Insert comment about fake tan, white heels and bawdy fashion. The county is more than a certain utterly terrible TV show lets on, we promise, and there is a big old list of things to do in Essex. From the beautiful isle of Mersea, 350 miles of coastline and oh-so-cute villages and market towns. On top of all that it has one of the country’s mildest climates and the least amount of rainfall, so a rainy British Summer holiday is slightly (yes, we said slightly) less likely. Here at Plum Guide, our experts have bravely gone ahead of you to find the best things to do in Essex (you're welcome), so you don't have to worry about a thing when deciding how best to spend your time away.
Visit Mersea Island
This is the definition of the Great British Seaside. Famed for the freshest and best seafood in all the land (near enough, anyway) and a beautiful beach to boot, Mersea Island is a haven for families visiting Essex and those looking for a chance to pretend they don’t have jobs they hate. Take the utmost care when walking the Strood, the island's main causeway, as it is allegedly haunted by the ghost of a Roman soldier. Mersea Island is so lovely we've included it on our list of top places to visit in Essex.
Raindrops On Roses, Plum Guide home in Essex, UK
Head to Dedham Vale
Riverside walks, picturesque towns and cosy pubs: a few days spent around Dedham Vale will leave you so relaxed you won’t have to see your masseuse for a month. It’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and, along with the Stour Valley, sits bang in the middle of Constable Country. So called because John Constable captured the landscape in his 19th-century paintings. It’s as calming now as it must have been then. Bucolic beauty, darling.
Under The Pergola, Plum Guide home in Essex
Go seal spotting
Long grass and bodies of water at Wallasea Island, Essex | Image M W Pinsent is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Essex is one of the top spots in the UK to spy these slippery guys in their natural habitat. Head to Hamford Water National Nature Reserve for a tour that takes in twelve miles of the coast. Wallasea Island is a maze of creeks and inlets for walking and wildlife spotting, and a favourite hangout spot for seals.
Granary & Jam, Plum Guide home in Essex, UK
Wander round Talliston House and Gardens
This is certainly one of the more unique things to do in Essex. All hail John, the owner of Talliston House and Gardens. He took an ordinary ex-council house and, using his bare hands, created an astounding we-don’t-even-know-what-to-call-it. Explore its thirteen rooms, each set in a different time and place. Wander through a 1920s study into a Moorish bedchamber before stumbling across a New Orleans kitchen. John, we salute you.
Black & Grey, Plum Guide home in Hertfordshire, UK
Take a trip to Audley End House and Gardens
Amble around the grounds of a Victorian stately home and forget about the home you actually live in. Audley End House and Gardens is a spectacular monument to a bygone era, and whoever is in charge of the plants and stuff really know what they’re doing. They host special events throughout the summer where people dress up as rich people and their servants. If you plan your outfit well enough you will blend in, so take your best Lord/Lady of the manor attire.
Explore the coast
Southend-On-Sea Pleasure Pier, England UK
Phwoarr, 350 miles of coastline, you’re bound to find a spot where there is nobody to photobomb your holiday snap. Good luck. From the art gallery of Martello Beach to the longest pleasure pier in the world at Southend, the coast of Essex is chock full of gems. Pack your bucket and spade and start dreaming of the overpriced ice cream now.
Travel down to Colchester
History. Architecture. Markets. Castles. World-class zoos. Lots of things to do. We’ve actually written up some of the great things to do in Colchester already, so we won’t bother repeating ourselves.
Walk the Oak Trail of Epping Forest
Epping Forest is a wonder of 4000 acres stretching from Greater London to the market town of Epping. We don’t suggest you walk the whole thing, instead take the Oak Trail (go on, guess why it is called that) which is a gentle six-mile ramble under the canopy. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and take some time to hug the trees to get the full benefits of being in nature. There are rumours of wolves after a trio were released in 2017, but we think you’ll be safe.
Eat to your heart's content
That’s right, you must eat regularly. And you will do it very well when in Essex, we assure you. It’s not all cockles, eels, shrimps and winkles, though you can definitely find that if you want. The coast provides a bounty of seafood, and the folk inland know what to do with it. Find award-winning restaurants scattered across the county.
