Suggestion-A few hours to waste in Essex
Suggestion-A few hours to waste in Essex
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EmailAddress

Original Poster:

14,558 posts

237 months

Anybody have any ideas to while away a morning in Essex?

We'll be driving into the county and then having to wait from about 9am-2pm.

Nothing outrageous. Somewhere with a bench, a drink, a snack etc.


Odysseus01

1,935 posts

223 months

Depends what you're interested in.

You're 15 minutes from Ongar which has some nice places to eat and could walk to Greensted (15 mins) where there is the oldest wooden church in England. More interesting than it might sound.

North Weald airfield is also close and usually has some interesting planes including some from WW2. .

LeoSayer

7,614 posts

263 months

The secret nuclear bunker near Ongar is a great way to spend a few hours:
https://secretnuclearbunker.com/

If you like shopping then Braintree has a massive outlet village.

EmailAddress

Original Poster:

14,558 posts

237 months

Thank you.

I'll check those out.

I'm not looking for paintball I guess. Just some vaguely casual activities!

EmailAddress

Original Poster:

14,558 posts

237 months

LeoSayer said:
The secret nuclear bunker near Ongar is a great way to spend a few hours:
https://secretnuclearbunker.com/
Seen the signs for this. Raises a chuckle.

vaud

56,317 posts

174 months

EmailAddress said:
Seen the signs for this. Raises a chuckle.
It’s unique, quirky, funny and depressing in equal mix.

EmailAddress

Original Poster:

14,558 posts

237 months

vaud said:
EmailAddress said:
Seen the signs for this. Raises a chuckle.
It s unique, quirky, funny and depressing in equal mix.
Ah... like Jaywick.

vaud

56,317 posts

174 months

EmailAddress said:
Ah... like Jaywick.
No, I said funny wink

zetec

4,896 posts

270 months

If you're into nature etc. Hanningfield reservoir is a nice place to visit. Some nice walks, a cafe and a bird spotting hide equipped with binoculars etc. It's been a few years since I visited but was always a nice way to spend an afternoon.

StevieBee

14,514 posts

274 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
A little outside the circle but only 20 mins or so from Chelmsford Town Centre is Maldon. Promenade Park is lovely. Hythe Quay is interesting with lots of old Thames Barges moored there. Mrs Sailsbury Tea Shop (High Street and in the Park) do a superb sausage roll! https://www.visitmaldon.co.uk/the-hythe/

On the way to / from Maldon is Paper Mill Lock - Little Baddow. Lovely, peaceful stretch of canal and a Tea Room. https://www.papermilllock.co.uk

Again, a little outside the circle but not by much is the Museum of Power in Langford (and also on the way from / to Maldon). Working steam pump and other industrial and more modern stuff all housed in a Victorian Pumping House. https://www.museumofpower.org.uk

If you like a bit of Horticulture, there's RHS Hyde Hall - south of Chelmsford, heading towards South Woodham Ferrers. https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall

Stow Maries Airfield - last remaining and operational WW1 airfield in the UK. They have a museum of bi-planes and have renovated a lot of the outbuildings and workshops to their original form - fascinating place: https://www.stowmaries.org.uk

Chelmsford Museum is well worth a mooch round: https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/museums/

And I quite like Chelmsford itself. Quite a pleasing City to have a wander around. Moulsham Street is quite quirky/bohemian. Bond Street for John Lewis and high-end retail and a nice little water-side area there too.








Roofless Toothless

6,810 posts

151 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Go to Oaklands Park in Chelmsford. A pleasant small park which was once the grounds of a villa that now houses the Chelmsford museum, which is not spectacular but an hour or two slips away very easily. And there is a cracking little restaurant in the same building.

sjc

15,329 posts

289 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
zetec said:
If you're into nature etc. Hanningfield reservoir is a nice place to visit. Some nice walks, a cafe and a bird spotting hide equipped with binoculars etc. It's been a few years since I visited but was always a nice way to spend an afternoon.
Was just about to post the same,I live 5 mins walk from there. Also got the superb Old Windmill pub virtually at the entrance to it at the South Hanningfield side.
Some good suggestions from StevieBee above as well,as I previously lived in Little Baddow !

Peterpetrole

1,138 posts

16 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Don't forget the new motorway slip road opened last week anticlockwise from the M25 onto the A12 North, a big 270 degree loop, great fun.

StevieBee

14,514 posts

274 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Peterpetrole said:
Don't forget the new motorway slip road opened last week anticlockwise from the M25 onto the A12 North, a big 270 degree loop, great fun.
Isn't it just. Never has leaving a motorway been more fun! smile

Furbo

2,266 posts

51 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
EmailAddress said:
Anybody have any ideas to while away a morning in Essex?

We'll be driving into the county and then having to wait from about 9am-2pm.

Nothing outrageous. Somewhere with a bench, a drink, a snack etc.

Maybe something outdoors and NSFW

https://www.doggingaction.co.uk/dogging-news/brent...

Blib

46,624 posts

216 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Flatford Mill, where Constable painted the Hay Wain, is about 50 minutes drive north.

It's run by the National Front Trust and has a visitor centre.


s6boy

1,759 posts

244 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Southend pier....just next to outhend on your map smile

twing

5,555 posts

150 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Leigh on Sea for cockles would be for me, lots of childhood memories there

Slow.Patrol

3,037 posts

33 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
s6boy said:
Southend pier....just next to outhend on your map smile
Southend Pier has an amazing poppy display at the moment.

southendpier

5,903 posts

248 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Slow.Patrol said:
s6boy said:
Southend pier....just next to outhend on your map smile
Southend Pier has an amazing poppy display at the moment.
It has. Big queue of people today to mark the Armistice