My favourite free things to do in Essex

I bang on about Essex all the time. Why? Well, I live here! Essex isn’t all credit cards, Range Rovers, and fake eyelashes… even though I have recently started to get lash lifts for the first time in my life. Like all counties in England, there are hundreds of free things to do in Essex, and these are my favourite.

Hit the seaside

Even though it might not have the same allure as resorts like Brighton, Weston-Super-Mare, and Camber Sands, the Essex coastline has historically been a favourite for day trippers and holiday makers alike. Rossi ice cream was founded in Southend on Sea, the UK’s newest city, and Clacton is known for its contribution to caravan holidaying.

Southend on Sea is the southern coastal city, located in the mouth of the Thames Estuary, and sporting the world’s longest pleasure pier (with a small entry fee, sorry). Its main beach is shingle and stoney, but nearby is Adventure Island – a free entry theme park. You do need to purchase tickets or wristbands to go on rides, but there is no cost to wander through, as is there no cost to mooch amongst the amusements along the esplanade. A little further east is East Beach, which is located close to Shoeburyness train station, and an MOD base, but there you’ll find the sand, and sea water which is slightly less brown!

With its new city status, funding is being pumped into the Southend on Sea council, and I hear there are plans to rejuvenate the area to appeal to visitors on a wider scale.

Clacton on Sea is the next largest coastal town, and if you’re looking for vast sandy beaches in the county, this is the place to go. It’s not as big as Southend, and there isn’t quite as much to do, but Clacton has been a favourite with caravaners for decades.

Country parks

We don’t have glorious forests or mountains to rival UK national parks, but one of the free things to do in Essex is to visit a country park. We have loads of those!

One of my favourites is Wat Tyler Country Park. It lives on the site of an old explosives factory, hosts a number of historic cottages, and a fascinating sculpture trail. Another pull to the Pitsea location is the marina. There you’ll be able to watch the boats float by in peace.

Another of my favourites is Danbury Country Park, near Chelmsford. It’s not as exciting as Wat Tyler, or even the children’s literature trails (find the Gruffalo at Thorndon Country Park, or the Peter Rabbit Trail in Langdon Hills) but it’s a lovely forest walk around three lakes, and alongside the remains of Danbury Palace.

Go antique hunting

Battlesbridge, a small village between the cities of Chelmsford and Southend on Sea, is the home of the antique centre!

There are three distinct antique areas in the village, where you can wander through and search for treasures. It’s probably not the most obvious of the free things to do in Essex, but it’s a brilliant way to spend a drizzly weekend.

Read more about Battlesbridge Antiques Centre

Walking

Walking is one of the best free things you can do anywhere, least of all in Essex. We don’t have rolling moorlands, striking waterfalls, or glorious mountains, but we do have forests, coastlines, and marshlands.

One of my favourite places to walk is Epping Forest. My parents used to take me to walk there when I was a kid to pick blackberries. I went a few years later with Dan, and we spent the afternoon wandering along the river. There are numerous car parks to base yourself in across the forest, and there’s no way you’ll manage to explore the whole area in one day.

Another walk I love is along the Thames Estuary. It’s not a circular walk (for obvious reasons) but you can use the C2C rail line to get yourself to or from the starting point. One spot you must make time to see is Old Leigh. It’s a small, fishing village, near Leigh on Sea station, and retains all its old charm.

Find out more about walks around the Thames Estuary

The next Essex walk on our list is a ramble around Paper Mill Lock, near Chelmsford.

Historic sites

Due to its flat landscape, proximity to the Thames, and distance from London, Essex is abundant with historic sites to visit. Some of these sites require an entry fee, like Colchester Castle, but some are totally free to explore.

There are some wonderful sites along the Thames Estuary. Hadleigh Castle is located near Benfleet, and the ruins offer fantastic views across the marshland and into the river. Upstream, you’ll find Coalhouse Fort, a filming location for Batman Begins. You can’t go into the fort on a normal day, but the park is pleasant for a ramble.

There’s also Tilbury fort. Technically it’s not free, but it is run by English Heritage, so if you have a membership, it is sort of free!

So there you have it, a collection of my favourite free things to do in Essex, and I promise you I’ll be adding more as I find them.

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