FREE entry to a Castle, Museums + an Essex Estate. £1 Railway Rides. FREE Kid Friendly Days Out in Essex for Hertitage Open Days.
- Essex Parks
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
Yes, that's right - FREE family friendly days out in Essex!
There are lots of great things to do in Essex this September 2025. This month you can visit Heritage Sites across Essex for FREE under the Heritage Open Days event. The Heritage Open Weekends run over the weekends of 13th 14th and 20th 21st September.
Parks of Essex have chosen the most family friendly Heritage places to visit in Essex.These places showcase the rich history of Essex and are also engaging for children. BONUS: Many of them are also set within grounds where there is a play area, or playgrounds can be found nearby.
This guide will tell you when you can get free entry to the iconic Colchester Castle, the informative Museum of Chelmsford, ride a Miniature Railway fro £1 and visit more great Essex heritage sites. Keep reading for your next FREE day out in Essex.
FREE Entry to this Iconic Essex Castle (and Discover the Adventure Playground within the Park Grounds)
Colchester Castle Park is a large park located in central Colchester. As the name suggests, the park is also home to Colchester Castle. A much loved museum in the picturesque Castle Park, 13th September is the annual opportunity to explore this fascinating building free of charge.
Colchester Castle was constructed around 1076 by William the Conqueror and has been a royal fortress, prison and, since 1860, a museum with internationally important Iron Age and Roman finds from the local area. Find out more on the Heritage Open Weekend Website.
Playground at Castle Park
Castle Park is set to be renovated this autumn! You can read more about plans for the NEW Castle Park play area in this post.
There are several play areas at Castle Park. There is an enclosed sandpit play area contains wooden ship themed play equipment. There are sand diggers, climbing frames, slides, balance equipment, seesaw and a wobble board. There is seating around the sandpit.
There is another playground next to the sand area. The play area is open. There are two ziplines, a large castle themed climbing frame with slides and lots of rope climbs and a separate spiral slide.
There are several different types of swings catering for babies to teenagers. There is also some toddler playground equipment including a smaller climbing frame with slides, roundabout, balancing equipment, ride on jeep and trampoline.
FREE entry to our Favourite Family Friendly Museum. Plus stop by the TWO Playgrounds!
Visit Chelmsford Museum at Oaklands Park for free over the weekend of 20th and 21st September as part of Heritage Open Days! Explore Chelmsford’s story from the Ice Age to the present day, with fascinating objects, interactive displays, and standout works of art.
There is so much to explore at this child friendly Essex Museum! At the entrance to the museum you can find several the Explorer Zone, where you can find packs containing resources to help you explore the museum and park.Our personal highlights are the toys and games throughout time and of course the live beehive. There are lots of dressing up opportunities for little ones. Find out more on the Heritage Open Weekend Website.
Playground at Oaklands Park
There are two playgrounds in Oaklands Park, the playgrounds are close but do not overlook each other.
In the larger playground there are climbing frames, a slide, tyre swings and a nest swing. There is also a large fallen tree trunk which is great for climbing. The playground is spacious and it is enclosed.
The smaller playground has a castle/knights theme. It is enclosed. The playground is a decent size. The highlight is the large mound which can be climbed up or through the tunnel. There are slides with climbing frames, swings, a zipwire, climbing equipment, ride on equipment and a dungeon!
Visit this Historic Essex Estate (and stop by the Fort Adventure Playground and Food Festival
On 14th September Hylands Estate is fully open for you to explore and enjoy at your leisure. Discover more about the history of Hylands House. Plus there is a great, accessible fort themed play area at Hylands House AND Essex Foodies Market at Hylands Estates will also be on 14th September! This FREE food festival has some incredible vendors.
Hylands House opens its doors free of charge to reveal the secrets behind its history, with an rotating monthly exhibition displayed in the library. Browse the house at your own leisure throughout the day, or join us for our guided tour at 10am.
Take a walk through the gardens of the Estate and learn even more about the history with our new multimedia tour. You can borrow a handset from The Stables Information Point or use your own smart phone. Find out more on the Heritage Open Weekend Website.
Playground at Hylands
There is a great, castle themed adventure playground at Hylands Park, which is in the Hylands House Estate. There are three separate areas, each with play equipment for a different age range. The play areas are close together, so this is a good playground if you have children of different ages/abilities.
There is a large wooden fort with various ramps and ropes to climb. There are slides of various sizes. There is also a smaller climbing frame and also ride on animals for smaller children. There are a variety of swings including tyre swings and nest swings.
The playground at Hylands Park has a good amount of accessible play equipment. There is sensory equipment including sound equipment. There is a nest swing. There are ramps.
The playground at Hylands Park is open and there are plenty of benches and picnic benches located around the play area.
Discover Local History at Thames Chase. Make a Day of it and Check Out the Playground and Stick Man Trail.
On 14th September there will be talks on Broadfields Farm, the Essex Barn and Upminster Windmill during the Thames Chase Hertitage Open Day. Interesting talks, a wonderful setting and complimentary refreshments, this is not one to miss if you have a keen interest in local history! Find out more on the Heritage Open Weekend Website.
This Forestry England park has so much going on and is great for families. There is an inclusive play area, cafe and visitor centre with toilets are conveniently located close to the playground. There are also walking and cycle trails through the woods and meadows
Playground and Stick Man Trail at Thames Chase
At present you can find the Stick Man Activity Trail at Thames Chase.
Based on Julia Donaldson’s beloved character, this trail encourages families to connect with nature through fun and engaging activities
Visit the Musuem of Power for FREE, where kids pay just £1 to ride the Miniature Railway
📍Maldon
The Museum of Power is opening its doors free of charge for the weekend of 13th and 14th September. Housed in a former Water Pumping Station, the Museum contains a fascinating collection which ranges from a working overhead machine shop to a petrol powered iron. The Astaria Model Village will be open and the miniature train will be running on Sunday 14th ONLY. (Adults £2, Child £1). There will also be architectural based crafts for children to enjoy.
The Museum of Musuem is less than 10 minutes drive from Promenade Park, a popular river side park is situated on the river Blackwater. Promenade Park has something for everyone. The park hosts a sandpit, several playgrounds including a pirate themed park, petting zoo, adventure golf, skateboard park, BMX track, model boating lake and an amazing seasonal splash park.
Promenade Park Playgrounds
There are two, separate play areas at Maldon Promenade Park - The Valley and The Secret Garden Play Area. The Valley play area is located close to the Splash Pad. The Secret Garden play area is close to the park entrance, near to the maze area. Both play areas underwent huge renovations and reopened in Autumn 2024.
The Valley play area at Maldon Promenade Park has large boat themed apparatus, which has a variety of different entrance climbs to suit all ages. The ship has a number of slides. There is also an in floor trampoline, swings and zipwire. For more photos and further details check out this post - The Valley Play Area
The Secret Garden playground is more inclusive. The play area is also enclosed and the play equipment is more suitable for preschoolers and younger children. For more photos and further details check out this post - Secret Garden Inclusive Playground.
Explore Beautiful Gardens and 80+ Sculptures at The Gibberd Garden
On 14th September you can explore the Gibberd Garden free of charge. The gardens showcase the legacy of one of Britain’s most influential architects. Enjoy guided garden tours and explore hidden pathways, over 80 sculptures, and unique architectural features set within a beautiful landscaped garden. Find out more on the Heritage Open Weekend Website.
