Our family vacation in Essex 2025 – Unforgettable experiences

Oh dear, I'm writing about a family vacation in Essex. You haven't seen the word vacation very often on my travel blog. For me, a vacation actually means an escape Australia and the subsequent return in the everyday life that one originally needed a break from.

Before it gets too philosophical, I'm using the keyword "family holiday in Essex" just for Google so you can find this post too. And to finally get to the point, we had a fantastic two weeks in Essex. A county that is idyllically green, impressively beautiful, and so peaceful in the north, beyond the big city. London throne.

I'll show you everything we experienced on our family vacation in Essex in the following travel report of our 2025 England trip. As usual, of course, packed with lots of inspiration and far too many photos (I love photos).

Have lots of fun and feel free to leave a comment on the post. And now it begins...

01. General tips for saving money in England

We're landing in Stansted because the airport is super well-connected to London. With the Stansted Express, you can get to the city in about 45 minutes. However, we're picking up our rental car here in Stansted first. We'll be in England for about 2 months and want to see some other counties. By the way, counties in England are called Grafschaften.

So we can see London for two days, we've rented an Airbnb in Great Dunmow. The small village is only a 10-minute drive from the airport. I wouldn't drive directly to London. It costs a lot of nerves and also money. Therefore, we'll conveniently park at the train station and take the train into the city.

Regarding your car rental, train tickets in England, and grocery shopping, I have three pro tips for you. millions Save money. Especially when you're on a family vacation in Essex and want to visit London with your family.

Pro Tip #1 – Child seats practically free for your rental car
All rental car companies offer child seats for rent. The cost is usually around EUR 10 per day. Since we had a rental car in England for 53 days, that would have been almost EUR 1,000 more for two kids.

In England, there is a law that states that when you are at a unplanned Driving children without a child seat. This means you are perfectly allowed to drive to the next TESCO (supermarket) without a child seat and buy two seats there for 15 EUR each. This way, we will have a total of Saved 970 EUR and took a ride of about 7 minutes without child seats.

Pro Tip #2 – Cheaper train tickets for the Stansted Express
A round-trip flight to London costs a family (4 people) about 95 GBP, or roughly 100 EUR/CHF. If you book your ticket through Trip.com instead of at the airport or on the official website, it will only cost you 58 EUR. That’s a discount of over 45%.

All you need is the Family & Friends Railcard. That sounds complicated, but applying for the Railcard online is very easy and takes just a few minutes.

On the official Family & Friends Railcard Website Is the Family & Friends Railcard available for £35 (£40 EUR as of 2025)? The card is valid for 4 adults and 4 children. However, you must have at least 1 child with you for it to be valid. Therefore, it's perfect for families.

You will receive the card immediately by email. If you now click on Trip.com* if you book your train ticket for the Stansted Express or any other train connection, you can simply add the card and get the cheaper price. Since you save 58 EUR (for the Stansted Express, for example) and the card only costs 40 EUR, it's worth it from the very first trip.

We'll go to London by train three more times, so our savings have been really high. The pass is valid for most English train connections, including the Eurostar, the high-speed train.

Pro Tip # – Save at least 10% on all supermarket purchases
In most countries, there are an infinite number of supermarkets and discount stores. It pays off if you choose one or a maximum of two of them and apply for a membership card there. We chose TESCO because, under tesco.co.uk You can apply for a membership card for free in just a few minutes. After that, you’ll earn an average of 10% on all your purchases. It really adds up, and best of all, you’ll be shopping just like the locals.

We saved quite a bit in the nearly eight weeks we were in England. Especially if you're on a family vacation in Essex or England in general and use vacation rentals, you end up with a decent discount.

02. Essex – A county in eastern England

The county of Essex is one of the most historic counties in England. With 3,670 km², Essex is about 11 times larger than Malta. So there's plenty of space for a whole host of castles, manor houses, churches, and much more. Around 1.8 million people live here. Nevertheless, most parts of Essex appear very rural and deserted. There are numerous picturesque little towns.

In a place called Great Wigborough, we have rented our Airbnb. It’s an ideal starting point for visiting the county, not far from the sea, and close to Colchester and other interesting places. The county is very green at this time of year, and we are very lucky with the weather, as in the two weeks we've been here, we've only had a few hours of rain on two days. This is not typical English weather.

In Essex, I've noticed that people are very, very friendly. Both in shops and in cafes and restaurants, they always strike up a conversation with us: asking where we're from, what we're doing in England, etc. I really like this because it always offers an opportunity to ask questions back and learn about the people and the area.

In Great Wigborough and the surrounding area up to West Mersea, we see many houses that look very typically English: red brick, a beautifully manicured front garden, and a Jaguar in the driveway. This is how I imagined England, and this is indeed how it looks.

03. Colchester – The former capital of Roman Britain

During a family vacation in Essex, you absolutely must visit Colchester. In Roman times, it was Britain's first and largest settlement and thus the capital, before London subsequently became it. The city is located in the north of Essex, and about 200,000 people live here.

Colchester has numerous charming cafés and restaurants, and the old town is crisscrossed with small alleys and streets. We'll be in the city for two days in total and, in addition to the old town, we'll also visit Colchester Castle and the park around the castle. A huge adventure playground here upset our plans to visit the castle. That's how it goes when you're on a family vacation in Essex.

04. Colchester Zoo

Not directly located in the city and therefore listed separately here, Colchester Zoo is a real highlight in Essex. What I like about Colchester Zoo is its commitment to species conservation for certain animal species. Both globally, such as in Africa or Nepal, and locally. For example, Colchester Zoo breeds certain caterpillars and eggs of butterfly and moth species, which are later released into reserves in Essex.

Furthermore, the zoo is involved in the restoration and maintenance of natural coastal habitats. That is commendable and something we are happy to support. One can also tell at the zoo itself that a great deal of value is placed on care and maintenance, which ultimately contributes to the well-being of the animals.

We're having a wonderful day at the zoo, and both the kids and we parents are having a lot of fun and learning some interesting and exciting things here. You can get the tickets at Trip.com* book, where you save approx. 3-4 EUR per person, so approx. 15 EUR as a family, compared to the official website of Colchester Zoo.

05. Abberton Reservoir & Essex Wildlife Trust

If you enjoy the outdoors like we do, then Abberton Reservoir is an exciting place for you. It's located southwest of Colchester and is one of the most important drinking water reservoirs in East Anglia.

Cormorants, kingfishers, herons, and many rare bird species nest year-round at Abberton Reservoir. The great cormorants, in particular, attract birdwatchers from all over the world because they are found here in such large numbers. Their plumage is not water-repellent, so they sit on posts and trees with their wings spread wide. It’s fascinating to watch.

Our eldest even had the opportunity to tour the entire nature reserve with a group of children at the reservoir and learned a lot about the local nature. Since we were there during the holidays, these courses for kids were offered. Once again, a good example of how important it is for kids to be able to speak fluent English nowadays.

Around the reservoir, along the two dams, there are several kilometers of walking and hiking trails. These small paths lead past the reservoir itself, across wide fields, and through dense forests, giving you the opportunity to explore and enjoy the wonderful nature of Essex for hours.

When visiting Abberton Reservoir, plan for half a day, or a full day if you want to explore a few hiking trails. Admission is free, and the café and restaurant at the Visitor Centre are also recommended.

06. Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Tea Room & Jam Museum

What Bonne Maman is to us continental Europeans, Tiptree jam is to the English. In fact, it can more than hold its own. It might even taste a shade better and more aromatic, especially when combined with a traditional Cream Tea. This is what you eat here in England for Tea Time, and Cream Tea consists of a scone, the famous clotted cream, and, of course, jam.

So, Cream Tea is not a drink, as it sounds, but a meal. We tried several Cream Teas on our 8-week trip through England. The Cream Tea from Tiptree is in 2nd place, just behind Cornwall and Devon, where Cream Tea originated.

You can even book a tour of the jam factory, though we didn't do that. There's also a small museum right next to the Tiptree Tea Room. There you can read about the history and who invented the jam, how, when, and where.

By the way, you can find Tiptree Tea Rooms all over Essex. As of 2025, there are seven in total, all serving delicious jam and delicious cream tea.

07. Dedham - A picture-perfect village

Our landlord recommended we visit Dedham. We were very grateful for that in the end, because Dedham is one of those English villages where you wonder if a film crew is secretly filming somewhere. Small brick houses, a stately church, and cozy pubs, surrounded by fields and meadows that could have come straight out of a painting.

Deham is located on the county border with Suffolk, in the very north of Essex. Apparently, this is where the famous artist John Constable—whom I’m not familiar with—painted his works. We come across a kind of craft center where you can buy lots of handmade items. Our little one is interested in art and anything that’s made by hand. So this is her kind of place, and we spend what feels like an eternity in here.

Back outside, we stroll through the picturesque village of Dedham and discover another Tiptree Tea Room, directly opposite the large church. Just outside the village, there's a small boat rental that invites you to travel a few kilometers on the river and enjoy nature. Everything here is so beautifully green, idyllic, and peaceful.

Dedham is a place I absolutely didn't have on my radar. But it's worth driving those few kilometers north of Colchester to visit this wonderful English town. Here, time ticks a little slower, and you can experience a tangible piece of English cultural history.

08. West Mersea - an island with tides

Just a few minutes' drive from Great Wigborough and south of Colchester lies the island of West Mersea. If you're planning a family vacation in Essex, be sure to make a stop here. West Mersea is an exciting place, if only because of the journey there. The tides determine when you can drive to the island and when you cannot.

If the water level is above 4.5 meters, you have to wait. The road is repeatedly flooded at high tide, and then there is no way through. There are various websites that show the water level. If things go really badly, you'll have to wait here for an hour or two before you can continue your journey.

We naturally went to the island well-prepared and informed and were able to cross the causeway without any problems. For the kids, it was a pure adventure: Will the road be flooded tonight? Do we have to stay overnight on West Mersea? =) Unfortunately no, everything was fine, everything was clear.

West Mersea is a very relaxed place. Countless colorful beach huts line the coast. We stroll along the beach, and the kids collect shells and snail shells. It gives a real island feeling, even though West Mersea is only a few kilometers from our home. The occasional restaurant, offering fish and chips and even oysters, invites you to dine. We decide on a spontaneous ice cream and then head back home... before the tide reaches its peak an hour later: over 4.5 meters water level.

09. Friday Woods – Forest Adventure with a Touch of Military History

After about two weeks in England, we have our first rainy day, or rather, a few hours of rain in the afternoon. This is perfect for visiting the famous Friday Woods. First, we buy four umbrellas and rain ponchos and head into the woods. Since our landlord has relatives here, we're allowed to park on their property. This is convenient because there are hardly any parking spaces to visit Friday Woods.

The forest area is crisscrossed by numerous wide forest paths and clearings for romping, strolling, and hiking. The dense trees are perfect for children who want to let off steam, collect sticks, or build huts. We're not doing that because of the weather, but our kids are already so excited because it's finally raining. We rarely have that in Malta, and then you just don't go outside.

Friday Woods is an exciting forest area, as it is still used for military purposes today. Many signs along the path indicate exercises when they are taking place. This was very exciting for the children and they constantly wondered if tanks would appear at any moment. We parents remained „very attentive“ and observed the area.

The forest area is certainly also suitable for observing animals, such as deer or birds. We kept it to an extensive walk and enjoyed the weather. A walk through the spacious Greenwich Park is worthwhile, from which you have a fantastic view of London.

Excursion tips Essex sights

Conclusion - Family Vacation in Essex

We had a wonderful two weeks in Essex. The county is ideal for trips into nature. I also loved visiting „local“ places. That is, places where the English really live, go shopping, eat, etc. I felt like I belonged in many places.

Even in Colchester, mostly locals were out and about, as the county isn't very touristy, with the exception of West Mersea. Our family vacation in Essex was really worthwhile and we would come back here again.

Have you ever been to Essex with children? What did you like best there? What should we see there next time? What else is missing from my travel report about our family vacation in Essex?

Essex Photo Gallery

As always, there are tons of photos from our trips. This way, you can get a lot of impressions in advance. 😉