Harlow, Essex

Discover things to do, places to stay and more in Harlow - a sculpture town in Essex. 

Harlow Town

Harlow is a wonderful, vibrant town with great art and culture to delve deep into, as well as some lovely sports and green spaces for locals and visitors to enjoy. Harlow is located close to London, Stansted Airport, and Cambridge, and is easy to get to thanks to great rail and road links! Harlow is a town in Essex that has some great stories behind it – did you know that this is the birthplace of fibre optic telecommunications technology? It’s also the home of the first tower block in the country, and where the first automated cricket scoring board was invented!

Things to Do in Harlow, Essex

There’s a great range of things to do in Harlow, with activities suitable for people of all ages and interests. If you’re an animal lover, you won’t want to miss a free day out at Harlow Pets Corner in the Harlow Town Park, where you’ll find a large selection of traditional farm animals such as chickens, rabbits, and ducks, as well as some more exotic creatures from snakes to llamas and fish! Harlow Town Park is also home to five unique gardens to explore, an adventure playground and so much more. The Harlow Playhouse is great if you’re looking for some live entertainment – enjoy live music, stand-up comedy, and of course their annual pantomimes!

Hotels

If you’re looking for places to stay in Harlow, we recommend The Harlow Hotel by Accor. Situated just a few minutes from the M11, this lovely hotel includes a great restaurant and onsite parking. From here, you can explore the wonderful attractions that Harlow has to offer! The Harlow Hotel also has nine meeting rooms, and is just 11 miles from Stansted Airport, making it ideal for business trips, meetings and conferences. If you’re looking for a hotel outside of Harlow but still within a good distance to travel into the town, then Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate will suit your needs perfectly. Just a 22 minute drive from Harlow, Down Hall is a historic building set in the beautiful Essex countryside with breathtaking grounds and amazing facilities.

Harlow Shopping Centre

Fancy doing a spot of shopping in Harlow? The Harvey Centre is the local Harlow shopping centre and boasts a wide range of different shops from well-known high street names to independent businesses. Shop for clothes, toys, cosmetics and so much more. If you need a break from shopping, why not stop in and catch the latest blockbuster at Harlow’s Cineworld?

Museums & Culture

If there’s one thing that Harlow is known for, it’s for amazing art and culture. The Harlow Museum and Walled Gardens is an absolute must on your list of things to do in Harlow – explore their outstanding gallery spaces that take you all the way from the Iron Age to present day, as well as their three historical gardens. Art lovers will feel right at home in Harlow – the town’s sculptures are world famous, resulting in its designation a Sculpture Town. Harlow’s sculpture trail consists of over 100 pieces by artists such as Auguste Rodin, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. When visiting, you must visit The Gibberd Garden, designed by Sir Frederick and Lady Pat Gibberd. Open to the public from April into October, The Gibberd Garden and Gibberd Rooms are home to an extraordinary collection of modern sculptures and architectural pieces.