Essex attractions

Things to do with the Kids & other attractions in Essex

Things to do with the Kids & other attractions in Essex

Essex hotels
bed and breakfast in Essex
self catering in Essex

On this page we have listed family attractions and things to do with the kids in towns on the western side of Essex - Chelmsford, Waltham Abbey, Brentwood, Stansted, Great Dunmow, Saffron Walden, Romford, Basildon, Harlow, Grays, Thaxted, Epping, Tilbury, Billericay, Rainham, Stevenage (Herts), Bishop's Stortford (Herts), Hertford (Herts), Ware (Herts), Haverhill (Suffolk)

Click here for family attractions and things to do with the kids in towns on the eastern side of Essex - Witham, South Woodham Ferrers, Colchester, Southend, Maldon, Halstead, Manningtree, Dedham, Harwich, Clacton, Canvey Island, Sudbury (Suffolk), Ipswich (Suffolk), Felixstowe (Suffolk), Woodbridge (Suffolk)

Chelmsford ESSEX
Go Wild in Chelmsford
RIVERMEAD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
CHELMSFORD ESSEX
CM1 1PD

Leisure & Recreation Centres in Essex

Tel:01245 347272
Essex County Cricket Club
The Ford County Ground
New Writtle Street
Chelmsford
Essex CM2 0PG
Tel: 01245 252420

The club started in Brentwood in 1876. Essex County Cricket Club moved to the County Ground in Chelmsford in 1966. Essex first won the County Championship and the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1979.

Essex County Cricket Club
Chelmsford Library
County Hall
Market Road
Chelmsford
Essex CM1 1LF

Chelmsford Library is loacted in the heart of the town centre on the ground floor of County Hall and next to High Chelmer Shopping Centre. Access is from Market Road.

Tel:01245 492758
Dovedale Sports Centre Fitness Room
Vicarage Road
Chelmsford
Essex
CM2 0JQ

Fully equipped fitness room within the Dovedale Sports Centre. Contains "Technogym" exercise equipment.

Tel:01245 269020
Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre
Victoria Road
Chelmsford
Essex, CM1 1FG
Tel: 01245 615050

Riverside Ice and Leisure provides a focus for leisure in Chelmsford with a range of facilities that is both unique and extensive. Main Pool is a 33.3 by 12.5 metre, six lane. This Ice Rink has the latest in sound and lighting effects combine with a lively disco atmosphere. It's also home of the Chelmsford Chieftains Ice Hockey Team. indoor, competition pool.

Riverside Ice & Leisure Centre

Tilbury Essex
Tilbury Fort
Tilbury
Located ½ mile E of Tilbury off A126
Tel: 01375 858489

The artillery fort at Tilbury protected London until the dawn of the 20th century. Henry VIII built the first fort and, nearby, Elizabeth I rallied her army waiting for the Armada. The present fort, the most complete example of its type in England, was begun in 1672 under Charles II. It supported powerful artillery to stop warships, a garrison to repel a land attack, and two magazines that stored vast quantities of gunpowder. English Heritage. Charges apply.

Tilbury Fort

BILLERICAY Essex
BILLERICAY SPORTS AND LEISURE CENTRE
BILLERICAY
Essex

Billericay
Dual-use sports centre used by schools or college during the day (term time), and by the general public during the evenings, weekends and school holidays. Facilities include 5 court sports hall, weight training room, aerobics, swimming lessons, tennis courts and a licensed bar.

Tel: 01277 655545

Essex Wildlife Trust

Attractions Essex Wildlife Trust, Langdon Nature Reserve, Third Avenue, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon, Essex SS16 6EB. Tel 01268 419103. 461 Acres of woodland, meadows and lake to explore by foot, bike or horse. Visitor centre with refreshments. 1930's house - take a step back in time. Kids activity booklets, activity packs and self guided walks available at any time. Children's activities available throughout school holidays. Centre and reserve open 9.00am - 5.00pm Tues - Sun. Open bank holidays. www.essexwt.org.uk

Essex Wildlife Trust

Harlow Essex
Parndon Wood Nature Reserve Parndon Wood Road
Harlow
Essex

Set on the southern outskirts of Harlow. The wood is composed of a canopy of oak tree standards with hornbeam trees growing beneath. The reserve is also a haven for flora, fungi, birds, minibeasts, small mammals and deer and is a beautiful and peaceful place to wander whether on your own, with family of with friends. Visitors can follow the guided trail around the wood or simply enjoy the surroundings. There are observation hides to sit quietly and watch for deer or birds setting down by the ponds.
The wood also offers a fully accessible conservation centre with toilets, meeting room, laboratory, leaflets, displays and a reference library for those who wish to know more.
Tel: 01279 430005

Rainham
Chase - London Wildlife Trust
Dagenham Road
Rainham
London
E10 7LH
Tel: 020 8593 8096

Spend the day exploring the Trust's largest nature reserve which covers 120 acres. There are shallow wetlands, reedbeds, horse-grazed pasture, scrub and woodland. These harbour an impressive range of animals and plants including the rare black poplar tree. This site is a haven for birds, with around 200 different species recorded here over the years - from teal and shoveler in winter, woodpeckers and kingfisher all year, to a range of scarce and rare birds especially during migration. The Chase is popular with winter bird watchers but has plenty of all-year-round wildlife to interest visitors.

Chase - London Wildlife Trust

Haverhill
Haverhill Arts Centre
Town Hall Arts Centre
High Street
Haverhill
Suffolk CB9 8AR.
Tel: 01440 714140

The Arts Centre houses a 210 seater auditorium and offers a wide and varied programme of live theatre, dance, music, film and other artforms. The main hall is also used as a dance hall and is available for wedding receptions and parties at certain times of the year. The studio and craft room are available for hire by community groups and for business conferences.

Haverhill Arts Centre

Epping Forest
The Epping Forest Information Centre
Epping Forest
Tel: 020 8508 0028

The Forest’s leisure facilities include 45 football pitches, an 18-hole public golf course and three cricket pitches. Cross-country running is also popular, while horse riders have 85km of tracks to explore (horses can be hired locally). Walking and picnicking are popular and there are opportunities for boating, fishing and model aircraft flying at specific locations within the Forest. Some easy access paths are provided for those with restricted mobility.

Epping Forest

Grays Essex
Grays Beach Riverside Park
Thames Road
Grays
Thurrock
Essex

Grays Beach with Britain's biggest play galleon, it's unique and lots of fun. There's an 18 hole adventure golf course, a children's driving school, skittles, hose hockey, air maze, pedal go-karts, zippy dipper and a balloon typhoon. Supervised water play area in Summer months. All this plus a Café, trees, grass and a promenade overlooking the Thames.
Tel. 01375 386759.

Thaxted Essex
Thaxted Church
The Vicarage
Watling Street
Thaxted, CM6 2QY
Tel. 01371 830221

Thaxted Church is one of the grandest in the county of Essex, 183 feet long and 87 feet wide, and so beautiful that it may well claim to be the Cathedral of Essex. The Church stands on a hill and dominates the town. From whichever direction the visitor approaches, the splendid spire can be seen many miles away. It has been described as the finest parish church in the country, and has both beauty and grandeur. There is an excellent 'walk around' guide in the church available to visitors.
Thaxted Church

Hertford
The Castle
Hertford
SG14 1HR
Hertfordshire
01992 552885

The building often referred to as Hertford Castle is in fact the gatehouse. The castle itself no longer stands but occupied the enclosed area behind the gatehouse. For 300 years a Royal Palace stood within the flint walls having previously been one of a series of castles built for defence purposes. James I of Scotland was a prisoner at Hertford Castle, as were the Templars. Queen Elizabeth I spent much of her childhood at both Hatfield House and Hertford Castle.

The Castle

Waltham Abbey ESSEX
Waltham Abbey Swimming Pool
Roundhills Estate
Waltham Abbey
Essex EN9 1UP

The site has the latest SHAPES Fitness Facility with all the equipment needed to keep fit and healthy. Once you have generated a need to relax, there is a chance to use the sauna and steam room

Tel: 01992 716733
Waltham Abbey Sports Centre
Broomstickhall Road
Waltham Abbey
Essex EN9 1LF

Waltham Abbey Sports Centre is used by King Harold School during the day and open to the general public during the evenings, weekends and school holidays. The Centre facilities include a five court sports hall

Tel: 01992 716194

Brentwood Essex
The Brentwood Centre
Doddinghurst Road
Brentwood
Essex CM15 9NN
Tel: 01277 215151

The Brentwood Centre offers two swimming pools; a main pool and a teaching pool. It offers most indoor sports, including the 12-badminton court International Hall, aerobics, football, table tennis, yoga and many other activities, and a licensed bar. A hi-tech fitness training centre, health suite, beauty clinic and squash courts

The Brentwood Centre
Old MacDonalds Educational Farm Park
Weald Road
South Weald
Brentwood
Essex

 Educational farm park set in 17 acres of Essex countryside, birds, animals etc

Tel: 01277 375177

Old MacDonalds Educational Farm Park

Thorndon Countryside Centre

Attractions Thorndon Countryside Centre, The Avenue, Brentwood, CM13 3RZ. Tel: 01277 232944. The Trust shop offers a wide range of quality goods. The display area contains interactive displays. The Centre has wheelchair access and a disabled person's toilet. A wheelchair can be provided on request. www.essexwt.org.uk

Thorndon Countryside Centre

Essex Wildlife Trust

Attractions Essex Wildlife Trust, Langdon Nature Reserve, Third Avenue, Lower Dunton Road, Basildon, Essex SS16 6EB. Tel 01268 419103. 461 Acres of woodland, meadows and lake to explore by foot, bike or horse. Visitor centre with refreshments. 1930's house - take a step back in time. Kids activity booklets, activity packs and self guided walks available at any time. Children's activities available throughout school holidays. Centre and reserve open 9.00am - 5.00pm Tues - Sun. Open bank holidays. www.essexwt.org.uk

Essex Wildlife Trust

Bedfords Park Visitor Centre

Attractions Bedfords Park Visitor Centre, Broxhill Road, Harold Hill , Romford Essex, RM4 1QH. Tel: 01708 748646. In the grounds of Bedfords Park, an historic parkland site owned and managed by London Borough of Havering. Exotic trees such as cedar of Lebanon, holm oak, monkey-puzzle, giant redwood and yew. Wonderful Wildflower Meadows, varied woodland, several ponds and a lake, as well as a captive herd of Red Deer. Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Hobby. Wild deer are often seen. Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies. Footpaths, bridleway and cycleway. About 4 miles west of Brentwood.

Bedfords Park Visitor Centre

Stansted Essex
Mountfitchet Castle & House On The Hill Toy Museum
Stansted
Essex, CM24 8SP
Tel 01279 813237

Voted Essex Attraction Of The Year 2002 By The Good Britain Guide - THE CASTLE TIME FORGOT

Mountfitchet Castle

Great Dunmow Essex
Great Dunmow Leisure Centre
Parsonage Downs
Great Dunmow
Essex
CM6 2AU
Tel: 01371 878690

Harpers Fitness Suite/Gym - Harpers Dance/Aerobic Studio - 25 x 13m Pool with spectator seating - Sports Hall - Squash & Tennis Courts - Floodlit Synthetic Turf Pitch

Great Dunmow Leisure Centre

Bishop’s Stortford Essex
Hatfield Forest
Takeley
nr Bishop’s Stortford
Essex
CM22 6NE

Ancient woodland – a rare surviving example of a medieval royal hunting forest. Of great historical and ecological importance, Hatfield Forest is a designated SSSI and National Nature Reserve. The pollarded hornbeams and oaks support a wide variety of wildlife and there are many excellent walks and nature trails, as well as fishing in the lake. During summer cattle graze in the forest

Hatfield Forest

Ware
Ware Museum
89 High Street
Ware
Herts SG12 9AL
Tel: 01920 487848

Includes a Second World War Air-Raid Shelter as an educational activity area where schools can learn about the Blitz, the joys of being evacuees, rationing and so on

Ware Museum

Saffron Walden Essex
Mole Hall Wildlife Park & Butterfly Pavilion
Widdington
Saffron Walden
Essex CB11 3SS
Tel: 01799-540400

Mole Hall Wildlife Park was first opened to the public in 1963 and now covers over 20 acres of grounds and gardens, which surround the original moated manor house (private), which dates from 1287. The flamingos enjoy wading in the moat surrounding Mole Hall House

Mole Hall Wildlife Park

Romford Essex
Romford Ster Century Cinema
1-15 The Brewery
Romford
Essex, RM1 1DU

The Ster Century Cinema at Romford is a multiplex cinema with 16 screens showing all mainstream films.
Tel: 0871 223 3424

Attractions THE CARRIE LOUISE DANCE ACADEMY. PRINCIPAL MRS CARRIE DAVIS (MEMBER BTDA). TAP,MODERN,BALLET,ACROBATICS AND LYRICAL. EXAM WORK, SHOWS, SUMMER FETE`S AND COMPETITONS. LESSONS ARE HELD EVERY THURSDAY AT THE COLLIER ROW METHODIST CHURCH, CLOCKHOUSE LANE COLLIER ROW. 4PM TILL 6.30PM. BOYS AND GIRLS FROM AGES 3YEARS AND OVER. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AND REQUIRE DETAILS PLEASE PHONE 07761151015 OR EMAIL. About 2 miles north of Romford.

Stevenage
Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre
Lytton Way
Stevenage
Hertfordshire SG1 1LZ
08700 131030

 There are many restaurants, a 16 screen cinema, tenpin bowling and bars

Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre

Basildon Essex
The Motorboat Museum
Wat Tyler Country Park
Basildon
Essex, SS16 4UH
Tel: 01268 550077

The only museum in the world devoted to the history of motor boats. Admission is free

The Motorboat Museum
Essex Wildlife Trust
Langdon Nature Reserve
Third Avenue
Lower Dunton Road
Basildon
Essex SS16 6EB
www.essexwt.org.uk

461 Acres of woodland, meadows and lake to explore by foot, bike or horse. Visitor centre with refreshments. 1930's house - take a step back in time. Kids activity booklets, activity packs and self guided walks available at any time. Children's activities available throughout school holidays. Centre and reserve open 9.00am - 5.00pm Tues - Sun. Open bank holidays. Tel: 01268 419103

Essex Wildlife Trust
Wat Tyler Country Park
Basildon
Essex, SS16 4UH

120 acres of parkland and lakes with conservation sites, along with motorboat museum, craft shops and children's adventure playground.

Tel: 01268 550077
Basildon Sports Centre
Basildon College, Nethermayne, Basildon
Essex
SS16 5AS

Release all that excess energy and get fit at Basildon Sports Centre.

Tel: 01268 533166
Markhams Chase Leisure Centre

Squash Courts, Main Hall for Badminton to Basketball and lots of
other activties with as Bar for centre users, sauna and weight training gym. It can offer a seletction of courses as well as being the home to YAWN Disabled Club and PLAYWEB Holiday childcare scheme for 5 - 12 year olds.

Tel: 01268 410126
UCI 12 Cinemas
Festival Leisure Park
Basildon
Essex
SS14 3WB

Other facilities available within the Festival Leisure Park - Hollywood Bowl - Ikon/Diva Night Club - TGI Fridays - McDonalds - Brewers Fayre Public House

Tickets: 0871 22 44 007
Festival Leisure Park
Cranes Farm Road
Basildon
Essex SS14 3TJ

Basildon's Festival Leisure Park is an important leisure destination for people from all over south Essex. Large multi-screen cinema, bowling alley, restaurants and bars, activity centre for youngsters. A superbly equipped sports complex, nightlife. If you're looking for somewhere to eat, the choice is excellent.

Tel: 01268531973

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