Inside 'best bed and breakfast in England' where it feels like southern France

01 January 2024 , 18:50

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Guests at England's best B&B often feel as though they're in the South of France (Image: Booking.com)

With its lush blue pool, Mediterranean patio and idyllic patio, this villa which was once a literal pigsty could easily be mistaken for a retreat in the South of France.

But far from a Riviera sanctuary, this B&B is actually one of England's top stays just a stone's throw from Stansted Airport. Hidden in a bucolic corner of Essex, the adults-only retreat has been voted the best B&B in England for 2023, according to VisitEngland.

It's got five bedrooms, its own bar and plenty of amenities including an honesty bar and dinner menu - and if that wasn't enough on its own, it's also got award-winning marmalade for breakfast. Piglets B&B has been transformed over several years from a former tithe barn by owners Max and Chrissie Parker.

The building was originally used to house pigs on the family's farm back in the 1960s. But far from being a home for piggies now - which lends it its name - the retreat also has an illustrious past housing luxury boardgame firm Geoffrey Parker, founded by current owner Max's father.

The retreat has a chemical-free pool to dip in during the summer (Booking.com)

Max told MailOnline: "This is a very beautiful part of Essex, but not many people know about it." Photos of the stunning boutique accommodation show its sapphire blue walls and colourful patio area to enjoy the enveloping peace and quiet.

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Homemade marmalade biscuits are wrapped for guests to enjoy in the five suites, while the B&B also features a small library for bookworms and a nod to its gaming past with a games room. But the surrounding countryside is also steeped in history.

Nearby is a trail once allegedly used by locals to dodge notorious and bloodthirsty highwayman Dick Turpin, who would murder victims in their carriages while robbing them of their possessions throughout the 1730s. The B&B's crowning gem, perhaps, is a chemical-free pool.

The emerald green waters may not be to every swimmer's taste, but they'll certainly mean you can cool off during the summer without smelling of chlorine. For the winter months, the B&B also features an infrared sauna.

Announcing Piglets as the country's top B&B, VisitEngland Director Andrew Stokes said the list showcased "the wonderful range of quality tourism products on offer across England". “I congratulate all the winners and especially those who won Gold, an achievement cementing their place as the country’s crème de la crème, standard-bearers for England’s tourism industry,” he said.

Susie Beever