Browsing local attractions within 8 miles of Thorrington Tidemill

Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, CM3 5WP, Tel: 01245 321552, Email, www.marshfarm.co.uk

Farm trail with pigs, sheep, cattle, chickens, ponies and pets. Daily milking demonstrations, gift shop, tea room, play areas. Please book in advance for group bookings and birthday parties.

Balkerne Gate, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PT, Tel: 01206 573948, Email, www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

A highly respected regional theatre, home to the critically acclaimed Mercury Theatre Company, staging a broad mix of classic plays and new writing as well as working extensively within the local community.

Mersea Island Museum, High Street, West Mersea, Colchester, Essex, CO5 8QD, Tel: 01206 385191, Email, www.merseamuseum.org.uk

Exhibits of Mersea's social history, natural history, archaeology and fishing industry, including a fisherman's cottage display. Special exhibitions and gift shop.

Rewsalls Lane, East Mersea, Colchester, CO5 8SX, Tel: 01206 385900, www.merseawine.com

Producers of fine wines and real ale (cask and conditioned).

The Walls, Essex, Tel: 01223 582700, Email, www.english-heritage.org.uk

The remains of a church designed by Robert Adam and built in 1776, unusual in having towers at both the east and west ends.

Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8SP, Tel: 01279 813237, Email, www.mountfitchetcastle.com

Mountfitchet Castle Experience is a multi attraction incorporating Mountfitchet Castle & Norman Village of 1066, House on the Hill Toy Museum and Dinosaur Encounters.

Roman Road, Mountnessing, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0TZ, Tel: 01245 437677, Email, www.essex.gov.uk

A weatherboarded post mill, restored to working order in 1983. See the huge wood and iron gears, with one pair of stones opened up for viewing. Subject to wind, guided groups may be able to see the sails turning.

Steam Pumping Station, Hatfield Road, Langford, Essex, CM9 6QA, Tel: 01621 843183, Email, www.museumofpower.org.uk

A former steam pumping station, with power related exhibits, tea room, picnic area and miniature railway. Set in attractive riverside grounds.

Bulls Cross, Enfield, Hertfordshire, EN2 9HG, Tel: 08456 770600, Email, www.visitleevalley.org.uk

Delve into the beautiful eight acres of Myddelton House Gardens and discover the compelling story of Edward Augustus Bowles, one of Britain’s most famous self-taught gardeners, artists and expert botanists.

Loughton Library, Traps Hill, Loughton, Essex, IG10 1HD, Tel: 0208 5020181, Email, www.nationaljazzarchive.org.uk

The NJA is the UK's premier research & info centre for jazz, blues & related music. Concentrating on written, printed & photographic documentation of the music, NJA has amassed a body of information that can truly be considered world class.

High Street, Colchester, CO1 1DN, Tel: 01206 282941, www.cimuseums.org.uk

Discover and interesting 'hands-on' perspective on the local natural environment from the Ice Age right up to today. Explore the garden trail and stag beetle exhibition, free entry.

The Naze, Old Hall Lane, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, CO14 8LE, Tel: 01255 852519, Email, www.nazetower.co.uk

Sited at the beautiful coastal location of the Naze, this historic 86ft navigational tower houses over eight floors, an art gallery, museum, tea rooms and a roof viewing platform with spectacular panoramic views.

Chelmsford Road, Purleigh, Essex, CM3 6PN, Tel: 01621 828343, Email, www.newhallwines.co.uk

92 acre vineyard open daily. Includes farm trail, vineyard walk and wine tasting in the cellar shop. Annual wine festival first full weekend in September. Guided tours by appointment from May to September.

The Walls, Manningtree, Colchester, Essex, CO11 1AS, Tel: 01206 392717, Email, www.northhousegallery.co.uk

Riverside gallery with monthly selling exhibitions of work by modern and contemporary artists of East Anglian, national and international fame.

Northey Cottage, Northey Island, Maldon, Essex, UK, Tel: 01376 562226, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/northey-island/

Small Island in the Blackwater Estuary with a large area of undisturbed salt marsh. Site of special scientific interest. Site of the Battle of the Maldon in AD991. Guided tours by prior arrangement.

Weald Road, South Weald, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5AY, Tel: 01277 375177, Email, www.omdfarm.co.uk

An award winning Educational Farm Park in the Essex Countryside on the outskirts of east London with farmyard favourites and exotic animals plus indoor and outdoor leisure activities. Open all year round.

430 London Road, Southend, Essex, SS0 9LA, Tel: 01702 351135, www.palacetheatresouthend.co.uk

A truly unique building, the Palace always offers a vibrant mix of comedy, music, drama and shows.

Paycockes, 25 West Street, Coggeshall, Essex, CO6 1NS, Tel: 01376 561305, Email, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/paycockes

Built in the 16th century, this attractive half-timbered house is a grand example of wealth generated by the cloth trade.

Widdington, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3ZB, Tel: 01223 582700, Email, www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/priors-hall-barn/

One of the finest surviving medieval barns in south east England and representative of the aisled barns found in north west Essex.

Priory Park, Victoria Avenue, Southend, Essex, SS2 6NB, Tel: 01702 342878, www.southendmuseums.co.uk

Well preserved 12th Century Priory housing a museum of the Priory's history.

Broadlands, Broadley Common, Nazeing, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 2DH, Tel: 01508 481000, Email, www.redwings.org.uk

Meet rescued horses and ponies in beautiful surroundings. Gift shop and cafe and information centre on site. Plus guided tours and re-homing demonstrations.

Creephedge Lane, Rettendon, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 8ET, Tel: 0845 265 8071, Email, www.rhs.org.uk/hydehall

A garden of inspiration beauty with an eclectic range of horticultural styles from traditional to modern providing year round interest.

Lee Valley Park Information Service, Stubbins Hall Lane, Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 2EF, Tel: 08456 770600, Email, www.visitleevalley.org.uk

Enjoy and invigorating walk, run or cycle ride along miles of surfaced pathways, explore the River Lee by boat, watch the wildlife go by or simply relax and unwind with a picnic.

The Secret Nuclear Bunker, Ongar Road, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 0LA, Tel: 01277 364470, Email, www.roperunners.co.uk

High Ropes adventure comes to Essex. We provide adrenaline filled activities on our new courses for anyone over 6 years old.

Beaulieu Drive, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1JY, Tel: 01992 707370, Email, www.royalgunpowdermills.com

A spectacular 170-acre location for a day of family fun. Experience Prof. Nitrate's Mad Lab, the Test Range and Rocket Vault! Plus, guided land train tours, interactive exhibitions, wildlife walks and an extensive special events programme.

The Visitor Centre, New Tank Hill Road, Purfleet, Essex, RM19 1SZ, Tel: 01708 899840, Email, www.rspb.org.uk/rainham

RSPB Rainham Marshes is a unique nature reserve which has been restored to a grazing marshland following 100 years of use as a MoD shooting range.