Top 10 Things to do in Grays Thurrock, United Kingdom (UK)

One of the biggest Gurdwaras in Europe hosting fantastic facilities for Sikhs and the wider community, including three Meditation Halls, two Langar Halls, fully equipped Lecture Theatre Seating 140 people, ICT suite, Library, Meeting Room, etc. Nursery provision to be developed. The compex also includes Sports fields and Sports Hall (home of Guru Nanak Football Club, Kabaddi, Karate, Basketball, etc), Guru Nanak Day Centre for the Elderly, and Punjabi School at weekends.

Tilbury Fort is possibly the finest example of a bastioned 17th Century artillery fortress in the Britsh Isles. Today visitors can visit the original Guardhouse, Chapel and Gatehouse buildings as well as the huge eighteenth century gunpowder magazines. You can also explore the Victorian underground magazine passages and imagine what life was like for a gunner in the late nineteenth century. There is a free audio guide, museum, exhibition and gift shop. Hot drinks and a range of light refreshments are available in the shop. There is an indoor Seating area in the old Guardhouse and picnic tables and benches outside.

Since Bluewater opened its doors on March 16, 1999, it has set the benchmark for the ultimate shopping and leisure experience and the rest as they say is retail history. Rising out of a former chalk quarry among 50 metre-high cliffs, Bluewater's striking architecture is simply unique. Located in Kent, traditionally known as the Garden of England, our overall site of 240 acres is surrounded by a 50 acre landscape of lakes, parkland and trees making it the perfect place for the whole family to enjoy. We have 300 stores, over 50 bars, restaurants and cafes along with 13,000 free car parking spaces attracting 28.1 Million visitors per annum.As well as offering a wide range of services, our team will endeavour to ensure that your Bluewater experience is fun, memorable and exciting. Bluewater's triangular design with a flagship store at each point - Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and House of Fraser - over two levels make shopping a breeze. In between the flagship stores are three distinct shopping malls boasting stylish stores along with restaurants, cafes and bars catering to every taste.

The Thames Chase Trust aims to make the Thames Chase Community Forest an inspirational example of landscape regeneration through cost effective environmental improvements that changes lives and demonstrates these values through exemplar community led management at the Thames Chase Forest Centre. Thames Chase Forest covers 40 square miles of countryside around the London/Essex borders. Thames Chase Community Forest encompasses countryside in Barking and Dagenham, Brentwood, Havering and Thurrock. Within its boundaries there has been a concerted effort, over the last 20+ years to re-generate despoiled landscape and enhance the natural environment for the benefit of local people and wildlife.

Thurrock Thameside Nature Park is situated on the Thames Estuary and is fantastic for family days out, bird and ship watching, historical interest and getting away from the hustle and bustle. The views across the Thames Estuary are stunning, especially from our fully accessible rooftop viewing deck which offers 360 degree views of the nature park and Thames. The visitor centre has a café with full length windows for viewing the estuary, gift shop, toilets with baby changing and a bird hide with wheelchair access which overlook the SSSI mudflats a short walk away. We have a wonderful natural play and picnic area for families to enjoy. Dogs are welcome on leads and events are held throughout the year with free parking. The site which was once landfill and has been given back to nature is 120 acres at present and will eventually be 845 acres, it is a tremendous habitat for coastal and wetland wildlife, as well as very important grassland flora and fauna species. The Nature Park is important for many species including Barn Owls, Short Eared Owls, Water Voles, Harvest Mouse, Skylark, Cuckoo and Shrill Carder Bee. However, these are not the only beneficiaries, local Cattle also graze the grassland during the year. The area is an avian hotspot and throughout the year there are overwintering and migrant bird species residing at the park. There are internationally important numbers of Ringed Plover and Avocets and nationally important numbers of Grey Plover, Dunlin, Godwit and Redshank as well as a treasure trove of butterflies, moths and bees. Footpaths, bridleways and cycle ways access the Nature Park and we are on the Thames Estuary Path route which extends to 27 miles from Tilbury town through to Leigh on Sea.