4 storey Victorian house overlooking the sea

“This is the third time we stayed at Wilma's House. So far we have done about 30 house swaps and Wilma's house is definitely the best house we have ever stayed in. It's so beautifully designed, peaceful and in a perfect location. Nothing is like drinking wine on the landing watching the amazing sea view. We are in fact in love with your house Wilma and really looking forward to staying at yours again in the future. Thanks again!”

“From the moment you enter the front door and glimpse the garden and sea beyond you know you are staying in a special place. We had a wonderfully relaxing week at Wilma’s place. The beautifully decorated house offers a fabulous base to explore the many great places and beaches in the area. You can have a different experience every day and then come home and make the most of the games room in the cellar for an evening of entertainment! We discovered the joys of “sea watching” from the many comfy viewpoints and sets of binoculars that Wilma has placed around the house. Local restaurants and pubs recommended within walking distance of the house were also very good.”

“You will have read all previous reviews as I had before our visit. Well, I am happy to endorse everything expressed. The house was fabulous, clean, well positioned and quiet. Art and artefacts put together with a flair I could only dream of. Wilma was helpful and immediately responsive. In short, a very lovely break only enhanced by the beautiful weather. ”

“Harwich - a hidden gem We so enjoyed our time away, more especially as Wilma’s home has the most stunning peaceful views of the North Sea & lovely walks along the coastline. She has given herself artistic license & created beautiful spaces throughout, my favourite being on the top landing with views that stretch across the sea out to the historical lighthouse. It’s worth mentioning we did part of the ‘Essex walk’ which takes you from the house through beautiful Essex Countryside. Then we took the local ferry across to Shotley with our bicycles and cycled through the Suffolk Countryside. We had a fabulous meal at the The Pier & also tried the Alma Inn for lunch after it was recommended to us by one of the locals. A ferry goes across to Amsterdam twice daily which we would definitely have planned into our trip if Covid restrictions had not been imposed. All in all would love to return & can see why all the people who have stayed previously rate this so highly. Thank you Wilma ”

“Thank you Wilma, Your coastal home was everything we hoped for. Beautifully decorated , welcoming and thoughtful touches that made us feel comfortable. Great location with easy access to more coastal resorts & historical Colchester , Our granddaughter loved the games you provided - even went crabbing! A memorable holiday, .”

“We had an amazing time in Harwich. We have done 18 swaps so far and Wilma's house was the best one we have ever stayed at. The house is very stylish and designed so nicely, the rooms are big and bright, and the view is unbelievable. I believe that the house is even better than the pictures, we were very impressed. The town is really nice, we spent lots of time on the beach which is right in front of the house,, literally a minute's walk from the house. We went to the pier and tried to catch crabs and had crab sandwiches on the cafe on the pier. There are lots of nice seaside towns nearby, we spent a great week and did something interesting and fun with the kids everyday. I would highly recommend Wilma's house as it is magical place. In addition, Wilma has been an amazing host, she was so kind and thoughtful again I can easily call her the best host we have ever had. Thanks again Wilma for the amazing experience. ”

“This was a really great place to stay. Perfect location. walking distance to the center of town and a large supermarket. Also great walks along the historic seafront just outside the door. Very well located to explore the region The house was very clean and tidy. It is full of so many interesting items. It is very homely. Wilma was a pleasure to communicate with ”

“Excellent host, wonderful home with comfort and style, great location for exploring the area, easy to find parking. Highly recommended.”

“Wilma's beautiful home is perfect for groups or large families. The 3 bedrooms with queen size beds are so nicely decorated and spacious and the kids room with 3 single beds a great for kids with beautiful butterflies wallpaper. This house is paradise for a family, here you find many games and toys (all ages) and the basement area with a pool table was also a hit with kids. The view of sea from back windows on all all floors was a delight every time of the day. And in 2 minutes you cross the street and you are on the beach. We made long walks on the promenade every day and swam daily on the sea. The back yard calls for nice evenings outside enjoying the sea breeze. Wilma is such a gracious host, she left us some snacks, drinks, bread, goodies to get us started and guide of maps, restaurants and local amenities. We definitely recommend staying here. Thanks Wilma for a wonderful week! ”

“I shouldn't really need to say anymore than that this was the 4th time I've stayed in this wonderful house! This time I got to take my parents and Sister. They did the Harwich Park Run on the Saturday morning which goes right past the house. We did our usual Sunday Roast at The Alma pub which I love and our usual dog walk in Wrabness woods. We headed out to Suffolk this time to visit my Aunty. It was a great base for us and such a lovely space to enjoy quality time with my family. Wilma is a dream host. I'm endlessly thankful for your hospitality. ”

“This was our first time swapping. Wilma made it so easy, the town is just as described and the house is literally on the ocean\! When we arrived every effort had been made to make us feel welcomed. Very friendly and helpful. ”

“We have had the most brilliant week staying in this wonderful house in Harwich. The sea views are amazing and the well thought out viewing platforms on each landing of the house were enjoyed by all members of the family. The top floor viewing area was a particular favourite, we could have spent hours there! The house is a really fun space to live in, with ornaments, art works, flying seagulls and some great furniture to look at in every room. Our kids loved their butterfly bedroom and will remember staying in Harwich for years to come. There's some great promenade cycling to be had for children and adults alike so, if you can, bring bikes. Harwich is a well kept secret and there is plenty to do to keep a family busy. The crabbing is particularly brilliant and kept us all entertained for hours. Super friendly folk in Harwich as well, they all made us feel very welcome and we will certainly be visiting again!”

“Every year The Ludden family get together. This year there were seven of us, and Paul and I were hosting. As our apartment is too small we took Wilma's amazing house in Harwich. What a wonderful location overlooking the sea, and what an amazing (if different) house. Very quirky but such fun. We were lucky with the weather, and enjoyed Sunday breakfast on the patio, ( could have done with an umbrella though, as it was very bright and hot) We can recommend The Alma, where we had lunch on Saturday, and The Pier where we had dinner. Its a comfortable walk into Harwich from Dovercourt. All in all a great weekend. Thank you Wilma”

“Despite pretty torrid conditions for the time of year (hat and gloves in June), we enjoyed a great time staying at Wilma's with the kids. We visited Sutton Hoo, The Castle Museum in Colchester and spent a dat having fun on Clacton Pier. The property's really great and Wilma was very welcoming.”

“Getting to stay in Wilma's house was such a wonderful experience, we really couldn't thank Wilma enough for her hospitality and the effort she went to make us feel welcome. The house is just perfect, large, incredibly comfortable and beautifully decorated. Everywhere you look there is something new you hadn't noticed before, Wilma is clearly passionate about interior design and the eclectic mix in the house works really well. The views from the house are wonderful. From the top bedroom you have the lighthouse framed in the window directly in front of you. Downstairs in the open plan sitting room the light floods in and it's wonderful first thing in the morning. Occasionally you will see a massive container ship entering or leaving Harwich port which is a splendid and slightly surreal sight. In the basement is a games room with pool table, darts board and video games which is great for anyone with kids (great for anyone without kids too!). We stayed in the house in winter so we enjoyed going for walks and runs along the front. The beaches with their little huts seem immaculate. The town is small and friendly with a few good pubs. Our favorite was the Alma, a real proper sailors haunt with excellent food too. There are some interesting little market towns nearby and we particularly liked visiting Colchester which is not far and has a good food market and some great shopping. You also have easy access to the more fashionable bits of Suffolk which are an easy day trip, but there is plenty to do in the surrounding area which is charming less frequented and has plenty to keep you interested. If we had the chance to go back and stay in the house we would do it at the drop of a hat ! Dominic, Andrea, Audrey (18), Esther (16) & Stanley (8)”

“Wilma was a really kind host, and look after us from the moment we arrived to find several very thoughtful ideas of things to do in the area (along with some nice gifts for the kids :) The house is full of character and was perfectly set up for a family like us (we have 2 boys 6 & 3yrs old). There is loads of room and places to relax and linger, but the real jewel of this home is the panoramic sea views from every floor, with cleverly placed binoculars by each window to ensure no boat is allowed to pass unnoticed, and there are many!! We also enjoyed the patio which also makes the most of the sea views, and is fully equipped with BBQ and outdoor table tennis where we made the most of the summer evenings outdoors and the games room was a big hit with the boys. ( I think it the pool table would have been heaven for them if they were 5 years older) Main things we enjoyed about this home and our holiday were: - Restaurants - The Alma pub in town, everything you want from a pub including the friendly locals and the Thai restaurant in which Harwich really lives up to it's reviews, where the boys enjoyed their first Thai restaurant. - The sea views (and boat spotting) from every floor, and the terrace for morning coffee and evening BBQ's - The kitchen is large/lounge is perfect for relaxing if the when the weather wasn't great - The locals in Harwich are so friendly and made us feel welcome everywhere we went, including the neighbours who welcomed us and gave us some additional great ideas of places to go. - Nearby days out - Mersea Island was the pick of the bunch, in particular the fresh sea food at the Oyster Bar and crabbing off the jetty where the local seal pops his head up every 5 mins. However there were so many places to see and visit. We loved the ferry to felixstowe and a day out in clacton. - Crabbing (again) in Harwich, can't believe how many we caught in such a short time, great family fun! Thank you Wilma, this is a place we would absolutely recommend if like us, you want to to explore a corner of England you have not been to before. It's full of lovely surprises and Wilma is the perfect host. SImon, Emma, Louis (6) and Freddie (3) ”

“Harwich House by the sea with huge personality. We had a perfect relaxed weekend with our friends and dogs in Sunny Essex. We felt like we were in a boutique Hotel. The photos do not do this house justice. Wilma has decorated with flair and indulged her imagination. Each room has it's own theme mainly giving a nod to the nautical. We instantly felt at home and were greeted with a table of goodies. Not expected but happily received. We had breakfast & Dinner on the decking looking out over the twinkling sea. We had a BBQ on the first night followed by a pool & Darts tournament in the basement. I lost! The dogs loved playing on the beach & in Wrabness Woods. Grayson Perry's House was a sight to be seen. The Alma Inn provided us with a Sunday roast to rival my Dad's and Seafood on Saturday which was also excellent. Wilma is super speedy with her replies and was very easy to communicate with. She was also a fabulous house guest. Apart from the stunning Sunflowers & card she left me I would never have known she was there. If you're asked to swap....say yes! I'm loving Love Home Swap and the opportunities to stay in houses as fabulous as this.”

“The very best swap experience so far - the house simply stunning, right by the sea, decorated with so much love. And the icing on the cake is Wilma, the host, who is so nice and welcoming! We simply had a great time there...”

“Wilma's home in Harwich provided the perfect coastal getaway. It is located within minutes of a quiet sandy beach and enjoys uninterrupted views of the sea from the modern decking at the rear of the house. The house was very clean and had been recently decorated throughout to a high standard. Wilma's recommendations of places to visit and eat were also gratefully received. We will return soon.”

“A beautifully restored and renovated Edwardian house, almost on the beach. Harwich and Dovercourt are interesting places, well worth a visit. Plenty to do and see for all ages. Some good restaurants and superb local seafood. Plus the RNLI shop and ferries.”