Explore Essex with its 300 miles of coastline and sandy beaches

Essex - Historic County - England

Key Towns - Barking Basildon Chelmsford Colchester Dagenham Harwich Ilford Maldon Saffron Walden Southend-on-Sea Stansted Mountfitchet Tilbury Tiptree West Ham Woodford

Essex - Historic County - England Essex located in the East of England, has 300 miles of coastline and sandy beaches. Essex has a rich heritage of timber-framed houses, thatched cottages, parish churches and village greens. Visit Thaxted, an attractive village, with many historical buildings including a 15th Century Parish Church, with cathedral like proportions and a six hundred year old Guildhall. Explore Epping Forest, an area of ancient woodland in southeast England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. Colchester is Britain's oldest recorded town, it has historic buildings, museums and a pedestrianised shopping centre. Holiday makers can see the Thames Sailing Barges at Hythe Quay at Maldon Harbour. One of England's finest half-timbered buildings, is Paycocke at Coggeshall, it has unusually intricate panelling and woodcarving. See the decorative plasterwork (pargeting) on the buildings in Saffron Walden, a place so named after the saffron crocus. Dedham sits right on the border with Suffolk, an area known as 'Constable Country'. Clacton-On-Sea has a fairground, amusements, a Victorian pier and a seven-mile promenade. Burnham-on-Crouch, famous for its sailing and sailing clubs. The lonely coastal marshlands of Essex are a bird watchers paradise; like Dengie Marshes, which provide a haven for many species of wildfowl.
Selected Attractions in Essex - See More
Colchester Cast...	Colne Valley Ra...	Tropical Wings ...	The Beth Chatto...
Essex Holiday Suggestions & Ideas
Period Country Railway Sample the atmosphere and take a ride on an award winning period country railway from Castle Hedingham, onboard the Colne Valley Railway. You will find a pretty line, station buildings, signal boxes and bridges all lovingly restored and rebuilt. There is also a large and varied collection of operational vintage steam and diesel engines, carriages and wagons that represent much of our Railway Heritage is available to explore around. Throughout the year there are many special events including Thomas the Tank Engine, Santa Specials, luxury wine and dine services in their vintage Pullman Coach.		Beth Chatto Gardens Visit the internationally acclaimed gardens of drought, water and woodland situations, all created by Beth Chatto and her late husband. The Beth Chatto Gardens began in 1960, from an overgrown wasteland with poor gravel soil and boggy hollows. It has been transformed into an informal garden harmonising with the surrounding countryside. Adjoining the Gardens is the nursery providing visitors with the opportunity to purchase plants that they might have seen growing in the gardens. There are over 2,000 different types of plants for sale, predominately herbaceous perennials, bulbs and a selection of shrubs and climbers to compliment. There is also a tea room offering light refreshments.
Walking Walking in Essex John Ray Walk Icknield Way Great Eastern Pingo Trail	Locations Epping Forest Brightlingsea Harbour And Marina Southend-on-sea Pier Clacton Pier	Events Braintree & Bocking Carnival Brightlingsea Carnival Chelmsford Cathedral Festival Clacton Carnival	Snippets Dick Turpin