in week and we can be flexible just send a message. Short 2 night bookings possible just ask or 28 night long bookings occasionally possible.
There is a large garden with sunny sitting out area back and front and garden furniture also Smart TV with Netflix, iPlayer and digital channels. Elizabeth said 'We enjoyed a lovely stay at Island Cottage. It was beautifully clean and tidy on our arrival. The cottage is ideally located. Walking distance to the village and just a stones throw from the beach! My children particularly enjoyed the large garden. And I loved a soak in the bath after a day at the beach. We will definitely book again.'
Free parking is available on the property grounds. Or take the train to Colchester and a taxi to the island
2 night weekends start at around £350 in low season (January).
If you want to travel off this peaceful island you are near to Constable Country (Dedham, Flatford Mill), Wivenhoe (lovely riverside location), Mistley, Malden, Colchester and lots of delightful villages in the countryside. The island is reached by a causeway and is popular for sailing, lovely walks, birdwatching, watersports, lovely fish restaurants and generally a relaxing time. If you take the car off the island you can reach Suffolk Constable Country easily and all the lovely pubs and restaurants of Essex and Suffolk. Colchester Castle and shopping is just 9 miles away.
Accommodation details: Ground floor: Living room. Dining room. Kitchen. Bathroom with shower over bath and toilet. 10 fairly steep cottage stairs to first floor, not suitable for elderly or those with movement difficulties : 2 bedrooms: 1 double and 1 twin (2ft 6in beds suitable for children and most adults). Absolutely no pets, candles or smoking due to being an old timber built cottage and recent government introduced fire risk rules.
Facilities: Bed linen and towels inc. Night storage heating in all rooms. Smart TV. M/wave. Washing machine. Garden with patio and furniture. Free Parking on property grounds. No smoking, candles or pets. Can accommodate different arrival /departure days occasionally please ask. Due to very high energy rates currently I ask for a contribution to extra electricity of £5 per night Nov to April this is extra to rental. A refundable damage deposit is requested depending on length of stay.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Water view
Parking available
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Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock
About the area
Colchester
Located in Colchester, this cottage is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Mersea Island Vineyard and Gosfield Lake Golf Club are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those looking for area attractions can visit Colchester Arts Centre and Xtreme Gaming. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Colchester Community Stadium or Brightlingsea Open Air Swimming Pool. Discover the area's water adventures with windsurfing and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and horse riding.
Is West Mersea Cottage, Beach/seaside area. Take the train. April/May dates pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at West Mersea Cottage, Beach/seaside area. Take the train. April/May dates ?
As of 11 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at West Mersea Cottage, Beach/seaside area. Take the train. April/May dates on 5 July 2026 start from NZ$261, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at West Mersea Cottage, Beach/seaside area. Take the train. April/May dates ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at West Mersea Cottage, Beach/seaside area. Take the train. April/May dates ?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at West Mersea Cottage, Beach/seaside area. Take the train. April/May dates ?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is West Mersea Cottage, Beach/seaside area. Take the train. April/May dates located?
Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 0.3 mi (0.4 km) from Mersea Island Museum and 2.7 mi (4.3 km) from Mersea Island Vineyard. Cudmore Grove Country Park and Gosfield Lake Golf Club are also within 9 miles (15 km).
Reviews
9.6
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Had a great stay over Christmas, cosy cottage, ideal location, reminded me of the cottage in The Holiday movie.Diane very easy to work with. Would definitely stay here again
Susan C.
Stayed 12 nights in Dec 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 5 January 2025
Thank you Susan. You were lovely guests and I hope to welcome you again.
Very happy with property and excellent location, only a short walk to beach, cafes and bars, with great fresh fish and seafood locally caught.
Lovely peaceful garden to relax in and enjoy a glass of wine
Would definitely go back again.
Ideal for couples.
gary r.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 15 August 2024
You were delightful guests I look forward to seeing you again.
What a lovely, well presented little cottage and garden at a great location in Mersea. The communication with Diane was first rate at all times and she was very helpful. Would I stay again? oh for sure I would!
We really enjoyed our stay at the cottage, it's in a lovely quiet location and so close to the beach and short walk to the village. We had everything we needed for our stay and were very comfortable there which is important to us after traveling from the US. We will keep this cottage in mind for future visits. The host was easily reachable, friendly and helped with heating etc even though we weren't expecting to need it.
I was delighted with the quick responses from the host,and found the property beautifully clean,warm and Chrissmassy! We found the property well equipped. The location is really good for the beach, where some of us braved winter swims . Highly recommended.
We had a lovely relaxing stay at the cottage. Such a warm friendly welcome from Diane. The facilities in the cottage were fantastic with everything we needed. The location is also perfect and close to everything from shops, pubs and the beach. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a nice little getaway in a beautiful part of Essex.
The check-in was easy and very well explained before. We found everything we expected since the description in the ad was very accurate. The house was mostly very clean and we felt good. The surroundings are very beautiful. Colchester, Chelmsfordand London are easily accessible and enabled a variety of exciting activities. We take home a big suitcase full of beautiful memories.
Gerfried O.
Stayed 11 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 5 August 2024
Lovely to hear that you were happy in my little cottage and got to explore this fairly unknown beautiful part of the UK.
Overall good. In a good location with easy walking to beach and shops. Also daughter and son-in-law close to parents house. Slight problem with shower - possibly caused by weak water pressure as not always easy to wash hair.
A lovely fisherman’s cottage near Coast Rd in West Mersea. Very Comfortable bedrooms and after exploring the local area we slept soundly. The kitchen had all that we needed to make our breakfast as we bought food with us. The garden is secluded with outside dining table and chairs and sunbed. We left with a Mersea Island tan! The cottage is very quiet- no traffic in the evening. Check in is via a key safe and all details are sent to you. There are loads of lovely places to eat. Especially good is Seafood at Dawn - we had our first oysters there. There is also the famous Company Shed just up the road- you have to book. Just a word of warning places do close earlier than in London/Home counties. We made it with minutes to spare on a couple of evenings. If you want a relaxing holiday in an unusual island surround- go to Island Cottage.
Elizabeth T.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 August 2025
Thank you Elizabeth for your lovely review. Glad you enjoyed the super garden, comfy beds and all the local places.
We (my husband and I and our 17 year old son) spent 10 days at the cottage in July 2023. The cottage is centrally located and close to the beach, restaurants, cafes and grocery stores. We highly recommend the Art Cafe for breakfast and lunch (call to reserve a table as they get busy) and the Coast Inn that overlooks the water for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Both are within walking distance of the cottage. The cottage itself it absolutely lovely and comes with everything you need for your stay. As mentioned in the listing this is a small cottage with tricky stairs so although it was perfect for us it may not be suitable for the elderly or people with little kiddos. We will definitely stay here again as we loved every minute of it.
Lovely small cosy cottage in a very quiet location near the beach and centre of west Mersea very clean and everything you needed really enjoyed the week that we stayed there
Charming traditional cottage with gorgeous garden in fabulous location
The cottage, which was spotlessly clean, is in a perfect coastal location between beach, shops and restaurants. We love the charm of traditional fisherman's cottages, which we appreciate are modest in size, yet found 4 adults comfortable in this cottage , even my husband who is 6'3'' There is a super front garden and back where we enjoyed sitting out morning and evening and my morning run along the beach was sublime. Inside there is a good TV with Netflix etc. We wished we could have stayed longer!
Verified traveller
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022
Verified
8/10 Good
Barrend C.
4 June 2022
Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Cleanliness
Nice place with great views and garden, close to the sea
This place is very nice and cosy, it is very well located and has a great garden at the front and back of the house.
Be careful if you are over 6.2 feet as there are two low entrances into the living room and towards the staircase.
The only issue was that the place was not cleaned properly, it was very dusty and needed a deep clean.
A delightful cottage in an excellent location, close to the shops and restaurants . It is well equipped and has outside seating at the front and as well as a pretty garden at the back. It proved to be an excellent base for our four day Island walking holiday.
Sandra N.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 14 September 2023
Thank you for your lovely review. I am delighted that you enjoyed the garden, cottage and location following your friend's recommendation to visit my cottage.
This is a very cosy cottage. However it is very small especially for 4 grown adults. The twin beds are smaller than regular twin beds. The ceilings and doors are very low so not great for tall people & the stairs are very steep. Luckily the weather was fantastic so we were able to enjoy both seating areas in the front and back gardens. Be aware of the 60 day cancellation!
Tolle Lage, gute und zuvorkommende Kommunikation sowie Tipps der Vermieterin. erholsames und entspanntes Urlaubsfeeling mit allem was man (wirklich) braucht und unbedingt weiter zu empfehlen! Wir kommen gerne irgendwann wieder...
Great place for a week-long holiday. Great location. Quiet yet near coast, shops & restaurants.
The property is much bigger inside than we expected. Nicely furnished; no dishwasher (but we didn't want one anyway!); good size living room. But beware the exceptionally steep stairs. We managed OK but they are not for the faint hearted! Bathroom is on ground floor so if you need to use it during the night, you have to be wide awake and be very careful.
We had a great stay here for three nights. This is a cute little cottage ideal for a group of up to four. It's perfectly placed a stone's throw from the beach and a short walk from the restaurants down at the harbour and in the village. We'd highly recommend it.
This is a lovely cottage really close to the beach and to West Mersea village. The upper floor has glorious real wood floors and a sea view. The downstairs has access to a lovely long enclosed garden, perfect for relaxing after a day out exploring.
The stairs up to the two bedrooms is quite steep but there is a lovely handle rail, the bedrooms are nice and airy.
We did a mix of self-catering and meals out during our stay and this worked well for us.
My favourite spot: sitting on The Square side of the cottage, on the bench, reading a book - with the sea to look at. Glorious!
Lived up to the listing completely. Really lovely little cottage and garden in great location. Would definitely recommend.
Cathy B.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021
Archival
8/10 Good
Emily N.
24 July 2017
Bright and beautiful little cottage
Island Cottage is bright, clean, comfortable and well equipped. A brilliant location with the beach, shops and restaurants all within easy walking distance. We had a brilliant week building sandcastles, collecting shells, crabbing and eating seafood. Just big enough for the four of us - the kids loved the garden too!
Emily N.
About the host
Hosted by diane wray
I love unspoilt islands for long walks, sailing, swimming and enjoying long lunches especially at The Company Shed on the island.
Why they chose this property
A real cottage with a history dating back to the late 1700's in a fabulous location near the water, beach and yacht club. Views from bedrooms towards water. Also a short stroll brings you to the famous Company Shed (fish and shellfish restaurant) and West Mersea Oyster Bar.
What makes this property unique
Location - very near to beach and waterfront (just over road) , views from bedrooms and also short stroll to The Company Shed oyster and seafood restaurant, pub and shops