Childrens & family attractions in Essex - Things to do with the Kids

Things to do with the Kids & other attractions in Essex

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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.
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.

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.

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, 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
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


	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

	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

	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.

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

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

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

*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

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

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


	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

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
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
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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