Danbury Common
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.
Essex
Essex is a historic county in East England known for Roman heritage, scenic coastline, charming market towns, and good transport links.
3 miles from Garden Design Principles for Beginners
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.
Hadleigh Castle
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.
St James' Chapel, Lindsey
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.
Bridge Cottage
Bridge Cottage is a 16th-century thatched cottage in Flatford, Suffolk, part of the National Trust properties, featuring an exhibition on John Constable and access to scenic River Stour walks.
Rainham Hall
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.
Near Rainham October Discovery Walk
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.
Adventure Island (amusement park)
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.
St Botolph's Priory
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.
3 miles from ‘Introduction to Garden Design’ Course
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.
Eastbury Manor House
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.
Tilbury Fort
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.
Ray Island
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.
Lion Walk
Lion Walk Shopping Centre is the largest outdoor shopping mall in Colchester, Essex, known for its historic site with Roman-era artifacts and a unique mix of modern shops and retained historic architecture.
Rayleigh Mount
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.
Located in Rayleigh
Rayleigh is a historic market town in Essex featuring medieval castle remains, a Norman church, charming parks, and local markets. It offers accessible train and bus transport and rich opportunities for cultural and recreational activities.
St John's Abbey Gate
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.
Audley End House
Audley End House is a grand early 17th-century Jacobean English country house near Saffron Walden, Essex, set within Capability Brown-designed parkland with historic gardens. It served as a royal residence and was used by the Special Operations Executive during WWII. Visitors can explore the extensive interiors, grounds and gardens, which have been featured in film and television.
Near Monasteries, Mansions, Marriage and Mayhem
14 Oct, 21–22 Oct
Volunteers perform stories about the people and events that shaped Audley End. The performance accompanies an exhibition of paintings about three generations of the family connected with the house.
Ranger's House
Ranger's House is a Grade I listed Georgian mansion in Blackheath, London, adjacent to Greenwich Park, housing the Wernher Collection of fine art and decorative objects from the Renaissance to the 19th century. Visitors can explore its historic architecture and rich art collection inside the mansion, reflecting its history as an official residence of the Ranger of Greenwich Park.
Red House
Red House in Bexleyheath, London is a seminal Arts and Crafts building designed by William Morris and Philip Webb, featuring medieval-inspired architecture and original Pre-Raphaelite art. It serves as a historic house museum managed by the National Trust, showcasing Morris' pioneering design ethos and craftsmanship.
3 miles from The Positive Necessities of Life
8–9 Oct, 15–16 Oct…
An exhibition at Red House presents personally significant domestic objects selected by architects, designers, local residents and young people from Bexley, exploring the memories and stories connected with everyday possessions. It can only be visited as part of a guided tour of the house.
Hatfield Forest
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.
Near Creative writing for mindfulness
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.
Melford Hall
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.
Near Walk for Wellness
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.
Paycocke's House and Garden
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.
Colchester Zoo
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.
Mistley Towers
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.
Bourne Mill
Bourne Mill is a historic Grade I listed former fishing lodge and mill located in Colchester, Essex, managed by the National Trust. Visitors can explore the restored mill machinery and the mill's surrounding pond, experiencing both indoor historic architecture and outdoor picturesque grounds.
3 miles from Constable 250: Flatford Guided Tour
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.