An Alternative View of Essex
Long before TOWIE came along, the biggest pre-conception about Essex – alongside everyone wearing white stilettos – has always been that it is a rather unattractive county.
Granted, sprawling eastwards from the outskirts of London, there are parts which do leave a lot to be desired. However, if you look a little closer, you’ll soon come to realise that alongside its many town credentials, there is also a whole load of pretty forestry and glorious countryside just waiting to be admired. Who needs the neighbouring garden of England when you’ve got beautiful Essex?
With this in mind, here’s a list of the greatest, most unsung parts of the county.
Epping Forest
When thinking about London’s largest open spaces, many people fail to name the largest of them all. Forget Clapham Common or Hyde Park – Epping Forest stretches for an entire twelve miles, all the way from Manor Park to the town of Epping. With beautiful woodlands and endless natural trails, there’s a reason this has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation. Perfect for bike riding, long-distance running or for simply enjoying a slice of the great outdoors, it has all the makings for a brilliant day out.
Colchester
Despite many disputing the title, Colchester is the official oldest recorded town in Britain. As a result, many of its attractions stem from its ancient origins. Alongside its legendary castle, the Cressing Temple and Layer Marney Tower also displays the echoes of a Roman past. Despite these landmarks, many people fail to realise Colchester’s amazing history, when in fact; a simple stroll around the town centre will provide you with a walk back in time. For those travelling further out or outside of the UK, the nearest airport to Colchester in Stansted, you can rent a car and get Stansted airport parking on the day.
Saffron Walden
One of the most picturesque and rural towns in the whole of Essex, Saffron Walden is one of the loveliest places to live. Changing its name from Chipping Walden thanks to the precious saffron growing industry of the 17th century, it is still largely associated with the sought-after spice. With its pretty market square and plethora of gardens, this rather relaxed part of Essex retains a lot of its original charm: perfect for a day trip.
Leigh-on-Sea
Despite being a part of Southend, Leigh-on-Sea feels entirely different to its rather brash counterpart. A lovely part of the Essex coast, Leigh is worth a visit simply for its array of seafood. From its quaint and authentic seafront hunts: selling the best and freshest eels, to its upmarket restaurants: dishing up the best fish and chips for miles around – you’d be hard pressed to beat a meal out here. Leigh-on-Sea is probably easiest to get to from Luton airport, and like Colchester, you can rent a car and get Luton airport parking by the airport.
Tilbury Fort
Located on the north Essex bank of the River Thames, Tilbury Fort is an imposing sight. Originally built to defend the city of London from sea attack, it is now open to visitors and looked after by English Heritage. An important part of the country’s old defences, it is a great place for anyone who is interested in 16th century architecture, old army practices or simply the history of our capital city – it’s certainly of the most surprising landmarks to be found in the very heart of Essex.
Essex is definitely for me, one of the most underrated and beautiful parts of the UK. Even for people living in the UK, it can be easily forgotten how good the transport links are in and out of the city. With buses, coaches, trains and planes Essex is definitely easily accessible wherever you are. For those driving as well, you can park in one of the close by airports such as Gatwick and get Parking at Gatwick by BCP for a heavily discounted price.
This is a guest post