7 Of The Best Parks & Outdoor Attractions for a Family Day Out In Essex
When it comes to family days out in Essex, there’s a lot to be said for focusing on the outdoors. The county is full of parks and excellent outdoor spaces, as well as playgrounds where kids can run, climb and explore in the fresh air – taking them away from screens for a while and hopefully tiring them out ready for a good sleep. To help you find these places, in this article we’ve rounded up seven of the best outdoor activities for kids in Essex.
The best news? Many of these Essex outings (particularly the play areas) are free entry – a real bonus for keeping kids entertained during a cost-of-living crisis. If you’re visiting from elsewhere, you could also combine these outings with a couple of nights at a campsite for a bargain break that also feels like a real adventure. Pitchup has overnight stays from just £12 per night, so you can really keep the costs down – browse the full range below to see what’s available.
Search for Stick Man at Weald Country Park
There are over 500 acres of woodland, grassland and wildflower meadows to explore at Weald Country Park near Brentwood. During the 12th century, the site was a medieval deer park, and if you head over to the enclosure today, you can feed the herds that still call this place home. Just pass by the visitor centre en route to stock up on food that’s suitable for the resident fallow deer.
The young (and young at heart) will no doubt take great pleasure in completing the well-loved Stick Man trail. Based on the popular book by Julia Donaldson, this entertaining mile-long walk takes you through the grounds of this historic park, with play areas, Stick Man sculptures and nature-focused activities to complete along the way – plus lots of lovely rural views, too.
Get active at Chelmer Park
Chelmsford’s Chelmer Park has one of the best playgrounds in Essex, and it’s received the nationally acclaimed Green Flag Award for parks excellence. The large adventure play area has exercise and play equipment that’s suitable for all ages, so every member of the family can get involved. There’s also an area for younger kids, with swings, a slide and a climbing frame in a shaded spot within the park – a great choice for a warm day.
There’s heaps to do at this park – older children can clamber over a climbing wall, play on a couple of giant slides and practise their balance skills on some of the other apparatus, while adults have a workout on the outdoor gym kit. There are also cycling routes, football pitches, netball courts and tennis courts – and you may just find top-class hockey matches in action at the floodlit pitches.
Step back in time at Colchester Castle Park
A Roman wall cuts right through the Grade II-listed Colchester Castle Park, separating it into two sections – upper and lower. Most of the action happens in the upper park, next to the town centre. This is the part that has Hollytrees Museum – an interesting place to spend a couple of hours learning about life in the past – as well as a play area and a Roman-themed crazy golf course. Later, take the kids to the lake in the lower part of the park and watch the boats, or hire your own.
If you’re on the lookout for special things to do in Colchester, have a look at the park’s list of events – it hosts a popular outdoor concert series in summer, along with other events like food festivals and fun runs throughout the year.
The city of Colchester is a bustling place that’s definitely worth exploring with the family. The interactive displays at Colchester Castle are geared up for kids of all ages, and Firstsite has free exhibitions, as well as summer events and fun sports activities for kids.
Go wild at Colchester Zoo
Colchester Zoo is home to over 200 species and is one of the most popular family-friendly attractions in Essex. It’s also one of the few zoos in the UK that’s been approved to keep Komodo dragons, the largest surviving lizard in the world. Of course you’ll see the usual suspects here too – tigers, elephants, giraffes and chimpanzees.
There’s so much to enjoy here, whether you walk through the butterfly enclosure or ride the ‘Lost Madagascar Express’. It’s likely kids will also be fascinated by the sea lions at Playa Patagonia, and entertained by any one of the 50 daily displays held at the zoo.
There are also plenty of play areas dotted throughout the 60 acres of parkland, including Jumble Tumble, an indoor soft play centre that has a section for kids under three years old.
Explore the grounds at RHS Garden Hyde Hall
Youngsters are likely to love the seven-metre Higgledy Hyde woodland tower at RHS Garden Hyde Hall – there are just so many slides, swings, ropes and wobble boards to play on. When they’ve completed the lot, how about heading out on one of the garden explorer trails? It’s a nice way for kids to find and learn about all the unusual plants in the grounds and you’ll get to share that sense of adventure with them.
RHS Garden Hyde Hall, about 20 minutes’ drive from Chelmsford, is also the backdrop for lots of great family-friendly events and exhibitions throughout the year. If you can, visit Hyde Hall in the Easter holidays, when the estate holds one of the best Easter egg hunts in Essex.
Meet nature and history at Roding Valley Meadows
In 1986, Roding Valley Meadows was declared a nature reserve. Previously, RAF Chigwell occupied part of this land – and now you can walk along the old concrete tracks and observe the balloon rotundas that protected North London from attack during World War II. It’s a fascinating place to explore – and only a 20-minute walk from Loughton tube station for easy travels.
Today, it’s the largest remaining species-rich water meadow in Essex. Butterflies and dragonflies dance along the river and throughout the reserve. In the warmer months, you’ll hear the chirping of wrens, blackbirds and song thrushes.
The site is also known and loved for its wildflowers; in springtime, the grasslands become a carpet of colour as devil’s-bit scabious, knapweed and clover start to bloom here.
Eat your way through the local farmers' markets
Whether you’re parenting a fussy eater or a foodie, farmers’ markets are a terrific way of expanding your child’s palate and improving their knowledge of local produce.
There are several markets across Essex, with Basildon market being one of the most popular. It runs several days a week and has over 40 traders with a wide variety of goods available to try and buy. Alternatively, there’s the weekly Coggeshall market, which takes place every Thursday morning. The stalls sell a range of delicious foods – from locally made jam to fresh Indian delicacies. And you’ll be in good historic company, as this market can be traced all the way back to 1256, when Henry III granted the town a market charter.
For a particularly special experience, head to the market at Hylands Estate, held on the second Sunday of each month as part of its monthly open day. There’s plenty of mouth-watering food and drink to be found here, as well as a selection of handmade candles and jewellery to browse through. The stalls are normally set up in front of elegant Hylands House, just outside Chelmsford, but if the weather is poor the market moves to the Grand Pavilion for cover. You’ll have free access to the whole estate during these events, so a day of it and visit the house, gardens and adventure playground too.
If you’re keen to get your kids out into the fresh air, how about planning a camping trip too? You don’t have to go far or stay long – even driving for an hour and spending one night outside can feel like a real adventure, and it can be done very cheaply. Take a look at Pitchup’s full list of Essex campsites below to find the one for you.