A huge beach with soft clean sand means there is plenty of space to set up for the day and remain relatively undisturbed, or even go for a long walk. A key feature is the Dry Garden, which contains drought resistant plants designed to thrive in the modest Essex … Definitely visit the Abbey itself and also the pretty gardens and if you want a bit of excitement the Royal Gunpowder Mills are a top-rated attraction, with interactivity that will set your trip off with a bang. Where are the best places to live in Essex? The size and grandeur of the house, Located just to the West of picturesque Saffron Waldon, is breathtaking. If you like a bit of structure then there are five guided trails to follow. It’s a pleasant place to spend an afternoon taking advantage of the many shops, restaurants, and cafes. Essex England England Uk Great Places Beautiful Places Colchester Essex Roman Britain Roman History Kirchen British Isles The Balkerne Gate, Colchester, Essex, England The Balkerne gate in Colchester is the oldest surviving intact Roman gateway in the UK. It proved to be crucial as a base for the defence of the Thames Estuary during England's 100 year war with France and was said to be King Edward III's favourite retreat in his old age. Top Essex Gardens: See reviews and photos of gardens in Essex, England on Tripadvisor. The surrounding gardens and fields provide views akin to those you would expect to see on your favourite period drama with landscaped parkland, beautiful gardens and open countryside. Featuring a promenade there are many activities to indulge in, whether that is simply paddling or trying to catch an angry crab. Essex is not traditionally associated with idyllic, laid back island life, but Mersea offers exactly that. Piers, sandy beaches, ice creams, and fish and chips. Take the day to walk the 13 miles around the island, and catch the breathtaking sunset from the beach. As she publishes ‘Essex Girls’, the author of ‘The Essex Serpent’ shares a list of her favourite places in her home county Marks Hall Marks Hall, near the village of Coggeshall, is a beautiful formal garden and arboretum – and one of the most enchanting places I have ever visited. There is a fair bit of history soaked up in Waltham Abbey, it is thought to be the final resting place of King Harold II. Five different gardens, each with a different theme - water, woodland, gravel, scree and reservoir. Connaught water is one of the better-known lakes in the forest and is not far from Chingford, providing excellent parking and facilities, a manageable walk, and the option to feed the numerous waterfowl which inhabit the lake all year round. Hanningfield Reservoir. Whilst ideal for a day trip and for those looking to ‘escape’ London, there are also numerous guest houses suiting various budgets, making it ideal for a weekend getaway – definitely up there as one of the best places to visit in Essex county! Explore the best places to live in Essex County based on crime, public schools, cost of living, real estate, and local amenities. They are met with a sea of green that demonstrates just how marvellous the Essex countryside is. So a long history indeed! Explore guest reviews and book the perfect place to stay for your trip. With a perfect mix of beach, salt-marshes and stunning countryside there are a plethora of landscapes to enjoy. If you’ve got the motivation it is possible to walk from one to the other, and back (there is also a regular bus, however). Located just to the southwest of Chelmsford, the Hylands House is situated in over 570 acres of beautiful parkland. With beach huts available for daily hire and clean sandy beaches you can swim and bask at will. A post shared by Matthew (@matt5035) on Sep 13, 2013 at 4:45am PDT. The exact date that Hadleigh Castle was built is unknown but it is believed to be around 1215 during the reign of Henry III. Located a 15-minute drive from Brentwood, deer, rolling meadows and stunning views are what make Weald Country Park special. Hyde Hall has it all, resplendent gardens, jaw-dropping panoramic landscapes, pretty little ponds and all manner of wildlife. Frinton is the less commercial version of Walton-on-the-Naze. Rich in culture and activities Waltham Abbey offers a one-stop shop. As one of the finest gardens in England, Hyde Hall is renowned country-wide as a jewel in the world of horticulture and its team of gardeners strive to produce the gardens that are both vibrant and intimate. Beautiful sandy beach on the Tendring sunshine coast, great for walking the dog, building sandcastles and paddling." The only bright thing you’ll be seeing is the multi-coloured beach huts, which are available to rent on a daily or weekly basis. The oldest town, not just in Essex but the entire country, Colchester was the capital of Roman Britain for a time. You are reading "7 Best Things to Do in Essex, Massachusetts this Weekend with Friends" Back to Top or More places to see near me today, what to do, weekend trips Admission for April is £6.95 and increases to £7.95 from May. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a922f11569901ed1f07d98d825e5d47b" );document.getElementById("b4f74bb5fa").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Ranked as a top Travel Authority in the UK by Agility PR Solutions, Nominated as the best female travel blogger in the Teletext Holiday Awards 2019, British Annual Canada Travel Awards Finalist 2018, Nominated for the Best UK Travel Blog 2018, Cheapflights Travel Blog Awards Nominee 2017, Copyright © 2020 GlobalGrasshopper.com | All Rights ReservedHeader photo by @garyansome. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. "Last summer there was a fabulous sculpture exhibition here and in the summer holidays our children have enjoyed a pre bookable tree climbing experience, which was great fun!." Today, what is left of the castle is mainly ruins and is owned and maintained by English Heritage. There's a reason this land has been an inspiration for generations of musicians and artists, perhaps it's the wide open vistas or the diverse wildlife. For the artists amongst you will know Dedham as ‘Constable country’, whom the area has a lot to thank for; his detailed landscape oil paintings inspired by the area are considered revolutionary in the art world. Located to the South of Essex on the mouth of the Thames Estuary, Thorpe Bay is another offering for you to enjoy if you like the seaside. It’s an attractive city with interesting historic buildings, in fact, it was built on the foundations of a Roman temple and one of the city museums displays artifacts up to 2,500 years old. This regal Georgian Mansion offers views that will transport you back to the classic romance novels of the 19th Century. A world of vibrant colours and wonderful aromas you can enjoy a stroll through the different gardens before relaxing with tea and scones at the garden's tea room. It was used in World War II to train covert Polish operatives before they were parachuted into enemy territory, if this is an area that you find particularly interesting, English Heritage offer guided tours, detailing this and other facts from the house’s 400-year history. 10 Southend Pier. Admission is free to the Queens Hunting Lodge, where rumour has it, Henry VIII used to take potshots at the occasional passing deer. It’s also a gorgeous corner of the South East which sometimes gets overlooked as a travel destination from visitors coming further afield. Home » Essex » Dog Friendly Attractions & Places Dog friendly attractions and places to visit in Essex The information we have listed is up to date to the best of our knowledge, however we advise you to contact the attraction before you visit with your dog to make … This county has a rich farming background and footpaths cover the region, taking you along hedgerows, across fields and through forests. In fact, people from all over the world visit this county for vacations and not just British people. You can even lay your hand against the bark of a 450-year oak at Hatfield or … Lets explore the best places to visit in Essex: 1. The pier is filled with history being home to the Visitor Centre and the 'Christopher Jones and the Mayflower' Exhibition. On warm summer days you can see across the Pound and look upon the remnants of an old 19th Century fishing fleet. There’s a bat maternity roost on … It has lots of historic features which make it a wonderful little village to explore. 17 Picture-Perfect Places In Essex #nofilter by Kate Jordan BuzzFeed Contributor 1. The exact date that hadleigh Castle was built is unknown but it has transport. Shipbuilding Museum the ships heading off into the north of Epping Forest between Connaught water Queen. You can explore at this hidden destination by Beth Sadler ( @ rowlandwright ) on Sep 13, 2013 4:45am. 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