Visit Essex Launches ‘Big Essex Picnic’ and announces top ten picnic spots

27th May 2025

Visit Essex, the county’s tourism organisation, has launched the Big Essex Picnic (14-15 June) and announced the top ten picnic spots in the county. 

To coincide with National Picnic Week (14-21 June), Visit Essex is encouraging the people of Essex to support local attractions and food producers by taking part in the Big Essex Picnic. Across the county top attractions, vineyards, parks and stately homes will be welcoming visitors and encouraging them to enjoy a picnic in their grounds. The event coincides with Father’s Day weekend and provides a fun family activity. 

Councillor Mark Durham, Chair of Visit Essex explains: “Everyone loves a picnic, so this summer we’re encouraging everyone in Essex to pack a picnic and head to the beach, park, tourist attraction to enjoy a great day out. Essex is also home to some amazing food and drink producers, if residents can pick up some locally sourced food to add to their hamper that would be ideal!” 

He added: “Getting together with friends and family is wonderful, let’s make the most of our outstanding places to go and support local.”

Visit Essex has also announced its top ten picnic spots across the county. 
1.    The Beach - Essex is blessed with a 350-mile coastline. Whether you want to tuck into locally sourced oysters in West Mersea, or head to one of the county’s top seaside resorts for a round of homemade sandwiches, the seascapes across Essex provide the perfect backdrop for a picnic.
2.    Country Parks – Country parks are the ideal place for a fun family day out. Head to Thorndon Country Park near Brentwood and take a wander along the much-loved Gruffalo Trail. Share a park bench and tuck into your picnic while making sure the Gruffalo, mouse, snake or fox don’t run off with your sausage rolls! 
3.    Audley End House and Garden – Relax in the splendour of the stately home’s perfect gardens. Designed by Capability Brown, the estate offers so many Instagram-worthy picnic spots. 
4.    Vineyards – Essex is the up-and-coming region for wine. On a summer’s day there’s nothing like enjoying a gourmet picnic with English wine in one of the county’s cool vineyards. Visit Dedham Vale Vineyard for a tour and tasting event and they’ll provide the picnic! Or each Saturday New Hall vineyard, near Chelmsford, opens its cellar doors and invites customers to enjoy a picnic in their vines.  
5.    Gardens – Whatever the season the gardens of Essex offer beautiful places to enjoy a picnic. RHS Hyde Hall’s dry garden, Chelmsford, is ideal in summer with views to rolling countryside. Check out their café for some extra tasty bites to eat. The Gibberd Garden in Harlow and Waltham Abbey Gardens also offer special places to enjoy eating in the great outdoors.   
6.    Which witch trail? – Four new beautifully sculpted benches have been crafted to bring to life the stories of those persecuted by the witchfinder general. Each of the benches has been placed in beauty spots around Tendring: Manningtree, Harwich, St Osyth and Walton-on-the-Naze. Pack a picnic and rest while discovering the stories of the ‘witches’. 
7.    Castles – Essex is home to some impressive castles, such as Colchester Castle and Hedingham Castle. Dine like a King or Queen with your favourite foods by one of Essex’s most iconic locations. 
8.    Woodlands – Escape the sun’s harsh rays and head to the woods for a picnic under the trees. Tuck into local foods at Epping Forest or Hanningfield Nature Discovery Park. Both offer relaxing spaces for a picnic. 
9.    River and canal side – Relax by the water’s edge as rowing or canal boats float by, it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy alfresco dining. Head to the river Stour in Dedham and watch the rowing boats or the Chelmer and Blackwater canal to view the barges. Visitors to Heybridge Basin can treat themselves to a tasty Tiptree tearoom afternoon tea ‘to go’ and while away an hour or two along the canal side. 
10.    Down Hall – If you go down to Down Hall near Hatfield Heath, you can enjoy a teddy bears picnic! Families can explore the grounds, watch the impressive sunsets and tuck into a tasty hamper, while children get the chance to make their very own teddy to take home. 

To discover more about places to go in Essex, www.visitessex.com. 
ENDS.

Note to Editors
VISIT ESSEX
Visit Essex is the official tourism organisation and the only body specifically marketing the whole of the county to the visitor market. We work with visitor attractions, leisure/activity providers, accommodation establishments and other tourism related businesses (including the travel trade, media and wider partners), to ensure that the county remains a leading visitor destination.
Our work encompasses major marketing campaigns, high profile PR work, business support, and the management and promotion of the official Visit Essex brand. Visit Essex will ensure that the county gets the recognition it deserves as a desirable place to visit in the 21st century. We will work closely with partners to develop a sustainable tourism offering for the future, identify new markets and harness visitors at the county's major gateways of Stansted, Harwich, Southend and Tilbury.

For further information:
Hilary Collins, Big Wave PR, hilary@wearebigwavepr.co.uk, or call 01206 231807.