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.
Supercar Driving Experiences – East Anglia
📍 Multiple East Anglia driving experience locations
Choose a supercar driving experience with current AttractionTix locations across Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Paintballing Experiences – East Anglia
📍 Multiple East Anglia paintball locations
Find a bookable paintball experience with current AttractionTix locations in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Norfolk.
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Maldon Promenade Zoo
Book Maldon Promenade Zoo tickets for one of the best days out for families in Essex Located in the scenic…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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:…
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:…
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…
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…
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…
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:…
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…
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…
Upcoming Events in Essex
Find events, shows, festivals, family activities and local entertainment happening across Essex.
The Class of 55
September 18, 2026
Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SE
The Floyd Effect – The Pink Floyd Show: Pulse of the Darkside Tour 2026-27
September 18, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Devlin – Colchester
September 18, 2026
131 High Street Colchester CO11SP
Speed Dating in Chelmsford | Ages 30-45
September 18, 2026
12 Baddow Road Chelmsford CM2 0DG
Basslineabyss
September 18, 2026
20-21 Market Place Southend-on-Sea SS1 1DA
Hotter Than Hell – Kiss Tribute Show
September 18, 2026
Bellingham Lane, Rayleigh
The Jam’d
September 18, 2026
21-22 Marine Parade, Southend - On - Sea
Comedy Night
September 18, 2026
United Way Colchester CO4 5UP
Abba Re-Bjorn – Tribute to ABBA
September 18, 2026
28 MAWNEY ROAD ROMFORD RM7 7HB
ESSEX. Over 30’s-60’s+ Party for Singles & Couples- FRI 18 SEPT
September 18, 2026
Brentwood Road Upminster RM14 3SR
Funky Fridayz presents Soundz of House VI
September 19, 2026
Railway Tavern, 58 Station Road Brightlingsea CO7 0DT
Over 30s Daytime Clubbing – Colchester
September 19, 2026
131 High Street Colchester CO1 1SP
Money For Nothing-Dire Straits
September 19, 2026
Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1LE
Oktoberfest
September 19, 2026
Clacton Pier, No.1 North Sea, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1QX
The Emo Festival
September 19, 2026
Colchester Leisure World, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester CO1 1YH
The Anglia Comedy Allstars – Sept 2026
September 19, 2026
Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SE
The Floyd Effect – The Pink Floyd Show: Pulse of the Darkside Tour 2026-27
September 19, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
![B2TOS UKG – Oxide & Neutrino and Sweet Female Attitude [Skylahs]](https://d31fr2pwly4c4s.cloudfront.net/3/2/1/2261836_483833cd_b2tos-ukg-oxide-neutrino-and-sweet-female-attitude-skylahs-_1024.jpg)
B2TOS UKG – Oxide & Neutrino and Sweet Female Attitude [Skylahs]
September 19, 2026
6-8 Southchurch Rd, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 2NE Southend-on-Sea SS4 3BP
Smiley Culture Presents: SHADES OF RHYTHM
September 19, 2026
35 New London Road Chelmsford CM2 0ND
Rotary Club of Colchester present “Last night of the ….”
September 19, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Free Family Fun Festival
September 19, 2026
Castle Park, Colchester CO1 1TJ
Rulin @ Sunrooms
September 19, 2026
20-21 Market Place Southend-on-Sea SS1 1DA
Lost in 98
September 19, 2026
Harlow Town Football Club, Elizabeth Way Harlow CM19 5BE
Summer Closing Party
September 19, 2026
Ryan House, 18-19 Aviation way Southend On Sea SS2 6UN
RUNAWAY KILLERS & SIMULATION MUSE & SUCKER LOVE
September 19, 2026
MARINE PDE, SOUTHEND ON SEA
The Soul Corporation – 5 / 6 piece band
September 19, 2026
28 MAWNEY ROAD ROMFORD RM7 7HB
Jean Michel Jarre’s Oxygene performed by Mark Jenkins
September 20, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
7 Heels After Dark
September 20, 2026
Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SE
Be Like Blippi
September 20, 2026
Station Road Southend-On-Sea SS0 7RA
Headway Essex Classic Vehicle and Vintage Show 2026
September 20, 2026
Castle Road, England, United Kingdom Colchester CO1 1UW
Anna Rey
September 20, 2026
21-22 Marine Parade, Southend - On - Sea
The Shackleton Trio
September 21, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Nurse Georgie Carroll: Infectious
September 22, 2026
Station Road Southend-On-Sea SS0 7RA
The Prat Pack
September 23, 2026
Station Road Southend-On-Sea SS0 7RA
Daisy Diamond: Burlesque and Cocktails
September 23, 2026
63 High St Colchester CO1 1DN
The Prat Pack
September 24, 2026
Station Road Southend-On-Sea SS0 7RA
Explore Towns in Essex
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.