There are many places and attractions to witness in Essex, a county located in the East of England. The county town of Essex is known as Chelmsford.

Places of Tourist Interest in Essex

Castles in the County of Essex

The Hedingham Castle located near Braintree, a town in the county of Essex houses a fine representation of Norman Keep. Here you can see the Tudor Bridge, which is used, as the entry point in reaching the castle. Another castle, the Cressing Temple is reachable few minutes outside the town of Braintree. Within the Cressing Temple is a gigantic storage place where a representation of how the Knight Templar protects pilgrims on the way to the Holy Land is being kept for exhibition.

Another castle worth visiting in Essex is the MountFitchet Castle is found in Mountfitchet, which is very near Stansted.

The 11th century Norman Castle in Colchester is the most remarkable Norman Keep ever built. The castle is also considered as the largest surviving Norman Keep structure.

Colchester

The town of Colchester is a perfect embodiment of the rich culture of Britain. Walking around Colchester is like walking back to Britain’s exciting historical past. There are many fantastic places to visit in Colchester like the Colchester Castle Museum. For family outings and activities, travelers can visit the Mistley Place Park that is open on most days. After going to the Mistley Church, families can spend their time going around or just relaxing at the park.

Activities to enjoy while in Essex

Shopping in Essex

Antique lovers will surely enjoy shopping aged items of different values in the scenic Battlesbridge. In the same way, as fresh produce lies abundant in the county’s farmer markets and local produce shops. Visiting Maldon give shoppers the chance to choose from a wide array of goods displayed in many boutiques and shopping outlets.

Cycling

Cycling around the countryside of Essex gives cycles the chance to go around Essex and witness the almost perfect green landscape, river valleys and scenic spots that are really pleasing to the eyes. What a refreshing way to enjoy a supposed to be tiring sport activity.

Fun Family Activities

Kids will enjoy visiting the Colchester Zoo, where they will have the chance to see Europe’s finest collection of cats and monkeys.

Watersports

Essex brags of an extensive shoreline where water enthusiasts can take pleasure in engaging to appropriate water sports activities. Watersports activities are not the only activity that the coastline of Essex has to offer; non-enthusiasts can just stroll along the shoreline where they can witness fisherman still unloading the day’s catch.

When you are visiting Somerset and more particularly Taunton there is a lot to see and do including Hestercombe Gardens, and Hinton St. George. The Hestercombe Gardens that have been beautifully laid out just to the back of a nineteenth century Hestercombe mansion is nothing short of a marvel that has everything including balustrades, stone paths and also flower beds that are very formal as well as have great stonework.

Another place worth visiting while you are in Somerset is Ilminister where you can visit Barrington Court, as also Ham Hill Country Park where there is the wonderful Leland Walking Trail if you are interested in hiking and the outdoor life.

There is also Combe Sydenham Country Park that is situated in Monksilver that is also a part of Somerset and there are also Sheppy’s Cider Farm Centre to visit as too the Somerset County Museum. While you are visiting Combe Sydenham Country Park you will have plenty to marvel at in the Elizabethan era restored country estate that spans five hundred acres though you may have to pay a two pound entrance fee and which is only open during the months of March up to end of September.

If you then head to Washford there is the excellent Cleeve Abbey and this Cistercian Abbey is also an English Heritage Site and which came into existence in the year 1198 and includes a number of cloistered buildings as well as Refrectory and the roof carvings are nothing short of magnificent, even though a great part of the church has been lost to public because of destruction to it that occurred in the year 1536, it is still a rare sight to see. Remember however, that it is closed on New Year’s Day, Christmas and also Christmas Eve as well as on the day following Christmas or Boxing Day as it is known in England.