Essex

Essex ranges from historic market towns to lively seaside resorts, with plenty of quiet countryside in between. Colchester, Britain's oldest recorded town, offers Roman history and a busy centre, while Chelmsford serves as the county's cathedral city with good shopping and transport links. Southend On Sea is the classic Essex resort, with its pier and promenade drawing day-trippers and holidaymakers, while West Mersea offers a calmer coastal alternative, known for its oysters and sailing.

Inland, Saffron Walden and Great Saling reflect a gentler, rural Essex, with timber-framed buildings and village greens ideal for a slower pace. Billericay and Basildon combine residential life with easy access to London, while Battlesbridge is known for its antiques centre beside the River Crouch. Heybridge and East Tilbury sit close to water and marshland, and Grays, on the Thames Estuary, offers riverside views and a working port town character.

Essex offers a wide spread of places to stay, from city-centre convenience in Chelmsford to quieter countryside stops further out. Pontlands Park Hotel and Channels Lodge suit those wanting a more traditional hotel stay with grounds to match, while Premier Inn Chelmsford Boreham covers straightforward, budget-friendly overnights near the main roads.

Smaller B&Bs and inns fill out the rest of the county, often attached to pubs or set on working estates. The Annexe at Gosfield Lake and Acreland Green give a taste of rural Essex, with fishing lakes and open fields close by, whereas Harwich's options lean towards travellers passing through on the ferry routes.

Pub stays such as Shakers Inn, The Riverside Inn and The Compasses add character for those who want a meal and a bed under one roof, and The Bottle Kiln Wetherspoon offers a familiar, no-fuss choice for an easy stop. Rothmans B&B rounds things out with a smaller, homelier option away from the larger chains.

Essex packs a lot into a small area, from Colchester's Roman history to the wide beaches and piers of the coast. Southend-on-Sea alone offers everything from Southend Pier Museum to escape rooms and battle bars for a wet afternoon, while the Naze and Clacton stretch of coastline suits paddleboarding, kiting and other beach-based activity.

Inland, Saffron Walden and Brentwood tend towards quieter, more traditional days out, whereas Harlow has a cluster of adventure-focused venues like Urban Xtreme for anyone wanting an active outing. Harwich and East Tilbury add maritime and industrial heritage into the mix, and treasure trails such as the one in Colchester give families a low-cost way to explore town centres on foot.

With such a spread of options, it is worth deciding whether you want coast, countryside or town first, since Essex delivers convincingly on all three but rarely all at once.

Essex covers a lot of ground, and its dining scene reflects that spread. Chelmsford, as the county city, has a dense cluster of restaurants and pubs from Italian trattorias to Chinese kitchens, while Billericay's high street offers a smaller but well-regarded selection for an evening out. Barking, sitting closer to London, brings its own mix of caffs, casual diners and takeaway-style kitchens into the fold.

With nearly 2,500 places listed across the county, the choice ranges from quick lunch spots and burger joints to family-run Chinese restaurants and neighbourhood cafes. Some towns favour informal daytime cafes like Cafe at Number 21 or 2MT Caffe, while others lean towards proper sit-down meals. It is worth deciding whether you want a quick bite or a full pub meal before picking a direction, since Essex delivers well on both fronts depending on which town you're in.

Essex campsites tend to fall into two camps: quiet farm pitches for those who like a fire pit and a view of nothing but fields, and glamping setups with proper beds and a bit more comfort. Stuarts Wood Camping and Tey Brook Orchard both work well if you want a traditional back-to-basics stay, while Dairymeade Farm Glamping and Woodchests Glamping suit anyone wanting a hut or shepherd's hut with the hard work already done.

The Colchester and Halstead areas offer good access to the Stour Valley and the Essex coast around Mersea Island, where Mersea Barns Glamping puts you close to the water and its seafood shacks. Further north towards Saffron Walden and Finchingfield, sites sit among the county's prettiest villages, useful for exploring on foot or by bike.

Smaller, more unusual stays crop up throughout, from Peace Place Pilgrim Bivouac to Hedingham Huts and The Shepherds Hide, so it is worth deciding whether you want peace and isolation or somewhere within easy reach of a pub.

Essex self-catering options range from converted barns to countryside apartment blocks, with a strong showing around Colchester and Brentwood. Colchester, as England's oldest recorded town, makes a practical base for exploring the surrounding villages while staying somewhere with its own kitchen and living space, such as Easthorpe Retreat or one of the Baytree Cottages.

Multi-unit sites like Shencot Apartments suit groups or families who want separate accommodation close together, while conversions such as Bradleys Barn or Country Escape at The Granary offer a more rural, standalone feel. Brentwood's cottages tend to work well for those wanting easy access into London while keeping a foot in the Essex countryside.