What makes the best Essex beach for families? For us, it is somewhere that gives children room to play and parents a day that does not need a complicated itinerary. Our pick is Frinton-on-Sea for a relaxed family beach day.

Continue reading →

According to TripAdvisor’s user reviews, the top 10 restaurants as at June 2026 are:

• Mrs Salisbury’s of Maldon – Maldon
• Seafood at Dawn – Mersea Island
• The Peterboat – Leigh-on-Sea
• Yew Tree – Colchester
• Talbooth Restaurant – Dedham
• Smoke And Buns – Southend-on-Sea
• Dog & Pheasant – Colchester
• Central Park Cafe Chelmsford – Chelmsford
• Paper Mill Lock Tearooms – Chelmsford
• Bird & Bean – Frinton-on-Sea

Continue reading →

Best things to do in Essex with kids

Essex offers a wide range of family-friendly attractions, combining wildlife experiences, outdoor adventures, educational days out and classic seaside fun.

Theatres in Essex face very strong competition just south of the county, in London. Local theatres can’t match the glamour and star names of the West End, or the quality of the Royal Shakespeare Company or the National Theatre. Despite that, theatre is thriving in Essex. Here’s our top 10: please do let us know if you disagree.

Being the Best Essex Football Team is no great achievement, in truth.  There are only two professional teams in the county who have ever competed in the top 4 divisions: Colchester United and Southend United.

Continue reading →

According to TripAdvisor, that is.

There are some very strong contenders, but our pick is pure Essex and is here.