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Beautiful period fisherman's cottage

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Exterior
Private kitchen
Dining
Interior
Living area

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% based on
3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Outdoor space

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Ground floor single

1 Single Bed

Master

1 King Bed

Twin

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful period fisherman's cottage

Anchor cottage is a delightful period Grade 2 listed, three-bedroom cottage situated in the heart of The Anchorage, once known as Mersea City. It was built circa 1575, and is the largest of three terraced fishermen's cottages, nestling alongside other period buildings in The Lane, and next to a very small chapel.

It has three bedrooms, a large double, a twin room and a ground floor single bedroom. The bathroom is also on the ground floor.

A large sitting/dining room provides plenty of space for five people indoors and there is also a lovely sheltered patio, with summer house, for alfresco dining.

Please note, being a 'period' property there are some low ceilings, some with beams, some low door heights and the stairs are quite steep too.

There is a private garden with BBQ area that enjoys the sun at most times of the day.

The Lane is a popular local walk with little traffic so lots of peace and quiet.

Being only 150 metres from the water's edge it provides ideal access to the water for paddle-boarding, kayaking, crabbing and swimming. Most of the island's bars and restaurants are situated in the anchorage so it's only a short walk to find food and drink hospitality. Well behaved dogs are welcome.

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 20
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats (limit 2 total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

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
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 not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Colchester

Located in Colchester, this cottage is on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Cudmore Grove Country Park and Abberton Reservoir, while Headgate Theatre and Tymperleys Clock Museum are cultural highlights. Colchester Arts Centre and Xtreme Gaming are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby power boating, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling.
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Map
West Mersea, England

What's nearby

  • Mersea Island Museum - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • Colchester Zoo - 16 min drive - 16.5 km
  • University of Essex - 20 min drive - 18.5 km
  • Colchester Castle Park - 20 min drive - 17.2 km
  • Ipswich Waterfront - 48 min drive - 57.9 km

Getting around

  • Colchester Town Station - 25 min drive
  • London (SEN-Southend) - 86 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Donkey & Buskins - ‬13 min drive
  • ‪The Plough - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪The Railway Tavern - ‬29 min drive
  • ‪The Hare and Hounds - ‬14 min drive
  • ‪The Layer Fox - ‬14 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful period fisherman's cottage pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 2 total). Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

How much does it cost to stay at Beautiful period fisherman's cottage?

As of 30 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Beautiful period fisherman's cottage on 9 May 2026 start from AU$299, 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 Beautiful period fisherman's cottage?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful period fisherman's cottage?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful period fisherman's cottage?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful period fisherman's cottage located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is 0.8 mi (1.2 km) from Mersea Island Museum and 2.7 mi (4.4 km) from Mersea Island Vineyard. Cudmore Grove Country Park and Gosfield Lake Golf Club are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 15 out of 15 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 15 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Amanda T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely cosy, comfortable and charming cottage in a fabulous location. Lovely welcome and host communication
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

julia C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Mersea Island break

The property is beautiful, comfortable and homely in a great location.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diane P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Long weekend

It was a lovely stay on a bleak February weekend, lovely and warm in the house very comfortable, thoroughly enjoyed it
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

mandy p.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely stay

Cottage is gorgeous.Only issue was wifi was extremely poor.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Hazel V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

New year getaway

Perfect cottage everything we could want, warm and cosy . Welcomed with a bottle of bubbly for the occasion .
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Virginia R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

The Fisherman's Cottage delightful thou with low ceilings anyone over 6' would struggle standing upright! A great location for the fabulous seafood food restaurants and good pubs. Highly recommend this lovely property
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Gilbert O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice place

i
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Edwina K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent

We really enjoyed our stay. Everything worked and the instructions were clear. We felt at home - some nice personal touches - I won't spoil the surprise....Communication with the owner was really good too. There are some really great seafood places to eat nearby and of course lovely walks along the beach.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Heather H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home from home

Mersea Island is a perfect place for a break away. The quaint, but not so little, cottage is located in the loveliest area and is close to all the great seafood eateries. The homely cottage has been so thoughtfully put together by the owners to provide for your every need, both inside and out. So many little touches make you feel like a most welcome guest. Warning: You will be sad to leave.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Marina S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ideal family short break

Very well appointed and located - pretty wrap around garden with sun at different times of day- close to jetty where grandsons loved crabbing and yummy unpretentious seafood restaurants.Only reservation for some could be 2 flights of steep stairs to 2 of 3 bedrooms with only bathroom and loo downstairs— but cottage dates from 1575 so don’t expect en-suites! - what you do get is character and comfort.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Judy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house. Perfect location

We immediately felt at home. I’m from Mersea circa 1950s and it’s always been my go to place. Now my family have all passed away I try and find somewhere lovely that I can introduce my grandchildren to the delights of crabbing and shell hunting. This is the first place that absolutely fits the bill. Thank you
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Will M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cosy cottage in a good location

Lovely old cottage, furnished well with a nice kitchen having everything you need for eating in (except for a sieve or collander). Clay tiles on ground floor make the floor cold so bring slippers in low season. Some very low beams so tall people beware. Couldn't light the gas fire though. Surprised to find slow-moving bees on window sills or on floor each day when returning from day out.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Charming and comfortable

The Anchor Cottage is an utterly delightful, comfortable and (perhaps surprisingly given its 16th century heritage) practical place to stay. We were 5 adults together from different places in the world for a small family reunion. We loved cooking together (great kitchen),using the bbq, eating in either the garden or sweet dining room with candlelight and of course watching the Euro 2024 😂. The beds are super comfortable and the family bathroom more than adequate with plenty of hot water. We really appreciated the well equipped laundry room too, having been on the road for some time. Last but not least, the location steps away from the waterfront with all the restaurants, oyster and fish bars and of course the vast expanse of tidal waters, boats and the enormous Constable sky. We would love to come back again some day. Highly recommended.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Simon C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical place, magical property

This is such a lovely place to stay - really good value, excellently equipped, private with a neat garden (photos don’t do it justice), and good communication with the owner plus a parking spot in a place where this is at a premium. It is also so beautifully quiet. Mersea island is well connected - not far from Constable country, the ancient town of Colchester, the salt marshes of Tollesbury, and the ancient chapel of St Peter on the wall at Bradwell on sea. Plus you can get to Maldon easily and it’s near London. It’s possible to walk all round the island and the shellfish from The Company shed and Dukes was fresh and delicious. The house represents great value and is located in the prettiest part of West Mersea on the prettiest road near the bustling seafront. A magical find in an area bristling with Anglo Saxon and Viking history.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

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