Things to Do

Come for the experience, go with the flow

Discover why more and more families, couples and groups are making the Essex experience really happen. From taking a mellow pace to supercharging your adventurous spirit – we offer so many things to do in Essex for all energy levels. And budgets.

A visit to Essex provides much more diversity than you might expect. Fancy the high energy thrills of a theme park or rodeo rafting? Or you may prefer things a little wilder. With such varied habitats, you can encounter creatures from farmyard favourites to the rhinos at Colchester Zoo to the exotic sea specimens of Sea Life Adventure in Southend. And see the wonder on your children’s faces as they get up close and personal with wildlife at our nature reserves.

You can also savour the county’s postcard-perfect heritage – at towering castles and stately manors. Marvel at the world’s largest toy collection at Mountfitchet Castle, or at the largest surviving Great War aerodrome at Stow Maries. Or why not take a relaxing amble through our splendid gardens (including the exceptional RHS Hyde Hall), or stroll through one of the county’s many vineyards – then get a taste of what all the fuss is about.

With so many amazing vistas and locations, it’s no wonder that Essex is one of the fastest growing regions to host a large gathering in style. How about an amazing manor house to make your wedding day even more special? Or a mansion in picturesque gardens to host the ultimate team event? Or a modern sea-front escape for a meeting space with a difference? Our choice of venues new and old make Essex an essential consideration for bringing groups together.

If you want to get active, come to a natural hotbed of outdoor adventures. You can start at an easy pace. The landscape is fairly flat, making it an extra pleasure to walk or cycle along the abundant scenic coastal paths, or to ramble through the countryside along disused railway lines or rural footpaths. 

And why not try something completely different? It’s hard to imagine the serenity you feel by watching the world drift by from a vintage sailing barge. Or how close to nature you can be when you go seal watching at Harwich or Burnham-on-Crouch. Or how you can get a sense of our colourful history through guided tours of Colchester, Britain’s first city. 

Then if you want to follow the trail blazed by our Olympic heroes, two of our most popular attractions were key for the 2012 games: the Lee Valley White Water Centre and the mountain biking centre at Hadleigh Park. And if you want a manic list of activities under one roof – Trampolining, Clip ‘n climb, Dodgeball, Toxic Wipeout, the Wall, and on and on – you really should visit Jump Street, the largest activity centre in the UK.

Any time of day or night you want to dive in, you’re in luck. Essex is lively, Essex is friendly, Essex knows how to show you a good time – with the choices to match. At casinos and nightclubs, at the theatre or racecourse, at comedy or music venues – you’re in for a genuine treat. And a little good-natured banter to help make your night out complete.

We’re happy to highlight art and culture as well as the lights. To show you the shops in quaint market towns, to take you on guided tours of the sights that abound. So, whether you want to ramp up the pace, or seek an idyllic rural escape – in Essex, you’ve come to the right place.