Essex often gets a bad rap, and the problem with this is – it’s totally unjustified. There’s a lot of history in this English county, and the locals are some of the most welcoming you’ll meet in the UK. It’s close to London, but is a largely rural county, with plenty of quaint towns and villages dotted throughout its perimeters. Yet, it’s still not one of the first spots to spring to mind when you think of holidays in England.
We spoke to Kelly Jackson to get an inside view on what Essex is really like to visit. Her blog, Confessions of a Sober Essex Girl, celebrates all things Essex. From great places to eat and kick back in to what people in the area are wearing and reviews of family days out, she voices what she loves so much about the place she grew up in.
“I was born in Basildon and have lived in Essex all my life,” Kelly explains. “Although I grew up not thinking much of my home town, when I got older and got out and about, I realised the county has loads to offer.”
So, what is it about Essex that might surprise those who have never been before? Kelly enthuses, “If you want a fun, vibrant, unique experience, then visit our county. We have a rich history, from the birthplace of radio (Chelmsford) to the oldest recorded town (Colchester). There are many theatres around that rival the West End, and the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend is a great venue with stunning views.”
Where to stay in Essex
Of course, Essex isn’t too far from London. Although the capital is one of the most visited cities in the world, many people can find it a little chaotic. Essex offers the best of both worlds – it’s close to London, but there’s still plenty of countryside in which to get away from it all.
“Essex is great for travel links,” says Kelly. “I live close to Basildon station, and if you jump on the 100 bus to Billericay, in all of 15 minutes you can be at Barleylands Craft Village and Farm, which is set in the countryside and makes you feel like you are miles away.”
If you’re not sure which part of Essex to stay in, Thurrock is the ideal choice. It’s located along the River Thames, and as well as having a rich history (there are several archaeological sites in the area), there’s the Thurrock Thameside Nature Park and several open spaces to explore, which make it easy to wildlife-watch. London never seemed farther away!
Conversely, there’s also the renowned intu Lakeside shopping centre – a favourite spot of Kelly’s. “They have successfully built up the shopping centre to include many bars and restaurants on the lake, which makes it a lovely place to spend an evening.”
Kelly’s top 5 things to do near Thurrock
Thinking of a trip and want to know the best things to see and do in the Thurrock area? Check out Kelly’s preferred attractions. Fun, kid-friendly and totally varied… you’ll love them all:
Tropical Wings Zoo
“They have really expanded this over the last few years and it’s a great day out. The meerkats are brilliant, they are in a great big round enclosure so you have a 360 degree view. Also, the chickens and wallabies just roam free. Kids will love it.”
Barleylands Craft Village
“This is a great day out. You don’t necessarily need to use the farm – the pottery barn run a workshop nearly every day where the kids can make things from clay and go back to pick them up later. The little craft shops and stalls are great to look around, and sometimes they have special events and farmers’ markets.”
Southend Pier
“Take the kids on the train to the end of the longest pier in the world and visit the lifeboat centre, which has loads of interesting historical facts.”
Hanningfield Reservoir
“If the weather’s nice, this is a great place to have a nice long walk and do some bird and nature spotting. It’s one of the largest reservoirs in the UK, and in the summer you can hire boats as well. They have a café with stunning views across the water, so you can have a well-earned lunch after all the walking.”
Maldon Park
“I have such fond memories of Maldon Park – I actually learned to swim here when the outdoor pool was still open. They have little amusement arcades and some rides, and you can also take a boat tour around the estuary at selected times in the season. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch one that takes you past the nearby Osea Island, which is where The Woman In Black was filmed. It’s every bit as terrifying in real life!”
Hotels in Essex
The BAFTA award-winning reality show The Only Way is Essex – on which Kelly was an extra – has also helped the county gather a lot of interest, and as Kelly puts it, “If TOWIE has taught us anything, it’s that you get a bit of luxury here.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
If you’d like to see what all the fuss is about, book your stay at the Park Inn by Radisson Thurrock. Set in six acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, it’s the optimum location to base yourself before exploring Kelly’s top five.
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