Things To Do in Essex
Discover the best things to do in Essex, Essex, including local attractions, family days out, historic places, outdoor activities, indoor activities and upcoming events.
Featured Things To Do 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.
Paintballing Experiences – East Anglia
📍 Multiple East Anglia paintball locations
Find a bookable paintball experience with current AttractionTix locations in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Norfolk.
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.
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:…
Upcoming Events in Essex
After exploring the attractions, browse upcoming events in Essex, including live entertainment, family activities, seasonal events and local days out.
Anna Pool Sings Dory Previn
January 18, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
GoatFest Goat Monsoon + Draugrheim + Arms To Oblivion + DJ FettDog
January 21, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
The Best of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Matt Terry
January 22, 2027
Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SE
Anyone For Tennis?
January 22, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Chai Lates
January 23, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Teddy Bear’s Concert
January 24, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Cheek To Cheek: Celebrating The Golden Age of Jazz Duets with Marvin Muoneke and Lydia Bell
January 24, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Talk – Black Americans in c19th Essex and Suffolk, speaker Dr Hannah Murray
January 25, 2027
Main Road, Harwich, Essex CO12 3LU
18th Colchester Winter Ale Festival
January 27, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Ronnie Reggie and Me with Fred Dinenage
January 28, 2027
Town Hall, Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1SE
18th Colchester Winter Ale Festival
January 28, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
HEAVEN CAN WAIT – The Meat Loaf Concert Experience 50th Anniversary of Bat Out of Hell
January 29, 2027
Charter Hall, Colchester
18th Colchester Winter Ale Festival
January 29, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Oz The Pantomime-CMTS
January 29, 2027
Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1LE
18th Colchester Winter Ale Festival
January 30, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Oz The Pantomime-CMTS
January 30, 2027
Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1LE
Oz The Pantomime-CMTS
January 30, 2027
Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1LE
90’s v 00’s: Daytime Rewind Bottomless Brunch – Garage Takeover
January 30, 2027
Charter Hall, Colchester
Oz The Pantomime-CMTS
January 31, 2027
Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1LE
Christina Alden & Alex Patterson
February 1, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Robert White: ‘THAT’ Gay Autistic Keyboard Tanktop Comedy Guy!
February 2, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
Tinderella: 2 Big Balls and 1 Happy Ending!
February 4, 2027
Charter Hall, Colchester
Chai Talks
February 4, 2027
Church Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1NF
House of Fun-The 2Tone Era
February 5, 2027
Tower Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO15 1LE
More Places To Visit Near Essex
Explore nearby town and county guides to find more attractions, events and days out across 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?
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