Heritage Open Day: A visit to St Botolph's Church and Priory combines a superb example of Norman architecture with an mid-19th-century church... more >

Priory Street, Colchester CO2 7EE

Fri 6 Sep 24

Discover Clubs and Organisations in Essex

St Peter's Church

Heritage Open Day: Check out this medieval city centre church with a tower from 1758 and interior with a 17th Century pulpit and interesting... more >

St Peter’s Church, North Hill, Colchester CO1 1DZ

Fri 6 Sep 24

Social Steps Ballroom Dance And Social Club Free Taster Night

COME AND JOIN US FOR A FREE NIGHT OF SOCIAL DANCING THIS THURSDAY ABOUT US We are a small group of social Ballroom, Latin American and Sequence... more >

Ramsden Bellhouse Village Hall, Church Road, Ramsden Bellhouse, Billericay CM11 1RH

Thu 5 Sep 24

Loughton Astronomical Society

Dr Chris Crowe: The Hubble Space Telescope - 25 years of Discoveries. The Loughton Astronomical Society is the home of all things astronomical in..... more >

Scout Hall, Loughton Lane next to the Cricket Club. CM16 7EJ

Thu 5 Sep 24

Stamp Club Meeting (Witham)

The Treasurer Entertains (I. Kelly). Meeting of Witham Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit. Membership subscription payable for continued..... more >

Spring Lodge Community Centre, Powers Hall End, Witham CM8 2HE

Thu 5 Sep 24

Stamp Club Meeting (Benfleet)

2d. Blues (A. Davis). Meeting of Benfleet & District Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit. Membership subscription payable for continued..... more >

Jubilee Hall, St Barnabas Church, Church Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet SS7 2EJ

Wed 4 Sep 24

The Confessions of Sweeney Todd

An original one-man performance featuring an audience with the infamous Demon Barber of Fleet Street himself, Sweeney Todd!... more >

Headgate Theatre, 14 Chapel Street North, Colchester CO2 7AT

Wed 4 Sep 24

Long House Plants - Open Garden for NGS

A beautiful garden - yes, but one with a purpose. Long House Plants has been producing homegrown plants for more than 10 years and here is a chance..... more >

Long House Plants, Romford RM4 1LD

Wed 4 Sep 24

Stamp Club Meeting (Clacton)

Middle East Forces (M. Carter). Meeting of Clacton Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit. Membership subscription payable for continued..... more >

Clacton Indoor Bowls Club, Valley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 6NA

Wed 4 Sep 24

ArtMix Group Exhibition

Exhibition of work in various media, including paintings, prints and glass, by members of the ArtMix Group: Susan Fraser, Dorothea King, Rose... more >

The Sail Loft Gallery, 28 High Street, Manningtree CO11 1JA

Tue 3 Sep 24

Stamp Club Meeting (Basildon)

Malta (I. McElwain). Meeting of Basildon Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit. Membership subscription plus £1 attendance fee payable for..... more >

George Hurd Centre, Audley Way, Basildon SS14 2FL

Mon 2 Sep 24

Stamp Club Meeting (Frinton)

2Sep2024: Andy Soutar displays Missent Mail to St. helena and another display, 16Sep2024: Simon Martin-Redman displays Wankaner & Sarawak Registered..... more >

Room 5, Frinton Community Centre, Soken House, The Triangle, Frinton-on-Sea CO13 0AU

Mon 2 Sep 24

Classic Car Show

Our annual show for car enthusiasts of all ages returns! View a vast array of classic cars and chat with their owners... more >

RHS Garden Hyde Hall Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford CM3 8ET

Sun 1 Sep 24

Laurel Cottage - Open Garden for NGS

A romantic, quintessential cottage garden. Features intimate pathways meandering through borders with an abundance of cottage garden favourites and..... more >

Laurel Cottage, Manuden CM23 1DS

Sun 1 Sep 24

Merchant Navy Day Special Service

A special service honouring those of the Merchant Navy who served in the Great Wars and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice... more >

The Hythe Quay, Church Street, Maldon, Essex. CM9 5HN

Sun 1 Sep 24

Barnards Farm - Open Garden for NGS

So much to explore! Climb the Belvedere for the wider view and take the train for a woodland adventure... more >

Barnards Farm, West Horndon CM13 3FY

Sun 1 Sep 24

A Taste Of Afrika PopUp Market

**A Taste of Afrika PopUp Market** is a vibrant and immersive cultural experience that brings the rich and diverse heritage of Africa to life in an... more >

London East -UK Business & Technical Park Yew Tree Avenue Dagenham London RM10 7FN

Sat 31 Aug 24

30 Queens Road - Open Garden for NGS

A medium sized family garden with seperate zones. The front of the garden is a space for children to play... more >

30 Queens Road, Rayleigh SS6 8JX

Sat 31 Aug 24

Treasure Island

Follow Jim Hawkins on his adventures starting at The Admiral Benbow Inn where he finds a treasure map... more >

Headgate Theatre, 14 Chapel Street North, Colchester CO2 7AT

Fri 30 Aug 24

Escape to BUNKERS Romford

BUNKERS Romford has revealed that almost a third of people said that insects are the worst thing about summer. 29... more >

BUNKERS Romford, Unit 6a, Brewery Shopping Centre, Waterloo Rd, Romford RM1 1AU

Fri 30 Aug 24

Fleetwood Mac Legacy: Go Your Own Way

Go Your Own Way is a brand-new spellbinding show featuring the music from the legendary multiple Grammy Award Winning Fleetwood Mac... more >

Charter Hall Cowdray Avenue Colchester CO1 1YH

Fri 30 Aug 24

BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair

The BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, in association with English Heritage, takes place at Audley End House and Gardens from 30 August – 1 September... more >

Audley End House and Gardens, Audley End Road, Audley End, Saffron Walden CB11 4JF

Fri 30 Aug 24

Escape to Mulligans Basildon

Mulligans Basildon has revealed that almost a third of people said that insects are the worst thing about summer. 29... more >

Mulligans Basildon, Unit 9, Festival Leisure Park, Basildon SS14 3WB

Thu 29 Aug 24

Bedroom Farce

You mean to tell me while I’m – giving you my all – you’re lying there thinking about floorboards? Set over the course of one evening, through a..... more >

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT

Wed 28 Aug 24

CALLING ALL FAMILIES! Go Barnacles for HALF PRICE Family tickets!*

CALLING ALL FAMILIES! Go Barnacles for HALF PRICE Family tickets!* We are excited to announce that we are offering 50% OFF full price family..... more >

Thurrock Lakeside Shopping Centre, 612 The Quay, West Thurrock, Grays RM20 2AD

Wed 28 Aug 24

Max Wildwood Live @ Dorrington Halstead

Max Wildwood returning to The Dorrington, for another night of musical entertainment and madness. more >

The Dorrington, 2 Trinity St, Halstead CO9 1JD

Sat 24 Aug 24

Wind in the Willows

We are Burnt Coffee, a theatrical company based in East Anglia. We are back on tour, offering an imaginative adaptation of WIND IN THE WILLOWS... more >

Headgate Theatre, 14 Chapel Street North, Colchester CO2 7AT

Sat 24 Aug 24

Paranormal & Psychic Event with Celebrity Psychic Marcus Starr

Step into the extraordinary as Marcus takes the stage, conducting captivating Paranormal Investigations and channeling messages from the spirit world... more >

Holiday Inn Colchester, an IHG Hotel, Abbotts Ln, Eight Ash Green, Colchester, Essex CO6 3QL

Sat 24 Aug 24

The Big Bash PREVIEW Live Music SHOWCASE

PREVIEW Live Music BIG BASH AUG. bank holiday FRI. 23rd + SAT. 24th + SUN. 25th @ 7.30 to 1am ( music ends 12) @ The PLOUGH 426-428 London Road,..... more >

The FUNCTION BAR @ The PLOUGH 426-428 London Rd Westcliff SS0 9LA

Fri 23 Aug 24

Contemporary Craft & Design Fair

Craft in Focus events have earned an enviable reputation for selecting only the very best professional designers, artists and craftspeople for their... more >

RHS Garden Hyde Hall Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford CM3 8ET

Fri 23 Aug 24

BASILDON, Essex 35s-60s+ Party for Singles & Couples - Fri 23 August

Welcome to BASILDON, Essex 35s to 60s Party for Singles and Couples happening on Friday 23 August at Ye Olde Plough House Hotel, Brentwood Road,... more >

Ye Olde Plough House Hotel, Brentwood Road (A128), Bulphan, nr Basildon RM14 3SR

Fri 23 Aug 24

Cilla & The Swinging 60's Show

Celebrating the Life and Music of the legendary Cilla Black, Cilla & The Swinging 60s is a highly entertaining show, which also includes a handpicked... more >

Headgate Theatre, 14 Chapel Street North, Colchester CO2 7AT

Fri 23 Aug 24

Loughton Astronomical Society

Professor Nicholas Evans: Dark Matter. The Loughton Astronomical Society is the home of all things astronomical in West Essex... more >

Scout Hall, Loughton Lane next to the Cricket Club. CM16 7EJ

Thu 22 Aug 24

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Sir John Falstaff, everyone's favourite Shakespearean sleazeball, has fallen on hard times. In order to fix his finances he plans to seduce the..... more >

Bridge End Garden CB10 1BE

Wed 21 Aug 24

Stamp Club Meeting (Basildon)

Display by Rayleigh P.S. Meeting of Basildon Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit. Membership subscription plus £1 attendance fee payable for..... more >

George Hurd Centre, Audley Way, Basildon SS14 2FL

Tue 20 Aug 24

Ticket Sales Launch for First Summer Cinema at Braintree Village

Braintree Village has launched ticket sales for its inaugural open-air cinema which opens in August. The Summer Cinema at the Essex-based shopping..... more >

Braintree Village, Chapel Hill, Braintree CM77 8YH

Tue 20 Aug 24

Frinton Summer Theatre - Annie Get Your Gun

Theatre-lovers will get plenty of bang for their buck on the Essex coast this summer as Frinton Summer Theatre presents another packed season of... more >

Frinton Summer Theatre The Big Top Tent The Greensward Frinton-on-Sea Seafront CO13 9PR

Tue 20 Aug 24

Mersea Island Festival

Starting in 1981, the Mersea Island Festival has been an annual event each August at Essex Outdoors Mersea (East Mersea Youth Camp)... more >

c/o Essex Outdoors Mersea, Rewsalls Lane, East Mersea, Colchester CO5 8SX

Sun 18 Aug 24

Visit the Vulcan Classic Jets Day

See former Royal Air Force bomber Avro Vulcan XL426 up close in its hangar at our Visit the Vulcan Classic Jets Day... more >

Hangar 6 South Road, London Southend Airport, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6YU

Sun 18 Aug 24

Basildon Inflatable 5km

Get ready to bounce your way through The World's BIGGEST and most EPIC Inflatable 5K Obstacle Course!... more >

Barleylands, Billericay, Essex CM11 2UD

Sat 17 Aug 24

Forever Wild Arts Festival

Forever Wild, a joyful arts festival for all the family, is being held at the Fishermen’s Chapel in Leigh-on-sea, Essex (16-19 August)... more >

The Fishermen’s Chapel, New Road, Leigh-On-Sea SS9 2EA

Sat 17 Aug 24

Old Timbers - Open Garden for NGS

The white shingled spire of St Marys church, provides historic atmosphere to this weatherboarded house and large walled garden... more >

Old Timbers, Maldon CM9 5HW

Fri 16 Aug 24

Robin Hood

Join utter legends Robin, Marian and the Merry Men in Sherwood Forest for a hilariously adventurous take on the timeless tales of everyone's... more >

Thames Chase RM14 3NS

Fri 16 Aug 24

Frinton Summer Theatre - Noises Off

Frinton Summer Theatre’s 2024 summer season promises a stunning selection of theatrical drama beside the seaside... more >

McGrigor Hall Fourth Avenue Frinton-on-Sea CO13 9EB

Tue 13 Aug 24

8 Dene Court - Open Garden for NGS

Beautifully maintained and designed as a compact garden. Owner is well-known RHS gold medal-winning exhibitor (now retired)... more >

8 Dene Court, Chelmsford CM1 2JQ

Tue 13 Aug 24

Open To All - Art Exhibition by Revd Elizabeth Gray-King

Christ Church URC Chelmsford will be hosting the Open To All a Free Art exhibition which showcases 13 intriguing and affirming canvases which explore... more >

Christ Church URC 164 New London Road, Chelmsford CM2 0AW

Tue 13 Aug 24

Talliston Presents: Fragrancing Your World

A home fragrance masterclass, tour & workshop at Britain's Most Extraordinary Home (The Times) exploring the power and beauty of scents in our... more >

Talliston House & Gardens 51 Newton Green CM6 1DU

Sun 11 Aug 24

Route 66

Route 66 Soul and covers band Free Halstead Town Council Event in Halstead Public Gardens Bring along a blanket or chair... more >

Halstead Public Gardens Trinity Street Halstead CO9 1JE

Sun 11 Aug 24

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Things to do around Essex

Essex, a county in the East of England, offers a diverse range of activities for a memorable day out. Whether you're interested in history, nature, or family-friendly adventures, there's something for everyone. Let's explore some of the best things to do in Essex:

1. Colchester Zoo:
- Colchester Zoo is a must-visit for animal lovers. With over 270 species set in 60 acres of beautiful parkland and lakes, it's constantly developing and has won many awards for its conservation work. Explore enclosures like the walk-through butterfly enclosure and the Rainbow Lorikeet area. Don't miss the state-of-the-art "Bears of the Rising Sun" enclosure housing sun bears Jo Jo and Srey Ya. Encounter Komodo Dragons, white rhinos, giraffes, and more at the "Kingdom of the Wild" exhibit¹.

2. Tours of Colchester:
- Join historical tours of Colchester, Britain's oldest recorded town. Explore its rich heritage, including Roman ruins, medieval architecture, and charming streets. Visit the Colchester Castle, a Norman keep with fascinating exhibits. Don't miss the historic walking tours and outdoor escape games.

3. Explore Southend-on-Sea:
- Head to Southend-on-Sea for a classic British seaside experience. Enjoy the sandy beaches, stroll along the promenade, and visit the iconic Southend Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world. Explore Adventure Island amusement park and try the thrilling rides.

4. Discover Green Island Gardens:
- Green Island Gardens in Ardleigh is a hidden gem. Explore the enchanting gardens, featuring exotic plants, sculptures, and tranquil ponds. It's a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle.

5. Partyman World of Play:
- If you're with kids, visit Partyman World of Play in Basildon. This indoor play center offers slides, ball pits, and climbing frames. It's perfect for a fun-filled family day out.

6. Bridge End Garden in Saffron Walden:
- Bridge End Garden in Saffron Walden is a restored Victorian garden. Admire the colorful flowerbeds, ornamental hedges, and historic features. It's a tranquil spot for a leisurely walk.

7. Imperial Bird of Prey Academy:
- Experience the thrill of falconry at the Imperial Bird of Prey Academy in Billericay. Get up close to majestic birds of prey and learn about their behavior and conservation. Enjoy flying displays and photo opportunities.

8. Go Bananas:
- For active fun, visit Go Bananas in Colchester. This indoor soft play center has slides, climbing frames, and a separate area for toddlers. It's a great option for families with young children.

9. Thames & Medway Estuary Helicopter Tour:
- Take to the skies on a helicopter tour from Southend-on-Sea. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Thames and Medway Estuary, spotting landmarks from above. It's a unique way to explore the coastline.

10. Historic Walking Tour of Colchester:
- Join a guided walking tour of historic Colchester. Learn about its Roman past, medieval architecture, and fascinating stories. Combine it with a visit to the local farmers' market for a complete experience.

Remember to check opening hours and any booking requirements for these attractions. Whether you're interested in wildlife, history, or family fun, Essex promises an enjoyable and diverse day out!