Things to do in Essex

Clacton is a glorious beach day out, and Valley Farm Holiday Park is only a short walk from its bustling sands - with Weeley Bridge and Highfield Grange holiday parks also nearby, so it’s an ideal ‘base beach’ for further adventures.

Quieter stretches of coast include Naze Beach. Surrounded on three sides by water, and the shingle and sand mix at Shoeburyness, this area features some postcard-perfect beach huts and World War Two era defences.

There are plenty of opportunities for a treat or two in Essex, not least at Crepeaholic, a short drive from Coopers Beach Holiday Park, where you can indulge in sweet or savoury French pancakes.

For a more varied sit-down experience, the Stop the World Cafe in Leigh-on-Sea is a winning option. Both of these flavoursome foodie experiences made it onto our run-through of the best treats in the South East.

Sampling the local wines is also something you should consider, as the acclaimed Mersea Island Vineyard has been producing high-quality Essex wine for many years - and they serve afternoon tea, too.

It’s the head-scratching answer to a trick pub quiz question, but Essex really does have the longest coastline of any county in the UK!

Featuring 35 islands and a wealth of wetland that makes it an ideal location for seabird spotters, you’re sure to find some idyllic scenery to relax in wherever you’re staying in Essex.

For a landscape that has inspired artists such as John Constable, why not take a trip to Dedham Vale, an area of verdant countryside that’s perfect for an afternoon’s lazy ramble?