Braintree
Things to do in Braintree, Essex
Photo © Sebin Joseph, Google Maps
Braintree sits at the heart of this part of Essex, a market town with enough shops, cafes and history to anchor a stay while the surrounding countryside does much of the real work. It has the practical feel of a working town rather than a tourist spot, which suits people using it as a base to explore villages, farms and gardens further out.
Eating out in Braintree is mostly geared towards easy, everyday choices rather than destination dining, with Bill's Restaurant, Cafe Plaza and Fusion offering sit-down options, Brick Lane Bagel Co and Gelato E Ciambella for something quicker or sweeter, and familiar names like Pret A Manger and KFC covering the fast end of things. Great Lodge stands out as a spot worth seeking out beyond the town centre.
Altogether, Braintree works well as a low-key base: a proper town with good transport links and everyday amenities, surrounded by farms, gardens and country houses that give visitors a reason to head out into the Essex countryside each day.
Where to stay in Braintree(7)
All hotels in Braintree →About staying in Braintree
Places to stay range from the reliable chains, Holiday Inn Express Braintree, Premier Inn Braintree A120 and Premier Inn Braintree Freeport Village among them, to more characterful options such as The Onley and the White Hart Hotel by Greene King Inns in town. Just outside Braintree, self-catering cottages make the most of the countryside setting, with converted farm buildings at Belchamp Hall, including the Coach House, Hayloft, Mill and Stables, and stable conversions at Ashen Equestrian. For anyone wanting to camp, Stocks Farm Camping offers a simpler base among the fields. Chestnut Lodge and Aylesbury Lodge add further self-catering choice for families or groups.
Holiday Inn Express Braintree
Panners Roundabout, Braintree
Premier Inn Braintree A120
Cressing Road, Braintree
Premier Inn Braintree Freeport Village
Fowlers Farm, Braintree
The Onley
The Street, Braintree
Travelodge Braintree
Victoria Street, Braintree
White Hart Hotel by Greene King Inns
Bocking End, Braintree
Haus Serviced Living
26 Trinovantian Way, Braintree
Things to Do in Braintree(11)
All attractions in Braintree →About things to do in Braintree
The area's attractions lean heavily towards farms and open-air days out. Boydells Dairy Farm and Stantons Farm give a sense of the working countryside, Blackwater Alpacas & Pygmy Goats and Otto's Pumpkin Patch are aimed squarely at family visits, and the Great Notley Discovery Centre and Park offers space to roam. History and craft are covered too, with the medieval Cressing Temple Barns and the Blake House Craft Centre, while the Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens make for a gentler, more formal outing in town.
Where to Eat in Braintree(14)
All restaurants in Braintree →
Attractions Near Braintree
All attractions in Braintree →Worth the trip — within 50 miles of Braintree.
4 mi
Gosfield Lake Resort
Halstead · ⭐ 4.4
4 mi
Essex Pottery Studio
Halstead · ⭐ 4.8
5 mi
Coggeshall Grange Barn
Coggeshall · ⭐ 4.2
7 mi
Witham Games arena
Witham · ⭐ 4.2
7 mi
Laser Quest Witham
Witham · ⭐ 4.6
8 mi
Hedingham Castle
Castle Hedingham · ⭐ 4.6
8 mi
Colne Valley Railway
Castle Hedingham · ⭐ 4.5
8 mi
Little Monsters House of Fun
Great Dunmow · ⭐ 4.6
Camping in Braintree(1)
All campsites in Braintree →
Self-Catering Cottages in Braintree(24)
All cottages in Braintree →
Ashen Equestrian : Mac Shack Stable
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £807
Ashen Equestrian : Saddlers
1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £373
English Oak
1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £1,286
Liston Hall Barn
5 bed · sleeps 10 · from £2,406
Owls Hoot
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £681
Peacock on the Pin
1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £741
Silver Birch
1 bed · sleeps 2 · from £1,286
Aylesbury Lodge
2 bed · sleeps 4 · from £781
Common questions about Braintree
How many campsites are there in Braintree?
We list 1 campsites in and around Braintree, of which 1 take tents.
Which campsites in Braintree have electric hook-up?
1 of the 1 campsites we list in Braintree offer an electric hook-up.
How many holiday cottages are there in Braintree?
We list 24 self-catering cottages in and around Braintree.
Can I take a dog to a holiday cottage in Braintree?
Yes — 16 of the 24 Braintree cottages we list allow pets.
Are there large holiday cottages in Braintree for groups?
Yes — the largest cottage we list in Braintree sleeps 16.
Where can I stay in Braintree?
We list 7 hotels, B&Bs and guest houses in and around Braintree.
What is there to do in Braintree?
We list 11 attractions and things to do in and around Braintree.
Where can I eat in Braintree?
We list 14 restaurants, pubs and cafes in and around Braintree.
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