Essex - 74 Attractions You Must Visit

Mangapps Railway Museum is a privately owned working railway and museum established on a farm at Burnham on Crouch, Essex. It houses an extensive collection of railway relics of all kinds, working steam and diesel locomotives, carriages, wagons, historic buildings and one of the largest collections of railway signalling equipment open to the public.

Marks Hall Estate is the perfect setting for family adventures with an eco-friendly twist. Managed and cared for by a charitable trust. It Set within a beautiful heritage landscape that extends to over 2,350-acres of north Essex countryside. It was one of the iconic attraction located in a beautiful area which offers you a beautiful time.

Marsh Farm Country Park is a great place for walks and superb river views. Its 300 acres of grazing marsh together with over 10 miles of footpaths is ideal for walking, running, cycling and dog-walking, and it is a great site for wildlife-spotting opportunities. An exciting array of activities and experiences await visitors including tractor and trailer rides, a bouncy castle, ride on tractors, craft activities, and a magic show.

Mountfitchet Castle is a National Historic Monument, protected by the Department of the Environment. Within the Castle, complex is the world-famous House on the Hill Museum which offers the visitor an amazing array of over 70,000 toys from the 19th Century to the 1980s. Excellent exhibitions of World War 1 & 2 memorabilia including a Home Front/Blitz display, a Rock 'n' Roll exhibition, film, TV, and theatre.

Mountfitchet Castle & Norman Village is an award winning medieval Castle and Norman Village. Within the Castle complex is the world famous House on the Hill Museum which offers the visitor an amazing array of over 70,000 toys from the 19th Century to the 1980's. Excellent exhibitions of World War 1 & 2 memorabilia including a Home Front/Blitz display, a Rock 'n' Roll exhibition, film, TV and theatre. Meet the animals that roam freely through out the 10 acre site which love to be hand fed, wander

A beautiful and Picturesque watermill with a working waterwheel. It was built as a fishing lodge in 1591, converted to a fulling mill around 1640 and then converted to a corn mill in about 1840, which continued working until the 1930s. It is well worth a visit for all the family. The working waterwheel and the grounds give plenty of scope for family fun. The grounds have a pond, wetlands and woods and are home to a variety of wildlife including birds, bats, waterfowl, bugs, and beetles.

One of Europe's oldest timber-framed buildings which was once owned by the Cistercian monks at Coggeshall Abbey. The massive roof is supported by an elaborate system of timber posts and beams, with 6 interior bays with aisles. The roof is covered in simple red tiles made by hand. It was one of the oldest surviving iconic buildings in this area.

Hatfield Forest is a 403.2-hectare biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Essex, three miles east of Bishop's Stortford. The Forest is an ideal place for a quiet stroll away from the main lakeside area. Wander along the main plains or head off into the trees and explore the rides. It is owned and managed by the National Trust. A medieval warren in the forest is a Scheduled Monument.

The Naze Tower is an historic 86ft landmark dramatically situated on the cliffs at the Naze. Built by Trinity House in 1720 this octagonal navigation tower has played an important role in maritime history and is grade II* listed, as the only building of its type and era in the country. Today it offers visitors a unique experience of heritage and culture that is fun for all ages.

North Weald Airfield is an operational general aviation aerodrome located in North Weald Bassett – Epping Forest, Essex. It was an important fighter station during the Battle of Britain. Although unlicensed it is home to many private aircraft and historic types, and is host to a wide range of events throughout the year, including the Air-Britain Classic Fly-in and smaller airshows.

Northey Island is an island in the estuary of the River Blackwater, Essex. It is a Site of special scientific interest with a large area of undisturbed Saltmarsh. It is also the site of the Battle of the Maldon in AD991 making it Britain's oldest recorded battlefield site. Guided tours can be organised only by prior arrangement.

Osea Island, formerly also Osey, is an inhabited island in the estuary of the River Blackwater, Essex, East England. It is approximately 380 acres in size and is connected to the north bank of the river by a causeway, covered at high water. The population of the Island is included in the civil parish of Heybridge. It is accessible only via a winding tidal causeway, or helicopter.

Parndon Wood Nature Reserve, run by ECCO, is an area of the ancient woodland home to a huge range of birds, small mammals, deer, flora, and fungi. The reserve is a Special Site for Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its variety of flora and has received a Green Flag Award, which recognizes the best parks in the country, for the last 11 years.

One of the unique and beautiful parks which was around 100 years old. It features an ornamental lake, kids splash park, beach huts, sandpits, a galleon play-ship area, zip-wire, and several picnic areas. The park hosts events throughout the year and provides spectacular river views over the Blackwater Estuary. One of the iconic locations where you can spend a good time.

Prospect Cottage is a house on the coast in Dungeness, Kent. Originally a Victorian fisherman's hut,[1][2] the house was purchased by director and artist Derek Jarman in 1986, and was his home until his death in 1994. its iconic garden stand testament to his defiant spirit, and have the potential to inspire artists and visitors long into the future.

RHS Garden Hyde Hall is a public display garden run by the Royal Horticultural Society in the English county of Essex. It is one of five public gardens run by the Society, alongside Wisley in Surrey, Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, Rosemoor in Devon, and Bridgewater in Greater Manchester. The 360-acre Hyde Hall site encompasses a range of garden styles, from the Dry Garden with drought-resistant plants to the Hilltop Garden with roses and herbaceous borders.

The Royal Gunpowder Mills is a great place for families to spend days out exploring the secret history of gunpowder, explosives and rocket propellants and so more. It is a Scheduled Monument with over 20 listed buildings. It is also designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for it wildlife. Its alder woodland is undergoing conservation.

Saffron Walden Museum Society is a voluntary charitable organisation that owns the museum building – thought to be one of the oldest purpose-built local museums in the country. It contains items of international relevance, as well as a wealth of local and other British objects and specimens, showing our history, culture and wildlife. this award-winning, family-friendly museum stands in an enclosed meadow beside the ruins of the 12th-century Walden Castle.

It was one of the first religious houses in England to adopt Augustinian rule built between 1093 and 1100. The site remains under the care of English Heritage and the modestly sized grounds are free to explore, with benches and grassland providing opportunities for picnics.

One of the most restful and spiritual buildings in the country which is the oldest church in England built by St Cedd in 654ad. The Chapel is used regularly by the nearby Othona Community, and is presently only open on Thursdays and Sundays for private prayer.