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

Things to do with the Kids & other attractions in Essex

Essex hotels
bed and breakfast 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 eastern side of Essex - Tiptree, Witham, South Woodham Ferrers, Colchester, Southend, Maldon, Halstead, Manningtree, Dedham, Harwich, Clacton, Canvey Island, Sudbury (Suffolk), Ipswich (Suffolk), Felixstowe (Suffolk), Woodbridge (Suffolk)

Click here for 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)

Tiptree

	Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre, Church Rd, Layer-de-la-Haye, Colchester, CO2 0EU. Tel: 01206 738172. The site offers excellent birdwatching opportunities over the 1200 acre reservoir, which is a Wetland of International Importance. There are facilities for the disabled in the Visitor Centre and boardwalk access to 2 of the 5 hides. The Visitor Centre is 6 miles SW of Colchester on the B1026 (a minor road linking Colchester and Maldon).

Southend - on - Sea **Essex**
Peter Pans Adventure Island Sunken Gardens Western Esplanade Southend - on - Sea Essex SS1 1EE Tel: 01702 443400	Lots of rides including the rapids, rides for tiny tots in this fantasy land.
Roots Hall Victoria Avenue Southend-on-Sea Essex SS2 6NQ Tel : 01702 304050	The ground was once the site of a house called Roots Hall, and had been used previously by a team called Southend Athletic FC, now used by Southend United FC
Central Museum/ Planetarium/ Discovery Centre Southend-on-Sea Essex Tel : 01702 434449	Based in the original library building of 1906. Planetarium, Southend Museum - A chance to explore the night sky. Discovery Centre, Southend Museum Opened in 2000, the Discovery Centre is full of 'hands-on' activities for everyone to enjoy

*Maldon*
Museum of Power Steam Pumping Station Hatfield Road Langford Maldon, Essex CM9 6QA tel: 01621 843183	Exhibits include a 'Sectioned' Ford Fiesta, Joseph Evans Reliable Steam Pump No. 19473, built in 1916, and a 'Coles' Crane. Langford and Beeleigh Railway - The main line that now encircles the museum building is vertually complete.

Manningtree **Essex**
Mistley Place Park Animal Rescue Centre New Road Mistle Near Manningtree Essex CO1 11ER Animal Rescue Centre 01206 396048	This Animal rescue centre is home to over 2,000 rescued animals and birds ranging in size from Mice to Shire horses including Cats and Dogs, infact most indigenous species. Many of these animals roam around the site freely (where practical and safe) for you to fuss over and enjoy.

*Ipswich*
Baylham House Farm Baylham House Farm is six miles North West of Ipswich, between Ipswich and Stowmarket. Tel: 01473 830 264	Providing people, particularly children, with an opportunity to meet healthy, contented farm animals is the secondary aim of Baylham House Farm. The primary aim is to care for our livestock and help to maintain the national pool of endangered rare breed farm animals. The farm has four different breeds of cattle and seven small breeding flocks of rare sheep. The pig collection includes some exceedingly friendly Maori pigs from New Zealand called Kune Kunes and we also breed Large Blacks, Berkshires and Middle Whites. The farm also breeds poultry and pygmy goats.

Felixstowe Leisure Centre
Felixstowe Leisure Centre Undercliffe Rd West Felixstowe IP11 2AB Tel: 01394 670411	The Leisure Centre is one of the town's main attractions. It has a multi-purpose hall, which stages children's holiday activities and a variety of events all-year-round, indoor bowls centre, fitness suite, bars and cafe. Its newest attraction is Treasure Island Funtasia - an exciting soft play area for young children. its swimming facilities include three pools - a mother-and-toddler pool, a full-size one, and fun area - and a water slide.

Clacton **Essex**
Clacton Pier Clacton on Sea Essex Tel : 01255 421115	Clacton Pier boasts new Fairground Rides, a fully renovated undercover fairground, the Seaquarium, which is fully accessible for wheelchairs, a public house, restaurants, cafes, shops, side-stalls, amusement arcades and many more attractions.

Canvey Island **Essex**
Canvey Model Railway Waterside Farm Centre. Canvey Island Essex Telephone: 01268 413235	Canvey Model Railway Live steam miniature railway suitable for children from 6 to 60! (approx length 2/3 mile) The club sports an impressive 4400 feet of 7.25 "ground level track ( part of which caters for 5" gauge) and 1440 feet of raised level "Water Wings" offering drivers of 5" & 3.5" engines plenty of track to stretch their engines "coupling rods".Licensed bar, café.

Witham **Essex**
Bramston Sports Centre Bridge Street Witham Essex CM8 1BT	Facilities - Fully refurbished kinetika gym, Workout Studio , Sauna & Spa, Pirates Paradise Crèche, Fully registered holiday activities for children aged 5 to 14 years of age, Swimming lessons for adults and juniors, 25 Metre Swimming Pool, Trainer Pool, Merlin Diving Pool

*Woodbridge*
Heavy Horse Museum Shire Hall Market Hill Woodbridge Telephone: 01394 380643,	An award winning museum devoted to the Suffolk Horse breed (also known as the Suffolk Punch) of heavy working horse, the oldest such breed in the world and probably the most perfect working animal ever bred by man.The Museum includes the history of the breed and its Society, and the work of the blacksmith and the harness maker, shows and showing, the horses' work and the life of the horseman, in displays, paintings and exceptional early photographs.

South Woodham Ferrers **Essex**
Tropical Wings Wickford Road South Woodham Ferrers Essex CM3 5QZ Tel: 01245 425394	Tropical Wings at South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, is set in acres of attractive gardens and features one of the largest butterfly houses in the country. There are many different species of birds, insects and animals, and we pride ourselves on encouraging interaction where possible.
Marsh Farm South Woodham Ferrers Essex CM3 5WP Tel: 01245 321552	Marsh Farm Country Park provides an enjoyable and educational day out for all the family. Marsh Farm is a working farm where children can get close to farm animals and play safely in our adventure play areas. There is also a Country Park, which boasts excellent coastal walks and superb views of the River Crouch.

Colchester **Essex**

	Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre, South Green Road, Fingringhoe, Essex, CO5 7DN. Tel: 01206 729678. The Visitor Centre - the Trust's first - was opened in 1975. With the superb Colne estuary on its doorstep, and surrounded by one of the finest nature reserves in the county, it is attractive to families, organised wildlife groups, school parties and walkers. www.essexwt.org.uk. Three miles south-east of Colchester.

	Abberton Reservoir Visitor Centre, Church Rd, Layer-de-la-Haye, Colchester, CO2 0EU. Tel: 01206 738172. The site offers excellent birdwatching opportunities over the 1200 acre reservoir, which is a Wetland of International Importance. There are facilities for the disabled in the Visitor Centre and boardwalk access to 2 of the 5 hides. www.essexwt.org.uk. The Visitor Centre is 6 miles SW of Colchester on the B1026 (a minor road linking Colchester and Maldon).


Colchester United FC Layer Road Colchester Essex	Colchester United are aiming to leave Layer Road in the near future
Natural History Museum High Street Colchester Essex 01206 282941	The Natural History Museum gives a hands on perspective of the local environment. This is a small museum housed in an unused church opposite Colchester Castle at the end of the High Street. The collection consists of exhibits of local wildlife. Opening times Mon-Sat 10am - 5pm all year round Sun 11am - 5pm. Admission FREE

Tymperleys Clock Museum Trinity Street Colchester Essex Tel: 01206 282927	Tymperleys Clock Museum is housed in a 15th Century timber framed house that was once home to William Gilberd, scientist and physician to Queen Elizabeth I. It is now home to Colchester's fine collection of clocks and watches. The Museum houses part of the famous Bernard Mason Collection and is one of the largest collections of clocks in Britain. All the clocks were made in Colchester between 1640 and 1840 and give a fascinating insight into this specialist trade.
Colchester Castle Museum & Gardens Castle Park Colchester Essex	Castle Museum has nationally important collections of Roman and Iron Age archgaeology and displays on the history of Colchester to the Civil War Siege of 1648 housed in the largest Norman keep ever built. It is now designated as one of the 50 most important musems in the country.	Tel: 01206 282931/2

Colchester Zoo Maldon Road Colchester Essex 01206 331292	Colchester Zoo has some of the best cat and primate collections in Europe. See a White Tiger eye to eye in White Tiger Valley, or get closer to the Zoo's Chimpanzees at Chimp World.
Colchester Leisure World Cowdray Avenue Colchester Essex	Including leisure pool, flume rides, bubbling spa pools and more	01206 282000

Go Bananas 9-10 Mason Road Colchester Essex	Three-storey play frame for 5-12 yr olds + attractions for 0-5 's	01206 761762
East Anglian Railway Museum Chappel Station Colchester Essex	150 years of railway history	01206 242524
Bourne Mill Bourne Road Colchester Essex CO2 8RT Tel: 01206 572 422	Picturesque watermill - a National Trust Property The mill was originally built as a fishing lodge in 1591 and features stepped ‘Dutch’ gables. It was converted in the 19th century to a mill for fulling (a process in cloth manufacture) and later flour milling. The waterwheel is in working order.

Halstead **Essex**
Castle Hedingham Halstead Essex CO9 3DJ Tel: 01787 460261	The Norman Keep at Hedingham castle is one of the finest in the country. It was built around 1140 for Aubrey de Vere II, and was probably designed by William de Corbeuil, Archbishop of Canterbury, who also designed the similar great tower at Rochester Castle. There is a magnificent banqueting hall, minstrel’s gallery and a fine Norman arch set in beautiful grounds with peaceful woodland and lakeside walks.

*Dedham* ***Essex***
Dedham Art & Craft Centre High Street Dedham Essex 01206 322 666	Three floors of Arts, Crafts & studio workshops

*Sudbury*
Kingfisher Leisure Centre Station Road Sudbury Suffolk CO10 2SU	Beach Area, Cafe, Creche, Flume, Group Training Studio, Harpers Fitness Studio, Sauna, Spa Pool, Swimming Pool

*Harwich* ***Essex***
Harwich Redoubt Fort Behind 29 Main Road Harwich Essex CO12 3LT 01255 503429	An anti-Napoleonic circular fort commanding the harbour.Eleven guns on battlements.

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