Essex is a historic county in East England known for Roman heritage, scenic coastline, charming market towns, and good transport links.
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.
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.
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.
Dartford is a historic market town in Kent, England, with a rich industrial and religious heritage, accessible by rail and serving as a cultural and shopping hub for visitors.
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.
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.
Mistley Towers are the surviving twin neoclassical towers of the demolished Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Mistley, Essex, notable for their architectural design by Robert Adam and their historical significance as a Grade I listed structure and scheduled monument.
8 Oct–1 Nov (another 23 days)
Join a guided outdoor tour around Flatford to learn about John Constable’s life and work and see the views that inspired paintings including The Hay Wain and Flatford Mill.
St James' Chapel in Lindsey, Suffolk is a 13th-century medieval chapel originally serving Lindsey Castle, featuring historic architecture and original stonework, now preserved as a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument open to the public.
Waltham Abbey Church is a historic parish church in Essex with origins dating back to the 7th century, renowned for its Norman architecture and its connection to King Harold Godwinson. Visitors can explore the church's rich history, impressive architectural features, and significant heritage as a pilgrimage site and a Grade I listed building.
Waltham Abbey is a historic market town in Essex, England, known for its medieval abbey church, royal gunpowder mills museum, and scenic location by the River Lea and Epping Forest. It offers rich cultural heritage, nature trails, and local markets.
Ray Island is a 40.5-hectare nature reserve in Essex featuring saltmarsh, rough grassland, and a shingle foreshore, known for its wildlife and multiple environmental designations. Visitors access the island by boat, exploring its unique natural habitats and birdlife in an outdoor setting.
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.
Hadleigh Castle is a ruined medieval fortification from the 13th century in Essex, overlooking the Thames Estuary. Now a protected heritage site managed by English Heritage, it offers visitors scenic views and historical ruins within the surrounding Hadleigh Country Park.
Rayleigh Castle is a historic Norman motte-and-bailey castle site in Rayleigh, Essex, recognized for its earthwork remains dating back to the 11th century. The site offers visitors an outdoor experience of medieval fortification earthworks managed by the National Trust.
Sailmakers is a multi-story shopping centre in Ipswich, England, that opened in 1986 and was transformed and rebranded in 2015. It provides an indoor shopping experience with various retail options.
Ipswich is a historic port town and county town of Suffolk, England, known for its medieval heritage, cultural institutions, arts scene, and scenic waterfront with marina.
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.
Danbury Common is a large biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Essex featuring heathland, woodland, ponds, and uncommon species, with areas managed by the National Trust and Essex Wildlife Trust.
10 Oct (this Saturday)
A beginner workshop led by lecturer and author Christine Lavelle explores garden-design principles, including assessing a space, garden aspect, soil type, colour, plant choices and border design. Participants will consider how to plan and plant a garden to make effective use of its space.
St John's Abbey is a historic Benedictine monastic site in Colchester, Essex, with remains including the Grade I listed gatehouse and precinct walls. Visitors can explore the outdoor archaeological site and nearby St Giles parish church, learning of its rich medieval history and links to the English Civil War.
14 Oct (next Wednesday)
An intensive course covering the stages of designing a garden, from site surveying and drawing plans to landscaping and planting design. It is aimed at people planning their own garden and those considering a career in garden design.
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.
St Botolph's Priory in Colchester is the ruin of the first Augustinian priory in England, featuring large remnants of its medieval nave and protected as a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument. Visitors can explore the historic ruins in a public park setting with accessibility improvements and a nearby Gothic Victorian church built in the 19th century.
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.
Hatfield Forest is a 403-hectare medieval Royal Hunting Forest in Essex, managed by the National Trust, offering extensive woodlands, ancient trees, diverse wildlife, archaeological sites, and accessible walking trails in an outdoor nature reserve experience.
10 Oct, 28 Nov
An outdoor creative writing session led by an English teacher and holistic life coach. Participants use the forest as inspiration and explore thoughts and feelings through writing prompts and mindful activities.