After the Christmas events many of the outdoor family attractions in and around Essex close for the winter, only reopening briefly in half-term and then for the season in the Easter holidays. With the weather starting to brighten up again, now is a great time to take a day trip and make the most of it, here is our list of places to visit in Essex in Spring.
Be sure to also check out this list of indoor places to go in Essex if the weather forecast isn't the best.
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| The Essex attractions open for families in March |
Essex Family Attractions Open This Month
Adventure Island
Sunken Garden, Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1EE
Open weekends throughout March. Rides open at 11am and close between 4pm and 8pm mostly depending on the weather (they announce the closing time on the day via the website). There are a great variety of rides for all ages including some thrill rides (height restrictions apply). Access to the soft play (for under 10s) is included.
Buy your wristbands in advance for £25 per person, although many PTAs in Essex sell them at a lower rate (and you can use them for any day). If you think you might want to upgrade to an annual pass it's worth buying online from Adventure Island though as the wristband cost will be deducted from the annual pass cost.
Audley End Miniature Railway
Audley End Road, Essex CB11 4JBThis miniature railway set in woodland near Saffron Walden is a family favourite. They have Woodland Adventure Days starting on the 22nd March, which include the train ride, sensory nature corner and playground.
Mother’s Weekend is being celebrated on 29th and 30th March with a similar offering but mothers and grandmothers will get free entry to celebrate.
Woodland Adventure Days start from £10.25pp or £5.15 for children under 92cm.
Mother’s Weekend is £14.25pp or £7.15 for children under 92cm. Mothers and grandmothers go free.
Audley End House and Gardens
Off London Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4JFAudley End House and Gardens is one of England’s grandest mansions, where visitors can explore the rooms, gardens, playground and working stables. They are currently open Wednesday-Sunday. On Wednesday to Friday the house can only be viewed by guided tour, which can be booked on arrival.
Advanced tickets start at £18.10 for adults and £11.30 for children over five. Alternatively a family membership costs £72 for one adult or £126 for two adults (and up to 6 named children per adult). If you join through this affiliate link and use code: EHAFF25 you can get 15% off membership.
Barleylands Farm Park
Barleylands Road, Billericay, Essex, CM11 2UDThis farm park has many options for a day out, alongside meeting the animals there are both indoor and outdoor play areas. They have a Gabby’s Dollhouse meet on 8-9th March. You can save 15% by buying tickets in advance.
Tickets start at £13.18 per person.
Call of The Wild Zoo
Wickford Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, CM3 5QZ
This medium size zoo has a great range of animals as well as a small inside and outside play area. Everytime we visit there is something new to see. As a bonus on a cold day they have a tropical house you can warm up in while looking at the free roaming birds. Open very day 9.30am to 4pm. Wellies advisable.
On 30th March you can meet Paddington at intervals throughout the day.
Tickets start at £15.99 for adults and £13.99 for children, but if you are nearby check out the great value annual passes.
Colchester Castle
Castle Park, High Street, Colchester, CO1 1TJThe largest Norman keep in Europe, Colchester Castle has family friendly activities for all ages and a number of events throughout the year. The touring Mars artwork by Luke Jerram is set to arrive on 20th March giving visitors the chance to see an up close replica of the planet. Open 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm Sunday.
Tickets start at £12.75 per adult, £7.50 per child over four.
Read our review here.
Formerly known as Colchester Zoo, the 60 acre site has over 150 species to admire. They are open all year except Christmas Day so there’s never a bad time to visit, you can even book to feed the giraffes for an extra £20 for up to five people. They are offering 30% off pre-booked e-tickets until 4th April. If you have children under 10 book a soft play slot when buying your tickets in case you need somewhere to warm up.
Advance tickets (must be booked before midnight the day before visiting) this month start at £18.10 for adults, £14.63 for children over three.
Daisy May's Farm
Hall Road, Elsenham, CM22 6DN
Tickets are £6 per person. Cash only, there are no card facilities.
Hedingham Castle
Bayley Street, Castle Hedingham, Halstead CO9 3DJOpen selected Sunday 16th, 23rd and 30th March for Spring Bulb Walks, visits include admission to the Norman Keep. The tearoom on the first floor of the Keep will also be open for light snacks.
Tickets start at £11 per adult, £9 for children over four.
RHS Hyde Hall
RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Creephedge Lane, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford CM3 8ET
As a RHS Garden you can expect to see a variety of plants and beautiful gardens to explore, but they also have a fun play area children will love. For 2025 they have a trail based on the book "Guess How Much I love You" Open everyday 10am to 6pm
In March weekend tickets cost £14.50 for adults (less on weekdays) and children over 5 are £5
Old MacDonalds Farm and Funpark
Weald Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5AYThis farm and fun park are back open at weekends (10am to 5pm) until 24th March when they will start opening every day. They have a special Mother’s Day event on the 30th March which includes puppet shows and free tea for mums.
Tickets start at £14.45 for adults and £13.60 for children over two.
Tickets start at £14.45 for adults and £13.60 for children over two.
Marks Hall Road, Coggeshall, CO6 1TG
Open from 10am Tuesday to Sunday with last admission at 2.30pm. You can pick up a bag of food to feed the fish in the lake for free. Explore the gardens and natural playgrounds discovering different types of trees. They also have a new tea room.
Tickets start at £10 for adults and £6.30 for children.
Marsh Farm
Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers CM3 5WPThe children’s animal adventure park is back open every weekend until the Easter holidays, 10am to 5pm. They have guest appearances from Miss Sophie on the weekend of 15th to 16th March (including an option to have a special breakfast). The beach and pool area and crazy golf are currently closed.
Tickets start at £8.49 per person.
Mountfitchet Castle
Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8SP (Use CM24 8LY for Sat Nav)
This recreation of a Norman Motte and Bailey castle reopens for the season on 15th March. Discover what the village would have been like within the castle walls, complete with free roaming animals (Although I suspect it smells a lot better). Included in your entrance free you can also visit the toy museum in the House on The Hill Museum and check out a few dinosaurs on your way.
Adults £18, children (3 to 13) £14. no advanced booking.
White Elm Petting Farm
White Elm Road, Danbury, Bicknacre, Chelmsford CM3 4LR
This petting farm and soft play located on the grounds of White Elm Garden Centre is a great place to visit with littles ones (6 and under is probably ideal age). On weekdays you can stay all day (open 10am to 4pm) at weekends (and holidays) they have morning or afternoon slots.
Entry is £8.95 for adults, £7.95 for children. Prebooking advised at weekends.
Wyvernwood
St. Osyth Road, Alresford, Colchester CO7 8APThis low tech attraction is based around storytelling and has plenty of activities for children to get involved in. They have Wondrous Wizarding Weekends every weekend in March based around the character of Merlin. The Dragon Trail and Wellbeing Woods will be closed for these events. Tickets for the weekend of 8th to 9th March are buy one ticket, get one free. It's a lovely day out, but all outside so dress appropriately.
Tickets start at £16.49 for adults, £19.49 for children.
So whether you fancy getting outdoors in the early Spring weather or visiting a historic building, there are still plenty of opportunities to get out around Essex before the Easter break.
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