Southchurch Park is located only a stones throw away from Thorpe Bay Beach. The Park has several pitches and courts, a model boating lake and gardens. The large play ground has equipment for toddlers and big kids too. 📍 Address Northumberland Crescent Southend-on-Sea SS1 2XB 🅿️ Parking Yes, free Facilities ☕ Cafe - YES ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - YES - NO baby change ♿ Accessible - YES - accessible parking, NO accessible toilets, paved trails around lake 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES - benches 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES - slide, climbing frames, merry-go-round, swings 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES Visit Southend Website

Meadow Croft Garden Centre has a great play ground for smaller kids. There are plenty of benches for supervising. The cafe serves a varied menu and there is also a mini golf course. 📍 Address Meadow Croft Garden Centre Woodham Road Battlesbridge Wickford SS11 7QU 🅿️ Parking Yes Facilities ☕ Cafe - YES ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - YES 🚻 Toilets - YES ♿ Accessible - YES - accessible parking and toilets, the centre is wheelchair friendly. Wheelchairs available to hire 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES 🐶 Dog Friendly - NO Meadowcroft Garden Centre Website

A small, fenced in play park suitable for toddlers and children. There is also a basket ball court. 📍 Address Chelmer Road Braintree CM7 3PX 🅿️ Parking Yes - off street parking Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO - The Nature Discovery Centre is currently closed ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible - NO - no accessible facilities 🪑 Picnic Tables - NO 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES 🐶 Dog Friendly - NO

A small playground with play equipment for toddlers as well as smaller children. There is an interesting rope climbing structure. Plenty of open space in the adjacent field for dog walkers or picnics and games in the summer. 📍Address Prittlewell Chase Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 0RX 🅿️ Parking Yes - off street parking Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible - NO - no accessible facilities 🪑 Picnic Tables - NO 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES

Howard Park Recreation Ground has a small play ground. There is also a tennis court and basketball hoops. The fields are dog friendly. 📍 Address Howard Park Playground Pitsea Basildon SS13 2AB 🅿️ Parking Yes - off street parking Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible - NO - no accessible facilities 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES Basildon Council Website

Tile House Farm Playground has lots of open space, including football pitches. There is also a play ground within the park with wooden play equipment. 📍 Address Great Horkesley Colchester CO6 4FH 🅿️ Parking Yes - off street parking Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible - NO - no accessible facilities 🪑 Picnic Tables - NO 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES, fields

Great Baddow play ground has a great variety of play facilities including a zipwire, climbing frames and walls. There is a cycle pump track with small ramps, most suitable for BMXs. There are fields and nearby woodland, great for dog walkers. 📍 Address Great Baddow Chelmsford CM2 7QT 🅿️ Parking No car park, nearby on street parking Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible - NO 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES - benches 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES - slide, swings, climbing frame and wall, zipline 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES Love Your Chelmsford Website

Tiptree Heath Nature Reserve is managed by the Essex Wildlife Trust. This dog friendly nature reserve changes dramatically from season to season. There are fantastic wildlife spotting opportunities on the reserve. 📍Address Tiptree Heath Nature Reserve Tiptree CO5 0PT 🅿️ Parking Yes, free Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible - NO, uneven surfaces 🪑 Picnic Tables - NO 🏃‍♀️ Playground - NO 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES Essex Wildlife Trust

Waltham Abbey Gardens are wonderfully maintained throughout the seasons. Cornmill Meadows is just along from the Gardens. You can view incredible wildlife, especially from the nature hides. The dragonfly trial is not to be missed in the summer. 📍Address Waltham Abbey Gardens Abbey View Waltham Abbey EN9 1XD 🅿️ Parking Yes, charges apply Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible - YES - accessible parking, some flat paved paths at gardens 🪑 Picnic Tables - NO 🏃‍♀️ Playground - NO 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES - meadows Lee Valley Website

There is a well equipped play ground at Feering Park, including small skate ramps and an outdoor gym. 📍 Address Rye Mill Lane Feering Colchester CO5 9SA 🅿️ Parking On street parking Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible - NO - no accessible facilities 🪑 Picnic Tables - NO 🏃‍♀️ Playground - YES - slide, monkey bars, swing, zipline, climbing frame 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES - in field

Chafford Gorges Nature Reserve is full of lakes, meadows and woodlands. The Reserve is a great spot for ramblers and dog walkers due to the network of pathways. 📍Address Chafford Gorges Nature Discovery Park Drake Road Chafford Hundred Grays Thurrock RM16 6RW 🅿️ Parking Yes - free parking Facilities ☕ Cafe - NO - The Nature Discovery Centre is currently closed ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - NO 🚻 Toilets - NO ♿ Accessible - NO - no accessible toilet 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES 🏃‍♀️ Playground - NO 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES Essex Wildlife Trust Website

Langdon Nature Reserve is maintained by the Essex Wildlife Trust. It is the home of the Peter Rabbit wooden sculpture trail. The Reserve is also great for dog walkers due to the vast landscape of woodland, meadows and lakes. 📍 Address Langdon Nature Discovery Park Lower Dunton Road Basildon SS16 6EJ 🅿️ Parking Yes - free car parking Facilities ☕ Cafe - YES ℹ Visitor Centre/Shop - YES 🚻 Toilets - YES accessible and baby change facilities ♿ Accessible - YES - accessible parking 🪑 Picnic Tables - YES 🏃‍♀️ Playground - NO 🐶 Dog Friendly - YES - meadows Essex Wildlife Trust Website