| an airy cafe features a glass roof. a suite sleeps up to 4 people and adds a bath. set in the leafy countryside, this polished guesthouse in a redbrick 17th-century building is 2 miles from wickford railway station, and 4 miles from the walking trails at norsey wood. breakfast is available (fee), as is afternoon tea (surcharge). check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 11:00 am. the warm, relaxed rooms offer free wi-fi and flat-screen tvs, as well as en suite shower rooms, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. theres also meeting and event space
Heathrow Airport 1 hr 22
Southend Pier and Railway (34 min)
Seasonal museum on the pier with 19th- & early-20th-century train cars, slot machines & costumes. Sealife Adventure (32 min)
Sea life aquarium with sharks in walk-through tunnel tank, plus rays, turtles and insect displays. Barleylands Farm Park (10 min)
Family-friendly attraction featuring farm animals, craft workshops, rides, play areas & more. Hanningfield Reservoir (14 min)
870-acre reservoir with diverse flora & fauna, seasonal fly fishing & paths, plus on-site cafes. Adventure Island (34 min)
Free-admission fun park with more than 40 rides and attractions from rollercoasters to ghost trains. Chalkwell Beach (31 min)
Pebble & sand beach with a large granite obelisk from the 1800s & a promenade with snack kiosks. RHS Garden Hyde Hall (14 min)
Site run by horticulture charity, including bird hide and Dry Garden with bold architectural plants. Hylands House (18 min)
Council-run stately home and grounds hosting music festivals and family activities year-round. Thames Estuary (1 hr 46)
1 of the country's largest, this landmark estuary features shipping routes & various lighthouses. Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker (32 min)
Large underground bunker with self-guided tours, a Cold War history museum, canteen & ropes course. Old MacDonald's Farm & Fun Park (29 min)
Small, homespun farm with the usual zoo suspects, plus alpacas, wallabies and owls, and kids' rides. Promenade Park (26 min)
Victorian riverfront park with ornamental lake, woodland walk and kids' adventure play areas. Thorndon Country Park (27 min)
Trails through a landscape of ancient oak trees, marshes & meadows, with birdlife & grazing cattle. Epping Ongar Railway (31 min) Hadleigh Castle (26 min)
Ruined 1200s castle, refortified by Edward III in the Hundred Years War, affording marsh views. | 
