WITH Valentine’s Day now just days away, love is truly starting to pepper the air and send tingles through the hearts of our Gazette readers.
So, we decided to ask our Colchester cupids for their advice on some of the best places in the town to spend a first date.
Everywhere from steak restaurant Bella Pais and the High Street’s McDonald’s to The Playhouse and Colchester Zoo made the cut.
The backseat of a Corsa and the A120 lay-by were also extremely seriously suggested as good places to introduce yourself to your new love interest.
For those not entirely sold on our readers’ ideas, TripAdvisor has also compiled a list of the most romantic places to visit in Colchester over the Valentine’s Day period.
Here are some of the results:
Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens
The inspirational, award-winning and world-renowned gardens of 'the most influential gardener of our time' Beth Chatto OBE VMH.
Beth took on a challenging site in the 1960s, which was boggy in places, incredibly dry and infertile in others, and began to create the most beautiful garden.
With her team, Beth transformed the land into various informal gardens and now makes for spellbinding site through which to stroll hand-in-hand with your new love.
Colchester Castle Park
Situated in the centre of Colchester’s town centre, Castle Park is another beautiful green space in which couples can enjoy a walk, picnic, or smooching session.
The site of national importance contains evidence of 2000 years of history and is a landscape moulded by the people of Colchester over many eras.
It boasts more than one million visitors a year and its award-winning horticulture canvas makes for beautiful scenery, perfect to explore with a partner.
Colchester Arts Centre
With the winter’s presence still very much being felt throughout the county, spending a Valentine’s Day date outdoors might not be everyone’s preference.
If that is the case, a visit to Colchester Arts Centre for a live music performance or comedy stand-up show might instead be a more preferable choice.
Whether you bond over a mutual interest or grow closer by exploring something new, entertainment’s ability to create a relationship spark should not be underestimated.
Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre
The Essex Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve offers up glorious panoramic views across the reservoir and surrounding villages and superb views of the water’s edge.
The Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre boasts a 900m circular footpath, tearoom providing a variety of hot and cold food and a well-stocked shop to explore.
Marvelling at nature in its purest against a beautiful backdrop is romance with a twist but the perfect pastime for lovebirds this Valentine’s.
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