Downham Essex hotels:

Probably the largest collection of working crafts in East Anglia. Stroll around Barleylands Craft Village, visit 25 impressive specialist workshops demonstrating their crafts including blacksmiths and glassblowing. Relax and enjoy a cream tea in our new tearoom. Free entry all year round (closed Mon). Also farm centre, where you can feed our friendly farm animals, cuddle a rabbit in the bunny barn, feed the ducks on the pond, have fun in adventure play area. Agricultural museum, open daily Mar-Oct. Miniature steam train (Sun during summer at extra cost). VISIT our impressive purpose built Glassworks with viewing gallery and commentary from our resident glassblowers James or Bill. You can enjoy the fascinating art of glassblowing and then buy the product! WATCH Martin our resident Blacksmith make a vast array of products from candlestick holders to gates and weathervanes and much more.