Top Things to do in Braintree
Countries
Top 10 Things to do in Braintree, United Kingdom (UK)
Discover the best top things to do in Braintree, United Kingdom (UK) including Cressing Temple, Great Notley Country Park, Braintree & Bocking Public Gardens, Freeport Braintree, Braintree District Museum, Braintree Town Hall, Warner Textile Archive, Great Bardfield Cottage Museum, Bocking Antiques Centre, St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield.
Restaurants in Braintree
1. Cressing Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 159 reviews
A beautiful setting hosting two of the world's oldest and finest timber-built barns, dating back to the 1200's and built by the Knights Templar and complimented by a Tudor Walled Garden. The perfect wedding ceremony venue and a fascinating place for coach tours, finished off perfectly with a visit to the Tiptree Tearoom. We also host numerous events throughout the year - Admission fees will apply when the events take place and opening hours may differ.
Reviewed By NichaUk - UK
We visited today to take the kids to see Father Christmas. This is one you definitely need to book in advance. Never been before and well worth the £15 per child price.
The experience lasted about an hour and has clearly been well thought out. We saw elves, reindeer, Mrs claus and of course the Man himself. There is also a visit to the toy shop so each child can choose their own toy (selection good and decent quality).
2. Great Notley Country Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 378 reviews
Great Notley Country Park covers some 100 acres of open space, which is managed for the benefit of wildlife and the community. The site was formerly arable farmland and has been transformed into a mixture of wetland and open grassland. Each of these habitats provides a haven for a variety of species. The site is home to Sky Ropes and Essex's longest play trail - 1.2km - including a giant see-saw, climbing forest, tyre swings, sand pits, rope climbers, slides, forts and a water play area (closed in the winter months), making it a great place for all ages to explore. The park is also popular for birdwatching, walking, cycling, fishing, horse riding, football, picnics and kite-flying. Our high ropes adventure is on two levels, so you can choose how high you want to go. Our specially trained staff will kit you out with a full body harness and brief you on safety on the ropes. Your Sky Ropes adventure lasts 75 minutes, including kitting out and safety briefing. As soon as you're on the ropes you can take yourself around the ropes, Bridges and beams, choosing your own route and your own speed. It's your challenge - do it your way!
Reviewed By travelcat1990
I took my dog over for a walk around the lake and I had a pushchair with me. The paths are mainly pushchair friendly and the dogs are allowed off the lead to run around which is great. The play equipment was wonderful and not used at all during school time so perfect for slightly younger children who would be a bit small at the weekends. The only criticism would be that the cafe doesn’t allow dogs inside. The floor is all wipe clean and if I’m honest quite muddy anyway so I can’t really see the reason, however, it would be good even if there were a few undercovered and out of the wind outdoor tables which are dog friendly, even if they are not allowed inside. I really don’t see any reason why a dog on a lead cannot sit inside especially as it is a dog friendly park and during the weekdays especially there was hardly anyone inside anyway.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 64 reviews
Reviewed By Humps400 - Braintree, United Kingdom
Hadn't walked around these Gardens for a number of years but was drawn here at the weekend for an excellent fund-raising classic car show. The grounds are extremely well maintained and this type of event must surely have generated much interest in the place. The tea room was busy and most enjoyable and it certainly is a place I might well come back to another time. All credit to the organisers of the event as they have certainly helped put the Gardens nicely back on the map.
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 599 reviews
Set in a relaxing village environment, Freeport Braintree offers an escape from the stresses of city shopping. Everything you need is right here, from great places to eat to fantastic offers and events from over 85 stores! Parking is FREE for up to 6 hours. Freeport Braintree shoppers who use the car park for more than 6 hours will need to extend their unlimited, free parking by visiting the Tourist Information Centre opposite Next Clearance to validate their ticket and avoid a penalty charge.
Reviewed By jetlira t
Shops are so well located and you are able to see from far away which shops are around, propo outlet prices, car park is massive up to 6 hours free, plenty of choices for restaurants, public toilets, And 3 different brands of coffee shops to take a break while around shopping. Loved it :)
5. Braintree District Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By cngj - Chelmsford, United Kingdom
Visited on a Saturday afternoon. Fairly quiet inside for this time of day. Not a huge amount to see but what was there was generally interesting. Some items had a lot of information about them.
6. Braintree Town Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Elizabeth B - Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
While walking around in Braintree you cannot miss this beautiful building. It is well kept and the charming clock strikes every 15 minutes. It is a beautiful ring and strikes on the hour. The library is next door and Has its own charm. There is a parking lot next to to town hall.
7. Warner Textile Archive
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
Reviewed By Happiestgardener - Colchester, United Kingdom
The Warner Textile Archive is situated in part of the old mill buildings in Braintree centre. Open to the public is a museum displaying just a fraction of the large number of fabrics, designs, costumes and other treasures related to the fabric industry that the archive holds - a taster for those who want to investigate further. The museum contains information boards, fabric samples, photographs and a TV screen to show a selection of information films. Organised group visits give the opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn more - the website is very informative. There are also lots of workshops throughout the year.
The young lady at the till was very friendly and the shop is great for cards, wrapping paper, prints and lots of other bits and pieces.
Parking at the back is free for two hours. It is small so it doesn't take a lot of time to go around.
I wouldn't recommend this for small children, but would to those who have at least a passing interest in fabrics, design, local/industrial history etc.
8. Great Bardfield Cottage Museum
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By KAW687 - London, United Kingdom
Driving through the town we first spotted the Cage museum-the old lock up kept open for visitors and telling some great stories. Then we found the wonderful Cottage Museum, packed with local history and the volunteers there really happy to tell us about their town. We found out so much and visited the wonderful church on their recommendation.
9. Bocking Antiques Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Antiques centre based in The Bocking Arts Theatre in Braintree Town Centre. many dealers selling antiques, vintage and retro items. China, Books, Silver, Jewellery, tools, post cards, stamps, furniture, toys, model cars, garden tools, something for everyone.
Reviewed By sheilallan - Stowmarket, United Kingdom
Situated in the old Institute building just behind Argos, Bocking Antiques Centre is an intriguing mixture of dealers, both upstairs and downstairs, with an amazing range of things for sale from large furniture and carpets down to the smallest and most delicate jewellery. It is well There is some parking on site but you may have to use the Sainsbury's or Morrison's car park and bring your car round if you have a big purchase. worth a visit whether you have objects in mind or not. Even more fascinating are the monthly auctions, usually held on the first Monday evening of the month though it might be as well to ring and check.If you are selling it costs £4 per item and the manager will collect bulky items such as furniture. A list of sale items is available with the expected range shown. On the evening we went, as sellers, the auctioneer was lively and entertaining and we recognised him from one of the TV antiques shows. Drinks and light snacks are available. If you are selling, payment is efficient and quite prompt. When we downsized we sold some furniture and although we didn't make our fortunes we did make more than simply asking the Council to take them away! If you have stuff to get rid of, it is considerably easier than a boot sale. Try it, either as seller or customer.
10. St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Russell N - Jersey, United Kingdom
As a regular visitor to Great Bardfield I've been to St Mary's Church many times. The stone screen is one of only two or three in Europe.
TAGS
