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.
Paul Smith: Happy – September 2026
September 24, 2026
Colchester Leisure World, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester CO1 1YH
Sun Cutter (AKA Kevin Pearce) + If Not Now
September 24, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Unified Dating – Meet Singles in Colchester
September 25, 2026
Colchester Colchester CO1 1SP
Michael Ball: Glow UK Tour 2026
September 25, 2026
Station Road Southend-On-Sea SS0 7RA
The Comedy Store – Colchester
September 25, 2026
Colchester Leisure World Colchester C01 1YH
The Manfreds-Get Your Kicks on Tour 26
September 25, 2026
Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1LE
The Temple Brothers Everlys & Friends The Show
September 25, 2026
Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SE
Tom Robinson with Adam Phillips: Then & Now
September 25, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Unified Dating – Meet Singles in Southend-on-Sea
September 25, 2026
Southend-on-Sea Southend-on-Sea SS9 5PX
Singles Dine and Dance
September 25, 2026
Brook Street Essex CM14 5NF
Status Quo Tribute Night
September 25, 2026
1 Victoria Road Stanford-le-Hope SS17 0JF
Open Air Comedy @ The Priory! Ivo Graham + Guests
September 25, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Michael Ball
September 25, 2026
Station Road, Southend-On-Sea
Sounds of the Summer
September 25, 2026
6 Moulsham Street Chelmsford CM2 0HR
Barrioke
September 25, 2026
21-22 Marine Parade, Southend - On - Sea
FUEGO: Beaumont, Samantha Neal & Bo Conquest
September 25, 2026
Marine Parade West Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1RH
NovrCollective
September 25, 2026
31 north street Bishops Stortford Cm23 2ld
Ultimate Rave Bingo // Colchester // Saturday 26th September
September 26, 2026
131 High Street Colchester CO1 1SP
Tom Davis: Spudgun
September 26, 2026
Station Road Southend-On-Sea SS0 7RA
The Comedy Store – Canvey Island
September 26, 2026
Long Road Essex SS80JA
Celebrating Celine-A New Day
September 26, 2026
Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1LE
The DNA of History with Professor Turi King
September 26, 2026
Colchester Leisure World, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester CO1 1YH
Big Deal Comedy Club – Fairycroft House Saffron Walden
September 26, 2026
37 Audley Road Saffron Walden CB11 3HD
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch
September 26, 2026
Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SE
Faux Fighters UK
September 26, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Elvis Neil Diamond & Johnny Cash Tribute – Southend on Sea
September 26, 2026
THORNFORD GARDENS SOUTHEND ON SEA SS2 6PU
Drag Bingo UK: Basildon
September 26, 2026
Gloucester Park North Basildon SS14 3GR
Open Air Comedy @ The Priory! Suzi Ruffell + Guests
September 26, 2026
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
The Chris Stapleton Experience
September 26, 2026
MARINE PDE, SOUTHEND ON SEA
The Korgis – Last Ever Band Concert
September 26, 2026
Bellingham Lane Rayleigh SS6 7ED
Dance For Lola
September 26, 2026
64-68 High Street Hornchurch RM12 4UW
The Soul Man
September 26, 2026
28 MAWNEY ROAD ROMFORD RM7 7HB
Elvis, Neil Diamond & Johnny Cash Tribute Night
September 26, 2026
Thornford Gardens,, Southend-On-Sea, Southend On Sea, Southend On Sea
Faux Fighters UK + Special Guests
September 26, 2026
COLCHESTER ARTS CENTRE, CHURCH STREET, COLCHESTER
Mango Mayhem Round 3 KISSTORY EDITION @ Sandy’s 111
September 26, 2026
105-111 South Street Romford RM1 1NX
Unified Dating – Meet Singles in Colchester
September 27, 2026
Colchester Colchester CO1 1SP
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.