Be dazzled by the magnificent floral displays, and browse and buy from a fantastic range of plants, garden sundries and ornaments at this five-day... more >

RHS Garden Hyde Hall Creephedge Lane, Rettendon CM3 8ET

Wed 31 Jul to Sun 4 Aug

Loughton Astronomical Society

Professor Allan Chapman: Sir John Herschel, the Astronomer who Surveyed Two Hemispheres. The Loughton Astronomical Society is the home of all things..... more >

Scout Hall, Loughton Lane next to the Cricket Club. CM16 7EJ

Thu 1 Aug

Stamp Club Meeting (Witham)

Railway Art and Railways (C. Evans). Meeting of Witham Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit. Membership subscription payable for continued..... more >

Spring Lodge Community Centre, Powers Hall End, Witham CM8 2HE

Thu 1 Aug

Social Steps Ballroom Dance And Social Club

ABOUT US We are a small group of social Ballroom, Latin American and Sequence dancers who meet every Thursday evening... more >

Ramsden Bellhouse Village Hall, Church Road, Ramsden Bellhouse, Billericay CM11 1RH

Thu 1 Aug, Thu 8 Aug

Music and Beer Festival at the Vulcan

Following a hugely succesful inagural event last year, our Music and Beer Festival at the Vulcan returns in 2024 at London Southend Airport on Friday... more >

Hangar 6 South Road, London Southend Airport, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6YU

Fri 2 Aug and Sat 3 Aug

Premium

PREVIEW live music SHOWCASE free 10 Acts 8.30 start

PREVIEW live music SHOWCASE PREVIEW live music SHOWCASE 40th with some BLASTS from the PAST In 'The Function Bar' @ The PLOUGH... more >

THE PLOUGH, 426-428 London Road, Westcliff-on-sea SS0 9LA

Fri 2 Aug

80s and 90s Party Night

Join us for a Sizzling Summer Party Night here at the Jobserve Community Stadium! Dance along to the biggest hits from the BEST decades: the..... more >

Jobserve Community Stadium, United Way, Colchester CO4 5UP

Sat 3 Aug

Live Steam Open Day (Ride on Railway)

Ilford & West Essex Model Railway Club is holding it’s usual monthly open day. This open day has train rides (usually steam) for all the family... more >

Adjacent to North Side of Chadwell Heath Station, Station Road, Chadwell Heath, Essex RM6 4BU

Sun 4 Aug

The Mount - Open Garden for NGS

The garden is set in a total of eight acres. Three acres of formal gardens and five acres woodland planted in 2003... more >

The Mount, Harlow CM19 5HT

Sun 4 Aug

Stamp Club Meeting (Basildon)

The President’s Guest (to be announced). Meeting of Basildon Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit... more >

George Hurd Centre, Audley Way, Basildon SS14 2FL

Mon 5 Aug

Frinton Summer Theatre - Fanny's Burning

Frinton Summer Theatre’s 2024 summer season promises a stunning selection of theatrical drama beside the seaside... more >

McGrigor Hall Fourth Avenue Frinton-on-Sea CO13 9EB

Tue 6 Aug to Sat 10 Aug

Stamp Club Meeting (Benfleet)

Iraq and Hungary (A. Cowie). Meeting of Benfleet & District Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit... more >

Jubilee Hall, St Barnabas Church, Church Road, Hadleigh, Benfleet SS7 2EJ

Wed 7 Aug

Long House Plants - Open Garden for NGS

A beautiful garden - yes, but one with a purpose. Long House Plants has been producing homegrown plants for more than 10 years and here is a chance..... more >

Long House Plants, Romford RM4 1LD

Wed 7 Aug

Stamp Club Meeting (Clacton)

Bourse & Members’ displays. Meeting of Clacton Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit. Membership subscription payable for continued..... more >

Clacton Indoor Bowls Club, Valley Road, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 6NA

Wed 7 Aug

Gin &Rum Festival Colchester 2024

Join the fun and discover a unique experience that celebrates the best of Gin and Rum and promises the party of the year!... more >

The Charter Hall, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, United Kingdom CO1 1YH

Sat 10 Aug

A Summer Musical Bouquet

The TLC Ensemble present... A Summer Musical Bouquet! Popular Favourites. Instrumental and vocal music for a Summer afternoon. Tea & Cake... more >

St. Andrew’s Church Hall, Burnham Road / Fambridge Road, Althorne CM3 6BY

Sat 10 Aug

Mystical Fair - Mind Body Spirit & Wellbeing.

Crafty Cow Markets are excited to invite you to our very 1st Mystical Fair this August. A day filled with magic & wonder... more >

Chantry Centre, Chantry Way, Billericay CM11 2AP

Sat 10 Aug

Route 66

Route 66 Soul and covers band Free Halstead Town Council Event in Halstead Public Gardens Bring along a blanket or chair... more >

Halstead Public Gardens Trinity Street Halstead CO9 1JE

Sun 11 Aug

Elmbridge Mill - Open Garden for NGS

This beautiful and tranquil garden last opened for the National Garden Scheme in 2008. A romantic, country garden full of topiary, unusual plants and..... more >

Elmbridge Mill, Dunmow CM6 2HZ

Sun 11 Aug

Talliston Presents: Fragrancing Your World

A home fragrance masterclass, tour & workshop at Britain's Most Extraordinary Home (The Times) exploring the power and beauty of scents in our... more >

Talliston House & Gardens 51 Newton Green CM6 1DU

Sun 11 Aug

Stamp Club Meeting (Rayleigh)

22Jul: All members display Acquired in 2023; 12Aug: Bourse Night; 9Sep: All members display Roaring '40s... more >

Parish Rooms, Rectory Garth, Hockley Road, Rayleigh SS6 8BA

Mon 12 Aug, Mon 9 Sep

Open To All - Art Exhibition by Revd Elizabeth Gray-King

Christ Church URC Chelmsford will be hosting the Open To All a Free Art exhibition which showcases 13 intriguing and affirming canvases which explore... more >

Christ Church URC 164 New London Road, Chelmsford CM2 0AW

Tue 13 Aug to Sat 17 Aug, Mon 19 Aug to Fri 23 Aug

Frinton Summer Theatre - Noises Off

Frinton Summer Theatre’s 2024 summer season promises a stunning selection of theatrical drama beside the seaside... more >

McGrigor Hall Fourth Avenue Frinton-on-Sea CO13 9EB

Tue 13 Aug to Sat 17 Aug

8 Dene Court - Open Garden for NGS

Beautifully maintained and designed as a compact garden. Owner is well-known RHS gold medal-winning exhibitor (now retired)... more >

8 Dene Court, Chelmsford CM1 2JQ

Tue 13 Aug, Wed 28 Aug

Old Timbers - Open Garden for NGS

The white shingled spire of St Marys church, provides historic atmosphere to this weatherboarded house and large walled garden... more >

Old Timbers, Maldon CM9 5HW

Fri 16 Aug

Robin Hood

Join utter legends Robin, Marian and the Merry Men in Sherwood Forest for a hilariously adventurous take on the timeless tales of everyone's... more >

Thames Chase RM14 3NS

Fri 16 Aug

Basildon Inflatable 5km

Get ready to bounce your way through The World's BIGGEST and most EPIC Inflatable 5K Obstacle Course!... more >

Barleylands, Billericay, Essex CM11 2UD

Sat 17 Aug

Forever Wild Arts Festival

Forever Wild, a joyful arts festival for all the family, is being held at the Fishermen’s Chapel in Leigh-on-sea, Essex (16-19 August)... more >

The Fishermen’s Chapel, New Road, Leigh-On-Sea SS9 2EA

Sat 17 Aug

Premium

Visit the Vulcan Classic Jets Day

See former Royal Air Force bomber Avro Vulcan XL426 up close in its hangar at our Visit the Vulcan Classic Jets Day... more >

Hangar 6 South Road, London Southend Airport, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6YU

Sun 18 Aug

Premium

Mersea Island Festival

Starting in 1981, the Mersea Island Festival has been an annual event each August at Essex Outdoors Mersea (East Mersea Youth Camp)... more >

c/o Essex Outdoors Mersea, Rewsalls Lane, East Mersea, Colchester CO5 8SX

Sun 18 Aug to Mon 26 Aug

Ticket Sales Launch for First Summer Cinema at Braintree Village

Braintree Village has launched ticket sales for its inaugural open-air cinema which opens in August. The Summer Cinema at the Essex-based shopping..... more >

Braintree Village, Chapel Hill, Braintree CM77 8YH

Tue 20 Aug to Thu 29 Aug

Stamp Club Meeting (Basildon)

Display by Rayleigh P.S. Meeting of Basildon Philatelic Society. All welcome to visit. Membership subscription plus £1 attendance fee payable for..... more >

George Hurd Centre, Audley Way, Basildon SS14 2FL

Tue 20 Aug

Frinton Summer Theatre - Annie Get Your Gun

Theatre-lovers will get plenty of bang for their buck on the Essex coast this summer as Frinton Summer Theatre presents another packed season of... more >

Frinton Summer Theatre The Big Top Tent The Greensward Frinton-on-Sea Seafront CO13 9PR

Tue 20 Aug to Sun 25 Aug, Tue 27 Aug to Sun 1 Sep

The Merry Wives of Windsor

Sir John Falstaff, everyone's favourite Shakespearean sleazeball, has fallen on hard times. In order to fix his finances he plans to seduce the..... more >

Bridge End Garden CB10 1BE

Wed 21 Aug

Loughton Astronomical Society

Professor Nicholas Evans: Dark Matter. The Loughton Astronomical Society is the home of all things astronomical in West Essex... more >

Scout Hall, Loughton Lane next to the Cricket Club. CM16 7EJ

Thu 22 Aug

Contemporary Craft & Design Fair

Craft in Focus events have earned an enviable reputation for selecting only the very best professional designers, artists and craftspeople for their... more >

RHS Garden Hyde Hall Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford CM3 8ET

Fri 23 Aug to Mon 26 Aug

Cilla & The Swinging 60's Show

Celebrating the Life and Music of the legendary Cilla Black, Cilla & The Swinging 60s is a highly entertaining show, which also includes a handpicked... more >

Headgate Theatre, 14 Chapel Street North, Colchester CO2 7AT

Fri 23 Aug

Wind in the Willows

We are Burnt Coffee, a theatrical company based in East Anglia. We are back on tour, offering an imaginative adaptation of WIND IN THE WILLOWS... more >

Headgate Theatre, 14 Chapel Street North, Colchester CO2 7AT

Sat 24 Aug

207 Mersea Road - Open Garden for NGS

The garden is 185ft long divided into sections. There is a decking area with pots leading to a unique fountain made from waste slates... more >

207 Mersea Road, Colchester CO2 8PN

Sat 24 Aug, Sun 25 Aug

Paranormal & Psychic Event with Celebrity Psychic Marcus Starr

Step into the extraordinary as Marcus takes the stage, conducting captivating Paranormal Investigations and channeling messages from the spirit world... more >

Holiday Inn Colchester, an IHG Hotel, Abbotts Ln, Eight Ash Green, Colchester, Essex CO6 3QL

Sat 24 Aug

Ulting Wick - Open Garden for NGS

Listed black barns provide backdrop for vibrant and exuberant planting in eight acres. Snowdrops, Narcissus, tulips, flowing innovative spring..... more >

Ulting Wick, Maldon CM9 6QX

Mon 26 Aug, Fri 30 Aug

Bedroom Farce

You mean to tell me while I’m – giving you my all – you’re lying there thinking about floorboards? Set over the course of one evening, through a..... more >

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, Billet Lane, Hornchurch RM11 1QT

Wed 28 Aug to Sat 21 Sep

BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair

The BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair, in association with English Heritage, takes place at Audley End House and Gardens from 30 August – 1 September... more >

Audley End House and Gardens, Audley End Road, Audley End, Saffron Walden CB11 4JF

Fri 30 Aug to Sun 1 Sep

Treasure Island

Follow Jim Hawkins on his adventures starting at The Admiral Benbow Inn where he finds a treasure map... more >

Headgate Theatre, 14 Chapel Street North, Colchester CO2 7AT

Fri 30 Aug

Essex Tortoise Group Meeting

The Essex Tortoise Group, are holding there very first meeting, on Sat 31st August 11am till 3pm, all money raised goes to Wanderers Haven Animal... more >

South Ockendon Village Social Club, Canterbury Parade, South Ockendon, Essex RM15 6NU

Sat 31 Aug

30 Queens Road - Open Garden for NGS

A medium sized family garden with seperate zones. The front of the garden is a space for children to play... more >

30 Queens Road, Rayleigh SS6 8JX

Sat 31 Aug and Sun 1 Sep

Things to do around Essex

Essex, a county in the East of England, offers a diverse range of activities for a memorable day out. Whether you're interested in history, nature, or family-friendly adventures, there's something for everyone. Let's explore some of the best things to do in Essex:

1. Colchester Zoo:
- Colchester Zoo is a must-visit for animal lovers. With over 270 species set in 60 acres of beautiful parkland and lakes, it's constantly developing and has won many awards for its conservation work. Explore enclosures like the walk-through butterfly enclosure and the Rainbow Lorikeet area. Don't miss the state-of-the-art "Bears of the Rising Sun" enclosure housing sun bears Jo Jo and Srey Ya. Encounter Komodo Dragons, white rhinos, giraffes, and more at the "Kingdom of the Wild" exhibit¹.

2. Tours of Colchester:
- Join historical tours of Colchester, Britain's oldest recorded town. Explore its rich heritage, including Roman ruins, medieval architecture, and charming streets. Visit the Colchester Castle, a Norman keep with fascinating exhibits. Don't miss the historic walking tours and outdoor escape games.

3. Explore Southend-on-Sea:
- Head to Southend-on-Sea for a classic British seaside experience. Enjoy the sandy beaches, stroll along the promenade, and visit the iconic Southend Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world. Explore Adventure Island amusement park and try the thrilling rides.

4. Discover Green Island Gardens:
- Green Island Gardens in Ardleigh is a hidden gem. Explore the enchanting gardens, featuring exotic plants, sculptures, and tranquil ponds. It's a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle.

5. Partyman World of Play:
- If you're with kids, visit Partyman World of Play in Basildon. This indoor play center offers slides, ball pits, and climbing frames. It's perfect for a fun-filled family day out.

6. Bridge End Garden in Saffron Walden:
- Bridge End Garden in Saffron Walden is a restored Victorian garden. Admire the colorful flowerbeds, ornamental hedges, and historic features. It's a tranquil spot for a leisurely walk.

7. Imperial Bird of Prey Academy:
- Experience the thrill of falconry at the Imperial Bird of Prey Academy in Billericay. Get up close to majestic birds of prey and learn about their behavior and conservation. Enjoy flying displays and photo opportunities.

8. Go Bananas:
- For active fun, visit Go Bananas in Colchester. This indoor soft play center has slides, climbing frames, and a separate area for toddlers. It's a great option for families with young children.

9. Thames & Medway Estuary Helicopter Tour:
- Take to the skies on a helicopter tour from Southend-on-Sea. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Thames and Medway Estuary, spotting landmarks from above. It's a unique way to explore the coastline.

10. Historic Walking Tour of Colchester:
- Join a guided walking tour of historic Colchester. Learn about its Roman past, medieval architecture, and fascinating stories. Combine it with a visit to the local farmers' market for a complete experience.

Remember to check opening hours and any booking requirements for these attractions. Whether you're interested in wildlife, history, or family fun, Essex promises an enjoyable and diverse day out!