Places To Visit
Essex has a way of surprising people, especially if your only reference point is the TV reality series, The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE). This is a county with real depth: a place where ancient history, big skies, and a famously sunny climate come together to create something genuinely special.
With around 350 miles of coastline, Essex has the second‑longest shoreline in Britain after Cornwall. Its sheltered position in the southeast gives it a warmer, drier climate than much of the UK, meaning more bright days to enjoy sandy beaches, salt marshes, and estuary walks.
It’s also a county steeped in heritage. Colchester, the oldest recorded town in Britain, still wears its history proudly with the oldest surviving Roman city wall. Head south and you’ll find Southend Pier, the longest pleasure pier in the world. Venture inland and you’ll discover why Essex is becoming a star of English wine, with one of the highest concentrations of vineyards in the country.
Beyond its cities and bustling towns, Essex opens out into rolling countryside, Constable‑esque landscapes, and wild coastal headlands alive with migratory birds. It’s a county of contrasts—and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling. Porters Hall is the ideal base from which to explore every corner of the county and because there’s so much to see, here are a few of our favourite places to visit.