Things To Do in Essex

Plan days out in Essex with local attractions, family activities, historic places, outdoor adventures, beaches, venues and upcoming events.

Featured Attractions in Essex

Explore local attractions, activities and days out from the Dovetail directory. These listings are matched to Essex using the directory town, address and local area data, so town pages stay focused on genuinely local things to do.


Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park

Attractions & Things To Do

Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park

📍 Stubbins Hall Lane Waltham Abbey Essex EN9 2EF

Get tickets for Lee Valley Animal Adventure Park and explore outdoor and indoor soft play areas, animal encounters, tractor rides,…

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Rock Up Lakeside

Attractions & Things To Do

Rock Up Lakeside

📍 Lakeside Shopping Centre Grays Essex RM20 2ZP

Book Rock Up Lakeside tickets for one of the best climbing centres in Essex, with climbing lessons, climbing walls and…

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Hatter’s Farm

Animal Attractions

Hatter’s Farm

📍 Takeley, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM22 6NP, Essex, CM22 6NP

Whether it's Halloween events and activities, tulip fields, or a day full of farmyard charm, book Hatters Farm event tickets…

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Hedingham Castle

Attractions & Things To Do

Hedingham Castle

📍 Castle Hedingham, Halstead, Essex, CO9 3DJ, Colchester, Essex, CO9 3DJ

Get tickets here for an amazing day out at Hedingham Castle, with plenty of family activities, Jousting events and more…

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Caddies Southend

Attractions & Things To Do

Caddies Southend

📍 Caddies Southend, 12 London Road, Southend-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1NT

Book Caddies Southend tickets for the best indoor adventure golf in Southend! Play Crazy Golf, Bumper Cars, Shuffleboard & more…

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Marsh Farm

Attractions & Things To Do

Marsh Farm

📍 Marsh Farm Rd, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5WP, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 5WP

Visit Marsh Farm in Chelmsford for a top tourist attraction, one of the best animal parks in Essex and a…

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Curve Watersports – Aqua Park

Attractions & Things To Do

Curve Watersports – Aqua Park

📍 Mill Dam Lake, Mill Street, St Osyth, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, CO16 8EW

Looking for a fun day of watersports near Colchester? Get tickets for curve watersports aqua park for the best outdoor…

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Urban Xtreme Colchester

Attractions & Things To Do

Urban Xtreme Colchester

📍 Temple Bridge, Colne Bank Ave, Colchester, CO1 1UU, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UU

Book Urban Xtreme tickets for some of the best extreme activities in Colchester! Enjoy axe throwing in Essex and visit…

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Greensward Café and Adventure Golf

Attractions & Things To Do

Greensward Café and Adventure Golf

📍 Marine Parade West Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1XB

Enjoy family‑friendly adventure golf beside the sea at Greensward Café in Clacton‑on‑Sea, open daily with no booking fees and the…

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Maldon Promenade Zoo

Attractions & Things To Do

Maldon Promenade Zoo

Book Maldon Promenade Zoo tickets for one of the best days out for families in Essex Located in the scenic…

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Lakeside Karting Raceway

Attractions

Lakeside Karting Raceway

📍 Lakeside Karting Raceway Arterial Road (A1306) West Thurrock Grays Essex RM19 1EA

Thurrock Karting 🏁 Experience Essex’s Largest Outdoor Karting Circuit! Looking for one of the fastest and most exciting days out…

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Brentwood Karting

Attractions

Brentwood Karting

📍 Brentwood Karting Warley Gap Little Warley Brentwood Essex CM13 3DP

🚦 Experience One of Essex’s Premier Outdoor Karting Circuits! Looking for an adrenaline-fuelled day out in Essex? 🏁 Brentwood Karting…

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Audley End House and Gardens

Attractions & Things To Do

Audley End House and Gardens

📍 Audley End Road Saffron Walden Essex CB11 4JF

🏛️ Audley End House and Gardens – Historic Family Day Out in Essex 📍 Address: Audley End Road, Saffron Walden,…

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Harwich Harbour Ferry

Attractions & Things To Do

Harwich Harbour Ferry

📍 Harwich Harbour Ferry Harwich Pier Harwich Essex

🚢 Harwich Harbour Foot & Bicycle Ferry This is a really good one because it’s both an attraction and a…

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Electric Palace

Attractions & Things To Do

Electric Palace

📍 Electric Palace King’s Quay Street Harwich Essex

🎬 Electric Palace Cinema – Historic Cinema in Harwich 📍 Address: King’s Quay Street, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3ER 📞 Phone:…

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Ha’Penny Pier

Attractions & Things To Do

Ha’Penny Pier

📍 Ha'Penny Pier The Quay Harwich Essex

⚓ Ha’Penny Pier – The Heart of Historic Harwich 📍 Address: The Quay, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3HH 📞 Phone Number:…

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Harwich Redoubt Fort

Attractions & Things To Do

Harwich Redoubt Fort

📍 Harwich Redoubt Fort Main Road Harwich Essex

⚔️ Harwich Redoubt Fort – Historic Military Fortress in Essex 📍 Address: Main Road, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3LT 📞 Phone…

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Naze Tower

Attractions & Things To Do

Naze Tower

📍 Naze Tower Old Hall Lane Walton-on-the-Naze Essex

🗼 Naze Tower – Historic Landmark & Coastal Views in Walton-on-the-Naze 📍 Address: Old Hall Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, CO14 8LE…

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Curve Water Sports

Attractions & Things To Do

Curve Water Sports

📍 Curve Water Sports St Osyth Beach Point Clear Bay Essex

🌊 Curve Water Sports – Adventure on the Water in Essex 📍 Address: St Osyth Beach, Point Clear Bay, Essex…

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Colchester Castle

Attractions & Things To Do

Colchester Castle

📍 Colchester Castle Castle Park High Street Colchester

🏰 Colchester Castle – Discover Britain’s First Roman City 📍 Address: Castle Park, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1TJ 📞 Phone Number:…

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Leisure World Colchester

Attractions & Things To Do

Leisure World Colchester

📍 Leisure World Colchester Cowdray Avenue Colchester

🏊 Leisure World Colchester – Swimming, Fitness & Family Fun in Essex 📍 Address: Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1YH…

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AirHop Adventure & Trampoline Park Colchester

Attractions & Things To Do

AirHop Adventure & Trampoline Park Colchester

📍 AirHop Adventure & Trampoline Park Colchester 21 Mason Road, Cowdray Centre Colchester

🦘 AirHop Adventure & Trampoline Park Colchester – Indoor Family Fun in Essex 📍 Address: Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO1…

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Upcoming Events in Essex

Find events, shows, festivals, family activities and local entertainment happening across Essex.

Purple Zeppelin

September 11, 2026

Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1LE

ALB Festival

September 12, 2026

High Street Colchester CO1 1XN

Steve Tilston

September 14, 2026

Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF

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Explore Towns in Essex

ClactonHarwichDovercourtWalton-on-the-NazeFrintonColchesterEssex

Things To Do in Essex FAQs

What are the best things to do in Essex?

The best things to do in Essex include local attractions, family days out, outdoor activities, historic places, entertainment venues and events listed on this guide.

Are there family-friendly attractions in Essex?

Yes. This page highlights family-friendly attractions and events where available, including parks, beaches, museums, activity centres and seasonal days out.

Does this page update automatically?

Yes. Dovetail Events can pull in directory attractions and upcoming events, so the guide becomes more useful as new listings are added.

Hosting an Event in Essex?

Promote your concert, festival, market, theatre show, charity event, family day out or community event to people searching for things to do in Essex.

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