Essex has been a holiday destination for many people for decades. It is home to well-known places like Clacton-on Sea. And given its proximity to London – a relatively short drive away, Essex is an ideal location for a short break away. Essex has a stunning coastline. It is easy to see why we have over 40 holiday parks in Essex on our website.
The coastal county of Essex offers an ideal location for a family holiday. Popular attractions include the longest pleasure pier in the world at Southend-on-Sea and the White Tiger Valley at Colchester Zoo. An enchanting county of unspoilt sandy beaches and traditional pleasures.
Clacton-on-Sea is one of England’s most iconic, seaside towns with a long sandy beach and a Victorian pier dating back to 1871. There are plenty of things to keep the kids happy whilst taking a stroll along the 150m long boardwalk. With a fun fair, ten pin bowling, crazy golf and a big wheel, there’s plenty to do. The Clacton Seaquarium is located here too. It is a fun and interesting way to learn a bit more about the sea that surrounds the area.
Clacton is also the perfect location to experience the typical British food dish of fish and chips as you sit beside the beach.
Colchester is one of Britain’s oldest towns full of history and heritage. It is best known as a Roman city, but its history can be traced back to within the Iron Age.
While you’re in Colchester, you can visit a Norman castle and Roman temple at the same time. The Temple of Claudius (AD49) was incorporated as part of the base of Colchester Castle (11th-century). The Castle boasts the largest Norman keep in Europe.
Take a guided tour of the Roman vaults or up onto the castle walls. You will find a fantastic museum including a mosaic floor and hordes of Roman treasure.
For those with an interest in steam engines East Anglian Railway Museum is a must. There are plenty of areas to explore on a day out, from hands-on rail exhibitions at the Heritage Centre, to discovering the behind-the-scenes work that goes on inside the Restoration Shed.
With over 260 species of animals, Colchester Zoo is one of the best zoos in the country. There are a wide range of habitats and zones, including the Orangutan Forest and the Kingdom of the Wild, where you can encounter rhinos, giraffes, ostriches and zebra.
Colchester is a great place to shop. Culver Square and Lion Walk are the town’s two largest indoor shopping centres and the best place to head for big brand names. For fresh local produce, meats and cheese, fashion, jewellery, and lots more, visit Colchester Market, held every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
A half hour drive to the southeast of Colchester will take you to Mersea Island. The island is joined to the mainland by a causeway and has long attracted holidaymakers to its sandy shores and colourful beach huts. Mersea Island is well-known for its seafood, which is caught fresh off the coast. The oysters are particularly sought after. You will also find lots of water sports such as sailing, kitesurfing and stand-up paddling, as the waters are calm and shallow.
Brightlingsea is a delightful, small sailing town on the Essex sunshine coast. It is situated between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea, at the mouth of the River Colne, on Brightlingsea Creek.
It is a popular yachting destination with excellent sailing facilities and other watersports amenities.
For those who enjoy their swimming, there’s Brightlingsea Lido. This is a classic 1930s facility with a large 50 metre pool (and a smaller one for toddlers). Open spring to autumn, it’s a stone’s throw from the coast and there are sunbeds and inflatables to hire.
Essex has almost fifty nature reserves, along its coastline along with some sizable estuary wetlands. One of the largest reserves is situated at Hamford, just north of Walton-on-the-Naze. Before you take a walk along one of the many wildlife trails, why not hop into a boat and go seal-spotting with a local naturalist.
You will find some of the very best holiday and caravan parks in the UK and less than 2 hours away from London. Many of our Essex parks have been awarded best in the UK and offer exceptional standards of facilities and services.
Look out for those that display the David Bellamy Conservation Award – this is awarded to those parks that can demonstrate their active concern for the environment and protection of plants and animal habitats.
Browse a range of high quality parks in Essex, offering holiday homes, glamping holidays, touring holidays, chalets, luxury lodges and cottages.
