Stanway Lakelands
A vibrant community hub featuring an all-inclusive playground, a popular cafe, and a versatile event venue.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Lively atmosphere, events
Stanway Lakelands
Best Time
Lively atmosphere, events
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A vibrant community hub featuring an all-inclusive playground, a popular cafe, and a versatile event venue.
"This is the kind of place where you’re always met with a smile and made to feel so very welcome."
Free Parking Available
Plenty of free parking makes visiting easy for families and event attendees. 🚗
Cafe Delights
Enjoy fresh food, great coffee, and delicious waffles at the onsite cafe. ☕
Quick Facts
Hours
Rating
4.9 · 146 reviews
Type
Cafe
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
All-Inclusive Playground
Stanway, Colchester
A brand new, thoughtfully designed playground with features for all abilities, including braille signage.
Sweet Pete's Waffles
Stanway Lakelands Centre
Indulge in delicious waffles and other treats at this popular cafe within the center.
Community Hub
Stanway, Colchester
A welcoming space for families and the community, offering a cafe, events, and a friendly atmosphere.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Family Fun & Accessibility
Venue for Events
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Free Parking Available
Plenty of free parking makes visiting easy for families and event attendees. 🚗
Cafe Delights
Enjoy fresh food, great coffee, and delicious waffles at the onsite cafe. ☕
Book Events in Advance
Popular for parties and events, so book well in advance to secure your date. 📅
Inclusive Play Area
The playground is designed for all children, with accessible features for everyone to enjoy. ♿
Tips
from all over the internet
Free Parking Available
Plenty of free parking makes visiting easy for families and event attendees. 🚗
Cafe Delights
Enjoy fresh food, great coffee, and delicious waffles at the onsite cafe. ☕
Book Events in Advance
Popular for parties and events, so book well in advance to secure your date. 📅
Inclusive Play Area
The playground is designed for all children, with accessible features for everyone to enjoy. ♿
Community Spirit
Experience the friendly 'village' atmosphere where everyone is made to feel welcome. ❤️
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Stanway Lakelands Centre is highly praised as a fantastic community hub, particularly for its exceptional all-inclusive playground and its capability as an event venue. Visitors rave about the friendly staff, delicious food from the cafe, and the welcoming atmosphere that makes everyone feel at home. It's a well-rounded destination that caters to families, event hosts, and those simply looking for a pleasant cafe experience.
"I held my companies 20th birthday celebration at the Lakelands Centre and it was absolutely perfect.
I had a childrens party in the afternoon and an adult party in the evening.
From the initial planning and throughout the event, the staff were amazing , helpful, knowledgeable and polite.
We had burgers and hot dogs for the children and mezze platters for the evening party.
The bar staff laid out a prosecco and orange reception and served guests their other drinks super efficiently.
The DJ they reccommended (Brian Jay did not disappoint, he played some banging tunes and all my gets thoroughly enjoyed it.
The facilities at the venue are great and i would definitely book here again.
Well done Lakelands Centre, you smashed it."
Catherine Joyner
"An excellent spread - a combination of the sandwich platters and the buffet, more than feeding the 40 guests.
All the food was fresh, well presented and tasty.
Everything was set up and ready in time for the party and the staff were helpful and friendly.
Would highly recommend."
rebehecca
"On Saturday 2nd August we held a musical fundraising gig for the charity Reverse Rett at the Lakelands centre. Myself and other members of the Blue Boulder Band, Bar Prop Band and Best Days could not be more impressed by the venue, location, parking, bar facilities but especially the Lakelands team who worked so hard on the night helping to prep for the evening, but also cleaning up afterwards and helping the bands pack up. Special thank you to Alisha who advised us on what to do on the night and also giving us a good steer with how to conduct raffle etc. Lakelands is a great venue for all types of activities and so refreshing to meet people who really share a passion for making each function a success. As a side note Peter Dutch should be extremely proud of the team he has formed to run the venue and cafe"
Adrian Driver
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
Stanway Lakelands Centre is located at 2 Western Approach, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 8DX. It offers free parking, making it easily accessible by car.
While specific public transport routes aren't detailed in the provided content, the free parking suggests it's primarily accessed by car. It's advisable to check local bus routes for Colchester.
The center provides free parking, which is a significant convenience for visitors, especially families.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
The Stanway Lakelands Centre itself is free to enter, and the playground is also free to use.
No, the playground is free and open to all, so no tickets are required for entry.
The cafe at Stanway Lakelands Centre is open seven days a week from 9 am.
Yes, the Lakelands Centre is a popular venue for parties and events, with staff providing excellent support. It's recommended to book in advance.
🎫 🏞️ Onsite Experience
The main attraction is the all-inclusive playground, perfect for children of all abilities. The center also hosts various events and has a cafe.
Absolutely! It's an all-inclusive playground designed with features for children of all abilities, including braille signage.
Yes, the center offers toilets and baby changing facilities, making it convenient for families with young children.
The venue hosts a variety of events, including children's parties, adult celebrations, and charity fundraisers, often featuring live music or DJs.
Yes, the cafe is open daily and offers coffee, snacks, and meals, including popular items like waffles.
🍽️ 🍽️ Food & Dining
The onsite cafe offers a range of food, including breakfast, sandwiches, buffet platters, and famously, delicious waffles.
Reviews consistently praise the food as fresh, well-presented, and tasty, with many highlighting the quality of the breakfast and waffles.
Yes, the cafe can cater for events with options like sandwich platters, buffets, burgers, and hot dogs, receiving high recommendations.
While not explicitly detailed, the mention of mezze platters and buffet options suggests a variety that may include vegetarian choices.
📸 📸 Photography
The colorful and inclusive playground, along with the welcoming cafe atmosphere, offers many opportunities for great photos, especially for family outings. 
The unique features of the all-inclusive playground and the aesthetically pleasing cafe, like Sweet Pete's Waffles, make for memorable photo backdrops.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit