Summer Holiday Activities in Essex

There are all sorts of fun activities, events, and things to do in Essex during the school Summer holidays, so if you need a little inspiration, you are in the right place.

We have put together this handy guide, containing plenty of ideas for Summer holiday activities in Essex, so you can make Summer 2019 the best one yet.

Browse Halloween events in Essex and Bonfire night events in Essex.

Days Out in Essex What's On in Essex

Hedingham Castle

Bayley Street, Castle Hedingham CO9 3DJ

Hedingham Castle have an exciting programme of events planned for over the Summer holidays:

Outdoor Theatre from the Oxford Shakespeare Company: Wednesday 17th July 2019
Knights of Hedingham: Sunday 21st July 2019
Interactive Story Time- Trolls & Unicorns: Friday 26th July 2019
Classic & Vintage Car Show: Sunday 18th August 2019

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free visitor parking.

Tickets

Ticket prices vary depending on the event- see website for further details.

East Anglian Railway Museum

Chappel Station, Chappel, Colchester CO6 2DS

For a family friendly day out during the Summer holidays, head to the East Anglian Railway Museum in Colchester.

There are a number of events taking place this Summer, including:

Steampunk Fair – 21^st July 2019
Summer Steam Sundays – 28^th July, and 11^th & 18^th August 2019
Summer Holiday Activity Mornings – 30^th July, 13^th August, 27^th August 2019
Days out with Thomas – 24^th – 26^th August 2019

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free parking outside the Escape Rooms.

Tickets (Non-Event Days)

Adults: £7
Children (ages 4-15): £4

Tickets (Event Days)

Adults: £10
Children (ages 4-15): £5

Escape Rooms are becoming more and more popular, and for good reason. They are a lot of fun for all different age groups, and they can be completed in groups of two to ten people, making them a great choice for a day out over the Summer holiday.

Essex is spoiled for choice when it comes to Escape Rooms, with a choice of three different locations: Maldon Escape Rooms; Chelmsford Escape Rooms; and Bishop’s Stortford Escape Rooms.

Maldon Escape Rooms

White Horse Lane, Maldon CM9 5QP
Choose from the following themes at Maldon Escape Rooms:

Rob The Bank
An Hour To Kill, Hollywood

Parking

Pay & Display Car Park: White Horse Lane car park- opposite the Escape Rooms.

Tickets

2 Tickets: £50
3 Tickets: £66
4 Tickets: £80
5 Tickets: £90
6 Tickets: £99
7 Tickets: £105
8 Tickets: £120
9 Tickets: £135
10: Tickets: £150

Enter the code TRAIL for a discount at the checkout.

Chelmsford Escape Rooms

Moulsham Mill Centre, Parkway, Chelmsford CM2 7PX

Choose from the following themes at Chelmsford Escape Rooms:

The Last Testament
The Governor
Crazy Cat Lady

Parking

Pay & Display Car Park: White Horse Lane car park- opposite the Escape Rooms.

Tickets

2 Tickets: £50
3 Tickets: £66
4 Tickets: £80
5 Tickets: £90
6 Tickets: £99
7 Tickets: £105
8 Tickets: £120

Enter the code TRAIL for a discount at the checkout.

Bishop’s Stortford Escape Rooms

Woodside, Bishop’s Stortford, Essex CM23 5RG

Choose from the following themes at Bishop’s Stortford Escape Rooms:

Eerie Motel California
An Hour To Kill, Hollywood
Rob The Bank
Patient Zero

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free parking outside the Escape Rooms.

Tickets

2 Tickets: £50
3 Tickets: £66
4 Tickets: £80
5 Tickets: £90
6 Tickets: £99
7 Tickets: £105
8 Tickets: £120
9 Tickets: £135
10: Tickets: £150

Enter the code TRAIL for a discount at the checkout.

Imperial Bird of Prey Academy

Barleylands Farm Park, Billericay, Essex CM11 2UD

For a unique day out over the holidays, why not visit the Imperial Bird of Prey Academy in Billericay.

For a limited time (only available during the Summer holidays), there will be an additional experience available:

The Kids Experience: ages 2-12 years

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free visitor parking at Barleylands.

Tickets

Participant: £12.50
Non-Participating Guest: £6.50

Rope Runners

Ongar Road, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood, Essex CM15 0LA
Rope Runners is the biggest high ropes adventure park in Essex, and makes an exhilarating day out for the family.

There will be a special offer at Rope Runners during the Summer holidays:

Kids Go Free This Summer: 1x Child (age 6-15 years) goes free with every paying adult- 1st July – 6th September 2019

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free parking.

Tickets

All tickets: Prices start from £22

Audley End

Off London Road, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JF

Audley End House & Gardens is a beautiful Jacobean mansion, set in award winning gardens.

There is a wide selection of events planned for the Summer holidays, including:

Bringing Audley End To Life: 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th, & 21st July, 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 31st August, & 1st September 2019
Get Hands On with History: 20th July – 1st September 2019
Music on a Sunday: 21st July 2019
Legendary Joust: 27th – 18th July 2019
The Victorian Warhorse: 3rd – 4th August 2019
World War II Weekend: 25th- 26th August 2019

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free parking for visitors.

Tickets (with Gift Aid)

Adults: £20.40
Children (5-17 years): 12.30
Concessions: £18.40
Family (2x adults, up to 3x children): £53.10

Creeksea Disc Golf & Football Golf Course

Creaksea Place Farm, Ferry Road, Burnham on Crouch, Essex CM0 8PJ

Creaksea Disc Golf & Football Golf Course is an ideal place to take the kids during the Summer holidays. Fun for all ages, Disc Golf and Football Golf make a great choice for a low cost family day out, especially if the sun is shining.

For the Summer holidays, there will be a special offer running:

£10 for a round of Disc Golf or Foot Golf, followed by a Panini Lunch in the Parlour Café (minimum of 4 people).

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free car park

Tickets

Disc Golf: £5 per person
Foot Golf: £5 per person

Parlour Cafe

Creaksea Place Farm, Ferry Road, Burnham on Crouch, Essex CM0 8PJ

The Parlour Café at Creeksea Place Barns serves homemade cakes, toasted paninis, teas, coffees, and milkshakes.

The following events will be taking place at the café over the Summer holidays:

Midsummer Weekend (bouncy castles, live music, real ale tent, cocktail bar, local food vendors): 19th – 20th July 2019
Slime Workshops: Starting at 2pm and 3:15pm- 10th August 2019

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free car park

Tickets

Midsummer Weekend: £5.92
Midsummer Weekend Camping: £5 per person
Slime Workshop (4 – 11 years): £7

Colchester Zoo

Maldon Road, Stanway, Colchester, Essex, CO3 0SL
Colchester Zoo is a classic choice for a Summer holiday day out, and they have several activities planned:

Tree-mendous- Rainforests & Us: 11am – 3pm – 27th July – 1st September 2019
Mini Vibes Music & Movement Sessions: Every Thursday between 27th July & 29th August 2019

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free car park

Tickets (on the day)

Adults: £23.99
Children: £16.99
Seniors (60+ years): £21.99

Tickets (online in advance)

Adults: From £21.59
Children: From £15.29
Seniors (60+ years): From £19.79

Stoke By Nayland

Keepers Lane, Stoke by Nayland, Dedham, Suffolk, CO6 4PZ

As well as its championship golf courses, award winning dining, relaxing spa, and peaceful places to stay, Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf, & Spa will be holding a special family friendly event during the Summer holiday:

Family Fun Day: 1pm-5pm – 20th July 2019

Parking

On-Site Car Park: Free car park

Tickets

Tickets for Family Fun Day: Free admission

Sea Life Adventure

Eastern Esplanade, Southend on Sea SS1 2ER

Sea Life Adventure in Southend is an exciting aquarium, and a great choice for a day out if the weather isn’t quite as nice as you’d hoped. Sea Life Adventure will be holding the following events this Summer:

Cartoon Weekend: 20th – 21st July 2019
Superhero Weekend: 17th – 18th August 2019

Parking

Nearby car park: Free parking nearby

Tickets

Adults: £17.50
Concessions: £13.75
Children: £12.50
Children (under 90cm, under 14 years): Free

Discounts are available for family groups, please see website for full details.

Adventure Island

Sunken Garden, Western Esplanade, Southend on Sea SS1 1EE
Adventure Island is a family friendly theme park, located in Southend. The wristband ride system allows you to save money by only paying for the rides you can actually go on. And if there’s someone in your party that isn’t a fan of rides, they can enter the park for free as there are no admission charges.