Towns and villages

Town Centre, Harwich, Essex, CO12 3, www.essex-sunshine-coast.org.uk

Famous for its sea-faring history and heritage, with narrow streets, historic bulidings and museums

Althorne, Essex, CM3

Town Centre, Basildon, Essex, SS14 1, www.basildon.gov.uk

Basildon was originally a small rural village, whose cottages clustered around the 14th C. Holy Cross Church.

Essex, SS11 7RE

Battlesbridge is a small rural settlement just off the A130 midway between Chelmsford and Southend, on the upper estuary of the River Crouch. It is situated partly within Chelmsford Borough and partly within Rochford District.

Town Centre, Billericay, Essex, CM12 0, www.billericaytowncouncil.gov.uk

Small town, set in well-wooded countryside.

Braintree, Essex, CM77 8EW, www.essexinfo.net/bradwell

Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, CM0

Town Centre, Braintree, Essex, CM7 3YJ, www.visitnorthessex.co.uk

Busy town, standing at the crossing of two major Roman roads.

Town Centre, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9, www.lovebrentwood.co.uk

The town grew up in the late 12th C. around a forest clearing - as a convenient stopping place for pilgrims travelling from the Midlands to Canterbury. It later developed as an 18th C. coaching centre with some good inns.

Town Centre, Brightlingsea, Essex, CO7 0BP, www.essex-sunshine-coast.org.uk

The town of Brightlingsea - the only Cinque port outside Kent and Sussex, a centre for all things nautical.

Town Centre, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8, www.visitmaldondistrict.co.uk

Quiet, unspoilt riverside town - one of England's leading yachting centres.

Village Centre, Castle Hedingham, Essex, CO9 3DJ, www.hedinghamcastle.com

A picturesque village with narrow winding streets lined with timber-framed buildings and elegant Georgian houses.

Town Centre, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6FD, www.chelmsford.gov.uk

The county town of Essex - Chelmsford was granted its market charter by King John in 1199.

Town Centre, Chipping Ongar, Essex, CM5 9AS, www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk

This pleasant little country town was once the administrative centre of the Saxon hundred.

Town Centre, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, CO15 1, www.essex-sunshine-coast.org.uk

The capital of the 'Essex Sunshine Coast', Clacton is a popular seaside town.

Hill Green, Clavering, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4QT

Clavering is a large, scattered parish with seven ‘greens’ and three ‘ends’. The village grew up on higher ground near the confluence of the River Stort and the Kings Water stream and seems a natural place for settlement.

Town Centre, Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1, www.enjoybraintree.co.uk

Once an important place in the trade of wool and lace-making, Coggeshall is now a lovely old-world town.

Town Centre, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1, www.visitcolchester.com

Bold, energetic and contrasting - Colchester is more than Britain's oldest recorded town.