The 10 Best Things to do Good for Kids in Essex, England

Welcome to the Imperial Bird of Prey Academy. We are the leading Bird of Prey Centre in Essex, based at Barleylands Farm & Craft Village, Billericay. We are open to the public 362 days of the year, where you can enjoy our daily flying displays in our purpose built flying arena. In addition, Barleylands Farm & Craft Village offers both indoor and outdoor activities for children, craft shops and tearooms, creating a fantastic day out in Essex for all the family. We offer a wide range of experience days, which are both fun and educational, catering for all ages and abilities, making them the perfect gift. Our friendly team will make your experience both personal and enjoyable giving you plenty of hands on time with our amazing birds of prey – making your visit to the Imperial Bird of Prey Academy truly memorable. A day you will never forget. For that special occasion, why not have our birds of prey come to you? At the Imperial Bird of Prey Academy, we are able to offer tailor-made school visits, static bird displays, educational talks and so much more.... We look forward to seeing you soon!

To encourage new, fresh and emerging talent and to provide creative, innovative and interesting theatre and arts entertainment to the people of Braintree and beyond. Opened in 2011, we host a varitey of different performances ranging from classic Shakespeare to The Beatles tribute act and everything in between.

Colchester Zoo is constantly developing and has won many awards for its work. With over 270 species to see, set in 60 acres of beautiful parkland and lakes, Colchester Zoo is well worth a visit. As you walk around the zoo there's plenty of play areas to try out including the indoor soft play area Jungle Tumble with a section for under 3s and all new play equipment where the kids can release their wild side! New enclosures include a walk through enclosure with butterflies and another with Rainbow Lorikeets offering visitors a chance to feed them a treat of nectar. Plus there's 'Bears of the Rising Sun', a state of the art enclosure which houses two beautiful sun bears , Jo Jo and Srey Ya. You can also come face to face with Komodo Dragons, see white rhino, giraffes, ostrich and kudu roaming together at Kingdom of the Wild and walk underwater through the 24m tunnel at the Playa Patagonia sealion pool. Learn more about the animals and see them up close by watching one of the 50 daily displays. You even get the fantastic opportunity to feed the elephants and giraffes yourself and take a ride on the 'Lost Madagascar Express' road train! Don't forget to pop into the discovery centre and have a go at handling some unusual bugs or get your face painted and transform yourself into your favourite animal!

Adventure Island Fun Park is the U.K's No.1 FREE ADMISSION Fun Park. Situated on Southend-on-Sea's famous seafront we have over 40 fabulous rides and attractions including the outragous RAGE roller coaster. You don't pay to enter, you ride the rides with our great value all day ride bands.

Set in the heart of rural Essex, and enjoying stunning panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, RHS Garden Hyde Hall is one of the finest gardens in the east of England. This 360-acre site is a haven of peace and tranquillity, encompassing a diverse mix of garden styles from traditional to modern. Highlights include the Dry Garden with its fantastic range of drought resistant plants, and the Hilltop Garden with its roses and herbaceous borders. There’s also a Global Growth Vegetable Garden, which showcases vegetables from around the world and a Winter Garden that celebrates the delights of wintertime. There's also a cafe, restaurant, garden library, children's play area, gift shop and garden centre.

125 acres in size and declared an SSSI due to the wildlife present with Hawthorn scrub, meadow and saltmarsh habitats. Attractions include a miniature railway, sculpture trail, visitor centre, refreshment facilities, birdwatching hides and an adventure playground for the children.

Established on the current Clacton site in 1899, and run independently by the West Cliff Trust, the West Cliff is the only surviving purpose-built theatre in Clacton, and plays host to professional touring shows and many local amateur dramatic and operatic groups, dance schools, and other youth groups. Its compact auditorium with just under 600 seats, a unique atmosphere and knowledgeable and friendly staff make it Clacton's theatre of choice for artistes and audiences alike. The Stage Door Bar is open prior to, during the interval and after each show, and provides pre-booked meals for selected shows. The lounge may be hired for private functions with or without bar and catering services.