Feather Down

Layer Marney Tower

Escape to a simpler life with Sheila and Nick

Discover Layer Marney Tower in Essex, the tallest Tudor gatehouse in England with 500 years of history, privately owned by Nick and Sheila. Nick will introduce you to his menagerie of animals during feeding time each morning - join him in the Tower’s courtyard before he sets off each day at 8am. Your cosy canvas hideaways are nestled in birch, ash and alder trees that you’ll share with pheasants, woodpeckers, deer and owls. All in all, it's the ideal spot for a family holiday that allows you to unwind and enjoy the slower pace of life in the Essex countryside.

Surprising Essex

Layer Marney Tower is well placed for you to explore some little-known gems of the Essex coastline, one of the longest of any county in England. If you like bird watching, Abberton Reservoir is just a ten-minute drive away. Colchester the first city in England, founded in Roman times is well worth a visit, both for its history and for its zoo, recently voted one of the best in the country. Oyster lovers will already know all about Mersea Island. Constable country is a short drive away at Dedham Vale, where you can see where the Haywain was painted, one of the most famous paintings in the National Gallery.

What to do at Layer Marney Tower

During your stay, you will have free access to the Tower, when it is open, where you can learn about the ups and downs in its history, join in the fun and get a stunning view all the way to the sea from the top. For the adventurous, rent a bike, fly your kites, organise your own cricket or football in the big fields or climb up the farm’s spider web frame, the choice is yours! Some tents come with a hot tub, a truly indulgent way to get back to nature. When the sun sets, grab some marshmallows from the honesty shop and gather around the campfire. Book youself the treat to make pizza or a stew over the open fire. After a long day of exploration, you can collapse into your comfy bed for a good night’s sleep at one of the best places for a family holiday in Essex.

What can you expect?

Hot tub
Honesty shop
Pizza oven
Dogs not allowed

What animals will you find on this farm?

You too?

What our guests like

Close to the coast
Animal menagerie
Close to London
A campfire place next to every tent
Wildlife haven
Historic monument

Our canvas hideaways

Hot tub available

Canvas hideaway with private outdoor shower

6 persons

Canvas hideaway with farm-house shower

6 persons

Canvas hideaway with en-suite shower

6 persons

Meisenkobel

6 persons

A unique experience

Back to basics

Live in nature

Have adventures together

Including wood for the wood-burning stove
Including welcome package with bed-linen, towels, candles, matches, washing-up liquid and other basic items

One of the world's best family holidays

Highlight

Pizza night

The farmer will usually fire up the pizza oven during your stay. Everyone gathers round to tell their stories of the day’s adventures and invent pizza toppings you’ll never find on the high street

Highlight

Ask the farmer

The farm tour is a must if it’s on offer during your stay. But you don’t wait till then. The farmer will be delighted to tell you more about farm life at any time.

Highlight

The farm shop

It’s great for the basics and usually even better for local produce and low food miles. And every Feather Down farm shop operates on an honesty basis.

Options during your stay

Farmers Stew

You will receive the recipe, ingredients and cooking utensils to prepare a delicious Farmers Stew at your tent, enough for 4-6 people.

Fruit Box

Recommended!

Upon arrival, a fruit box with fresh seasonal/regional fruit will be waiting for you in your tent.

Private Chicken Coop

Rent your own private chicken coop, with two chickens and enjoy your very own freshly laid eggs.

Hot tub

Treat yourself by booking a hot tub! You can use it throughout your stay. Remember to bring your swimsuit!

Meet your hosts

Sheila and Nick

We are Nick and Sheila and together with our team (and our menagerie of animals), we will welcome you to the beautiful Layer Marney Tower.

Dip into your private hot tub, spoil some chickens and let our place be your escape from modern-day living.

What do our guests think?

Average rating

9.4

Mrs Wright

22/10/2021

Excellent site, super friendly & helpful hosts and set in a beautiful location. My kids loved feeding the animals and the regular visits from the owners dogs. Hot tub was a winner with us all. The honesty shop had the basic essentials and there are larger supermarkets approx. 10 mins away in Tiptree.

Mr Gladstone

22/10/2021

The best way to disconnect from the day to day and enjoy a simpler life in beautiful surroundings

Mrs Owen

23/08/2021

Great family fun

8.8

Mr Grech

23/08/2021

Nick and Sheila saved our summer! Wonderful glamping in the stunning grounds of their Tudor stately home, complete with lush gardens, deer park, farmyard and chapel. Friendly vibe, gorgeous setting. Top marks all round!

Ms McAllister

20/08/2021

Fantastic! The place & hosts are amazing

Mrs Morgan

13/08/2021

Fun time had by all! Great way to escape the big smoke!

8.8

Ms Gunn

09/08/2021

Wonderfully relaxing. A real switch off. The kids kept themselves amused with ping pong and nature walks, I read 3 books! 🙏

Mrs Kelly

09/08/2021

As a family we had a great time forgetting modern technology and back to basics spending quality time together. The children enjoyed having the chickens and caring for them.We visited so many lovely places around Layer Marney. Lovely relaxed place with stunning surroundings. Thank you, The Kellys.

Mrs Hand

02/08/2021

An escape from modern day living. Great quality time with our teenage daughters.

7.5

Mrs James

02/08/2021

beautiful views. Very relaxing

8.8

Mrs Toms

30/07/2021

Brilliant getaway, highly recommend the hot tub and cowboy supper. Lovely hot shower too! Our chickens laid every morning and the setting immediately in front of the deer was fab!

Mr Smith

30/07/2021

We did not know what to expect as this was our first clamping experience. We were so pleased with what we found and we had a wonderful experience. We had two little ones with us (3 years and 1 year) and they found so much to enjoy, some of it for the first time in their young lives. The facilities were really good and provided everything we needed in every way. Our daughter and her husband and the granddaughters are all very keen to go clamping again - they really enjoyed the experience. We would all like to give our thanks to Christine who checked us in, showed us how to work everything, was there if we had questions and helped us if we had special needs. She was brilliant and a credit to the support team at Layer Marney Tower

Dr Cannon

18/06/2021

I booked the entire campsite for my family and we all enjoyed a very relaxing and social weekend. The hot tubs were a huge hit, as were the rental chickens, and everyone remarked on how comfortable they found the tents. We really didn't have to think about anything which made our stay that much easier.

Mr Lucas

11/06/2021

Really great all round experience

Ms. Spillman

31/05/2021

restorative

8.8

ms clayton

28/05/2021

super relaxing, beautiful view over the deer - completely re-charging

Miss Neale

07/05/2021

Lovely relaxing weekend, our children. Love the animal feeding with Nick in the morning.

mrs Elliott

23/04/2021

We really enjoyed our stay at Layer Marney. Spending time in the great outdoors, back to nature with a few home comforts. The kids loved the hot tub too.

Mr Lammert

16/04/2021

Absolutely enchanting

Mr Zell

16/04/2021

A wonderful experience. Much needed quality family time in beautiful surroundings and in a luxurious tent.

mrs Jackson

12/04/2021

fabulous moment of nature

Ms Cordell

23/10/2020

The site was absolutely beautiful. Being so close to Layer Marney tower, watching the deer in the morning & allowing the children the freedom to explore the woods was wonderful. The tent is very well equipped. Trying to boil water on the stove quickly is not something you should attempt (we may take a little camp stove next time!) but it’s all charming & the beds were clean, firm & comfy. We’ll definitely be back.

Mrs Chetiyawardana

02/10/2020

Lovely!

8.8

Mrs Earl

02/10/2020

What a lovely place. It rained pretty much non stop but even in the rain there was so much fun to have. We fed deer. Sheep and goats, collected eggs, explored a Tudor tower and cooked sausages over a wood stove. What a magical weekend.

Mrs Preston

25/09/2020

Amazing weekend break - was lovely to spend so much time outside and watch the kids make fires and play. Lovely accommodation and place to be.

Mrs Barber

18/09/2020

Tranquil

Dr Medhurst

28/08/2020

A comfortable stay. Great time had cooking on the wood stoves. Children loved the freedom around the site and the visits from the dogs.

8.8

Ms Murray

17/08/2020

We had a really great time with the animals and playing in the tower and seeing the dolls houses - we enjoyed it all very much

mrs ratcliffe

17/08/2020

Perfect stay for relaxation

Ms Roles

10/08/2020

Yes

Mrs Parker

10/08/2020

A lovely, and very convenient, break away from London. It's an excellent site. Great to have a lodge amongst the trees, to offer some shade from the hot sun. The hot tub was a great addition - even though it was often used unheated due to the heat wave. Very friendly staff.

Mrs Mahwing

07/08/2020

Relaxing, fun, comfortable

Mrs Parker

03/08/2020

A lot of little and often unexpected luxuries made this glamping experience magical for us and our grown up children- The Stone sink, the novelty of building a fire to heat at least one of the stoves for The giant kettle, the plump warm beds, the constant hot water in the outdoor shower with its view across the fields, access to Layer Marney Tower itself- I could go on! This has been a wonderful staycation and we will be coming back. Thank you.

Mr Graeme

27/07/2020

We enjoyed every minute, from start to finish. Christine, who greeted us and the owner, Nick, were very helpful and pleasant. A well run holiday experience with out any haste. Our chicken coup was the highlight for the children, with eggs to collect every day. The out side shower was great fun, everyone enjoyed the experience. .........A family picnic type bench outside would have been an added bonus....we had great weather and would have eaten all meals out side.......... Can’t wait to visit again, thank you team

Mrs Gardner

20/07/2020

Relax and chilled! Just what the family needed.

Mrs Lovelace

04/07/2020

A perfect, relaxing break, surrounded by nature and fresh air - just what we needed after 3 months of home lockdown thanks to Coronavirus. Thanks for Nick for the lovely farm tour and for being so patient with our 5-year-old son.

Mrs Blerkom

03/07/2020

This is the kids favourite holiday. They love the cabin bed, the camp fires, running round the woods, climbing trees, the hot tub and looking after the chickens. The adults love the proper beds and the loo in the cabin and cooking on the stove :-)

Ms Quinton

13/09/2019

Chilled weekend with friends

Mrs. Redmond

19/08/2019

A wonderful adventure to be had with all the family - super comfortable camping with all the comforts of home!

8.8

Mrs Badman

19/08/2019

A very chilled and peaceful setting. The tent facilities were amazing and we had a wonderful time.

Book your unique experience

View options and prices

Layer Marney Tower

Escape to a simpler life with Sheila and Nick

Surprising Essex

What to do at Layer Marney Tower

What can you expect?

What our guests like

This is what the farm looks like

Our canvas hideaways

Options during your stay

Sheila and Nick

Nearby

What do our guests think?

Book your unique experience