Things to do in Essex, England: The Best Visitor Centers

Witham Town Council and Information Centre. Our Information Centre is here to help. We sell local gifts, honey and hampers. We sell a wide range of Wilkins produce. We supply recycling sacks and free dog waste bags. We recycle batteries and printer cartridges. We offer printing, photocopying and scanning. We sell tickets for events at Witham Public Hall and theatre tokens. We are an agent for several local coach companies, First Bus and National Express. Pop in and see us for a friendly welcome.

Visitors can enjoy walks on Essex Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve; with stunning panoramic views across the reservoir and surrounding villages as well as superb views of the water’s edge from three bird hides. The nature reserve has a 900m accessible circular footpath and there are wheelchairs available for use. The Visitor Centre offers a tearoom which is open seven days a week providing a variety of hot and cold food, most of which is locally sourced; easy access toilets & baby changing facilities; and a well-stocked shop which has binoculars, telescopes, bird food, feeders and a range of gifts. Essex Wildlife Trust runs a programme of events throughout the year for all ages as well as children’s outdoor birthday parties and a weekly toddler group available during term time; booking is required for all of our events. On the nature reserve there is a new Brambly Hedge sculpture trail, where you can find seven characters from the classic stories written by Jill Barklem; there is also a wild play area with a zip wire, v bridge, swings and spiderweb net. Essex Wildlife Trust is a charity and relies on donations to carry out its work for the wildlife and people of Essex. There is suggested entry donation of £2 for Adults £1 for children and £5 Family; car parking is free. The huge expanse of Essex & Suffolk Water’s Abberton Reservoir plays host to some 40,000 wetland birds each year all attracted to the shallow muddy margins and large areas of rough grassland, which provide the ultimate habitat for a plethora of wildlife and waterfowl. The Visitor Centre is 6 miles SW of Colchester on the B1026 (a minor road linking Colchester and Maldon) just South of Layer de la Haye - follow the brown and white "Abberton Reservoir visitor centre" signs.

The friendly Maldon District TIC team will help and advise you on where to go and what to do. The TIC stocks many interesting walks and maps for you to purchase and make the most of your visit to the area.

This stunning 200 acre nature reserve is situated on the banks of the River Colne with magnificent views over the Geedon saltmarsh. It has a diverse range of habitats which include heathland, woodland, scrub, ponds, lakes and intertidal area with 10 nature watching hides. The visitor centre includes a well-stocked nature themed gift shop, Nightingale Tearoom offering a range of hot and cold homemade light lunches, drinks and cakes. Toilets including easy access toilet & baby changing facilities. Wheelchair and electric mobility scooter to borrow Events: Children's activities every school holiday. Adult workshop and events through the year. Room available for hire: 12 boardroom style or 20 adults conference Group bookings and catering welcome Free coach/car parking. Suggested donation for entry

The Naze is a unique coastal landscape of outstanding geological and biological importance. As the most easterly peninsula in Essex it is an important site for migrating birds and boasts a number of different habitats, both terrestrial and marine. The Naze also has immense historic and civic importance, the famous Naze Tower being just one example, and is a site where coastal change can be easily seen and understood. The Naze is a special and important place for many reasons and is a place where wildlife thrives, from insects living in the soft cliffs to the familiar barn owl hunting over the grasslands. The Naze is the gateway into Hamford Water National Nature Reserve, an area of international importance due to the number of wildfowl and waders that it supports and is itself a sanctuary for migrating and nesting birds, from Dark Bellied Brent Geese to Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat. To the east of the peninsula are the famous cliffs, fifty million years old and designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The 70 foot high cliffs are made up of London clay, Red Crag and Thames sands and gravels and fossilised sharks teeth, shells and wood are found daily on the beach. The Naze is a site where coastal change can be seen and clearly understood. The cliffs are eroding at a rate of (on average) 1-2 metres per year. The section of cliff directly in front of the iconic Naze Tower was however protected in 2011 with the construction of the 'Crag Walk Platform', a 100 metre public access and viewing platform. Essex Wildlife Trust was a key partner in the project to protect this section of the cliff. The second stage of the 'Naze Heritage Project' is to improve the visitor facilities and interpretation of the site and work is currently progressing on the exciting Education and Visitor Centre, which will be open to the public in Spring 2016. The John Weston Nature Reserve is located in the northern part of the Naze. This 9 acre reserve is dedicated to the leading Essex naturalist John Weston, who was warden at the reserve until his death in 1984 and consists of Blackthorn and Bramble thickets, rough grasslands and four ponds or 'scrapes', three of them created since the reserve was established. Nesting birds include Common and Lesser Whitethroat, joined recently by Cetti's Warbler. Water Rail are seen and heard regularly. It is an important landfall for migrants, including many rarities, and also attracts a variety of winter visitors. The Naze is also a perfect place to get an introduction to marine wildlife, with harbour porpoise out to sea, common and grey seals in the backwaters and a whole host of species to find on the beach and in the mud pools including crabs, scallops and whelks. The Naze has a rich history and has been used as farmland, a golf course and a military camp in the past. The iconic Naze Tower, built in 1720 by Trinity House to mark the promontory for shipping approaching Harwich Harbour, has had multiple uses over its history including the home for a Chain Home Low Radar during the Second World War. There a number of military relics on the Naze, including the mountings for ack-ack guns on the beach, along with several pill boxes, both on the beach and on the open space above. The Naze is a very important place for the people of Walton and Tendring and one which engenders huge civic pride. There are a number of specifically designed walks around the site including the Walton Wildlife Trail, part of the Walton Community Forum funded 'Walton Trails project'. Be careful to check the tides before your visit if you want to explore the beach.

Managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust, the Langdon Visitor Centre is set in a stunning nature reserve of 461 acres which comprises woodland, meadows, lakes and former plotland gardens. There are beautiful wildlife gardens, a Peter Rabbit™ Woodland Trail and a museum of Plotland Life. The nature reserve offers walks through the many different habitats whilst the Visitor Centre serves refreshments and has a gift shop.

High Beach Forest Centre, situated at a traditional Epping Forest beauty spot, is a great place to picnic and an ideal stop on your way through the Forest. Volunteers are on hand to help you, with maps, leaflets, souvenirs, events and lots of information on the Forest's wildlife. High Beach Visitor Centre is operated by the Friends of Epping Forest on behalf of the City of London.