Essex is a historic county in East England known for Roman heritage, scenic coastline, charming market towns, and good transport links.
Westfield Stratford City is a large urban shopping centre in East London, featuring over 350 stores, anchor department stores like John Lewis and Marks & Spencer, a 20-screen cinema, numerous restaurants, and extensive parking. It is adjacent to major transit hubs and offers a comprehensive indoor shopping and leisure experience.
Exchange Ilford is a major indoor shopping mall located in the town centre of Ilford, east London, featuring over 90 retail stores across three levels, a food court, and extensive parking facilities.
Rainham Hall is a well-preserved Georgian merchant's house in London with historic interiors, exhibitions, and an on-site café, showcasing a unique blend of domestic and commercial history from the 18th century onwards.
Broadway Shopping Centre is a large indoor retail complex in the centre of Bexleyheath, Greater London, featuring over 59 shops including major chains. It offers covered malls that meet at a central square and ample parking, making it a principal shopping destination in the area.
The Brewery is a major shopping and leisure centre in Romford featuring retail stores, a cinema, bowling, restaurants, and an amusement arcade. It is situated on the historic site of the former Star Brewery and offers a comprehensive indoor experience for visitors.
15 Oct (next Thursday)
Join National Trust staff and volunteers on a gentle circular walk from Rainham Hall, exploring the garden and the hidden history of Rainham Village.
Melford Hall is a historic Grade I listed stately home in Suffolk with 16th-century origins and Tudor architecture. Owned by the National Trust and open to the public seasonally, it offers a blend of both indoor historic house tours and extensive outdoor grounds hosting events.
8 Oct, 15 Oct…
A gentle guided walk around the park, offering time to move, enjoy the fresh air and connect with nature at your own pace.
Adventure Island is a themed amusement park in Southend-on-Sea, England, featuring 36 rides including 5 roller coasters, indoor softplay and arcades, and extensive outdoor thrill and family attractions beside the longest pleasure pier in the world. It offers year-round indoor entertainment and seasonal outdoor rides and events, suitable for all ages.
Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock, Essex is a large indoor retail complex featuring over 250 shops, numerous dining options, a cinema, and a leisure area including a lake with a diving school. It offers extensive parking and direct public transport links, making it a major regional shopping and leisure destination.
Tilbury Fort is a historic 17th-century artillery fort in Essex with star-shaped defenses, water-filled moats, and extensive military history, now a tourist site operated by English Heritage featuring original magazines, barracks, and gun emplacements.
Grays is the largest town in Thurrock, Essex, situated on the north bank of the River Thames, featuring historic sites, shopping centers, cultural venues, and riverside leisure areas.
Stratford Centre is a large indoor shopping mall and market in Stratford, London, featuring numerous retail units and food outlets, with a 24-hour public thoroughfare and convenient transport links.
Basildon Town Centre in Essex is a planned urban shopping and leisure area featuring the Eastgate Shopping Centre, a historically significant indoor retail hub and notable contemporary artworks, including a Grade II listed statue and a unique glass bell tower. It offers abundant parking, food options, and is undergoing major regeneration.
Basildon is a modern new town in Essex, England, established in 1949 with a vibrant town centre, extensive shopping, cultural venues, parks, and good transport links including rail and bus services.
Paycocke's House and Gardens is a Tudor merchant's house with intricate woodwork, paired with restored historic gardens in an Arts and Crafts style. It offers visitors a blend of indoor historic architecture and outdoor garden exploration under National Trust care in Coggeshall, Essex.
Coggeshall is a historic village in Essex with rich medieval heritage, notable for its large parish church, Cistercian abbey ruins, timber-framed buildings, and a longstanding market charter since 1256. Visitors can explore architecture from the wool trade era, local museums, and enjoy walking in a picturesque setting.
The Mercury Mall is an enclosed shopping centre in Romford, Greater London, featuring around 45 stores, food outlets including McDonald's, a cinema, and a bingo hall, with a distinctive glass dome enclosure and underground connection to The Liberty shopping centre.
Eastbury Manor House is an Elizabethan Grade I listed manor house in Barking, London, open most of the year as a museum presenting its rich historical heritage and architecture.
8–10 Oct, 15–17 Oct…
An exhibition at Rainham Hall explores how the house was transformed for the film Sense and Sensibility, displaying costumes and props and documenting the filming process.
Colchester Zoo is a large zoological garden in Essex offering outdoor themed animal habitats with rare and endangered species, interactive exhibits, conservation efforts, and family-friendly facilities.
Lewisham Shopping Centre is a major indoor shopping mall in Lewisham, London, featuring around 70 stores, a street food market, and the Migration Museum, with plans for extensive redevelopment including new homes and public spaces.