15 Free Days Out and Things to Do With Kids in Essex (Updated 2024)
You've got to love a free day out, here are some places that'll keep the whole family happy. I've tried to make sure that all the details on here are up to date, but please do double check on the websites I've linked to before you travel in case anything has changed. Especially important: double check parking costs to avoid any nasty surprises on a day out that was supposed to be cheap, and obviously, be careful if you're visiting places with kids, especially where the terrain is dangerous (ruins, cliffs, beaches, slippy paths etc).
Happy adventuring!
A town park with a castle (pay for entry to the castle), gardens, boating pond, and a play area.
An Edwardian Park with a lake, a pirate playground, riverside walks, large sand pit, BMX track, skateboard area, toddler play park, and a not free but cheap splash park.
Beautiful gardens, including a maze, wilderness, rose gardens, dutch garden and a well.
574 acres of woodlands, grasslands, ponds, formal gardens and and a castle adventure playground.
A small farm with animals including horses, reindeer, pigs, alpacas, and rabbits. Open 12 - 3.40 each day.
A windmill built in 1756 overlooking a picturesque village. Check out the open days on the website to see when it's open. (Currently closed until 2025)
A huge 1,000 acre with lots for families to do, including a natural play park near Pinder Car Park, and lots of places for walks, bike rides, and spotting wildlife. Check out the different trails before you go, so you know the best place to park.
Enjoy a walk through ancient woodland, and historic deer parks in this 266 hectare park. Check out the Gruffalo trail, as well as the other trails available. There's also a discovery centre.
A brilliant local museum, with loads to keep kids engaged, including trails, send a morse code message, try your hand at boat design, . Learn about how the small town became a thriving centre of ship building, and sprat and oyster fisheries. While you're there, check out the (blue flag) beach, Bateman's Tower, and the 2 playgrounds.
125 acres of country walks, a village green, and a large adventure park. Check out their programme of events including buggy walks. There's lots of trails to follow a WW2 trail, an explosives trail, and a sculpture trail.
Visit a working farm, and see animals including ponies, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, geese, and rabbits. Check out their website for the programme of events, some of them free.
300 acres of ancient woodland, and working woodland, with meadows, open grassland, and lakes. There's a musical themed playground next to a perfect picnic spot.
520 acres of woodland, lakes, hay and wildflower meadows. There's a ton of things for kids to do including a stick man trail which covers a 2km route, with 7 play areas along the way. Wildlife includes fallow deer, cattle, heron, and peacocks.
One of the UKs top mountain biking courses, there's also a community orchard, grazing goats and cows, trails through the idyllic countryside, a pump track, and a playground. While you're there, check out the castle ruins, the replica iron age roundhouse, and the 2012 Olympic Cycling course.
Open on selected days (check the website), it gives visitors a hands on chance to learn some history about the local fire service. Their collection includes historic fire engines, equipment, uniforms, and photographs.
You know what the kids would love to be filling in as you're exploring new places? An epic activity pack! And it should be filled with easy activity ideas, and stickers, and personalised!
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