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| Enjoy days out with all the family in Essex this winter (including your dogs) |
It was recently reported the UK is home to around 13 million dogs, with both Colchester and Chelmsford ranking in the top ten dog-friendly cities in the UK. Dogs are being welcomed to more places than ever. But when the weather is cold it can sometimes be difficult to find places to take the whole family, including the four legged ones. Here are some ideas for the best dog-friendly days out in Essex this winter.
Dog Friendly Family Days Out In Essex for Winter
Redwings Ada Cole Horse Sanctuary
Broadlands, Epping Road, Roydon, EN9 2DHDogs on lead are welcome at the Ada Cole horse sanctuary in Roydon where you can meet almost 70 rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. They also have a cafe and gift shop, perfect for warming up during the winter months. It’s free to visit although donations are very welcome.
Open Friday-Monday 10am-4pm. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
If your dog behaves well around animals you might also consider taking them to Hopefield Animal Sanctuary when they reopen for the season in March.
Audley End Gardens
Off London Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4JFWhile dogs can’t enter the House or Tea Room, Audley End is home to an award winning parkland managed by English Heritage that welcomes dogs on leads. The acres of grounds were designed by Capability Brown, and there’s a lake and parterre to explore too. The Cart Yard cafe, serving light sandwiches snacks, also welcomes your furry companions.
Open every weekend during the winter season and February half term (additional days from March onwards), 10am-4pm.
Advance tickets in Winter from £19 adults, £12.20 children over five. English Heritage annual membership for a 2 adult family and up to 12 named children is £144 so this can work out a better option for large families of those who want to visit on multiple occasions, you can buy membership here.
Thorndon Country Park
Thorndon Country Park, Brentwood, CM13 3RZOf course Essex is home to many wonderful country parks (we explore them all in this post), many of which welcome dogs, but Thorndon Country Park goes one step further and offers a dog activity trail especially for them. The 500m trail at the bottom of the picnic field at Thorndon South features ten stand-alone obstacles, such as log walks, tunnels and hoops at differing sizes to accommodate most dogs. The Country Park is also home to the Gruffalo Trail (dogs on leads welcome), this can be found at Thorndon North. It's worth noting that it is a couple of miles walk between the Thorndon South car park and the North where the Visitors Centre and Gruffalo trail can be found.
Open 8am-dusk every day except Christmas Day.
Parking from £3 for the first hour and £6.30 for all day parking (the Annual Explorer Pass for Essex Country Parks car parks may also be worth considering).
Braintree Village
Chapel Hill, Braintree CM77 8YHThe outlet shopping village is dog friendly so you can enjoy shopping with your four-legged friend. Dog welcoming shops show a paw print window sticker to welcome them in and there are water bowls and fountains all over. Several restaurants and cafes at the village welcome dogs, with Bill’s even having their own dog-friendly menu. The centre offers dog treats and even puppy selfie stations if you are so inclined!
Opening times 10am-6pm Monday-Friday, 9am-7pm Saturday, 10am-5pm Sunday (restaurant opening times and individual shops may vary). Free parking.
East Anglian Railway Museum
Chappel and Wakes Colne Station, Station Road, Wakes Colne, CO6 2DSOpen weekends, Wednesdays and most Bank holidays, EARM welcomes ‘well-behaved dogs on leads’ in all areas at no extra charge. The museum tells the story of 175 years of railway history and there is a cafe (food served until 2pm in the winter) and picnic bus to take a break in. They have event days throughout the year, such as the popular Day out with Thomas (the Tank Engine, next running at Easter) and Diesel Days on 15th and 18th February. On event days you can enjoy train rides, but please note dogs should not go on the seats.
Open 10am-4pm (November to March). Advance tickets from £8.50 for adults, £4.50 children over four (additional cost for event days).
Museum of Power
Museum of Power, Hatfield Road, Langford, Maldon, Essex CM9 6QAThe Museum of Power in Maldon welcomes dogs on leads indoors and in the museum grounds and has an on-site tearoom. With over seven acres of grounds to explore, the museum houses everything from a working overhead machine shop to a petrol powered iron and hosts a number of events throughout the year (check whether these are suitable for dogs before booking).
It is home to the only model village in Essex, the Astaria Model Village, which is open the first Sunday of every month as well as event days and Thursdays during school holidays.
Reopens 1st February. Open Wednesday-Sunday 9.30am-4.00pm. Free entry to the grounds on non-event days, museum entry £8 per adult, £4 children age 5-15.
For the ultimate freedom, you can hire the dog walking field at Oliver’s Nurseries and let your pooch run off lead for the 55 minute session. Surrounded by a 6ft fence, the field is fully enclosed and they offer exclusive hire so no other dogs will be present.
Reopens 1st February. Open Wednesday-Sunday 9.30am-4.00pm. Free entry to the grounds on non-event days, museum entry £8 per adult, £4 children age 5-15.
Oliver’s Nurseries Dog Walking Field
Next to Olivers Nurseries, Maldon Road, Witham, Essex, CM8 3HY (Separate car park to the nursery)For the ultimate freedom, you can hire the dog walking field at Oliver’s Nurseries and let your pooch run off lead for the 55 minute session. Surrounded by a 6ft fence, the field is fully enclosed and they offer exclusive hire so no other dogs will be present.
Dogs can also be taken in the Nursery next door on a lead and are welcome in the Tea Room garden, but not the Tea Room itself.
Field open year round (even Christmas Day) from 8am, last booking at 3pm. From £12 for up to three dogs.
Hylands Estate
Hylands Estate, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8WQ
With acres of parklands to explore as well as a popular playground Hylands Estate is a popular place to visit with families. Dogs are not allowed in the playground or the courtyard area (with cafe), but you can get refreshments from the outlet by the playground or "The Doghouse", a hole in the wall serving hatch for the Deli.
Hylands Estate is also host to many dog friendly events including the monthly Essex Foodies Markets (second Sunday of each month 10am to 3pm), The Enlightened Light Trail (November to January) and All About Dogs show (4th and 5th May).
Beaches
With miles of coastline, the beach is a good option for a family walk all year round. In the Winter months most beaches allow dogs (one exception being the privately owned beach at Wrabness) and it's also a good time to give dogs with good recall time off lead.
Good options in the quieter month include: Jaywick Sands, Frinton On Sea, Walton On The Naze (good for fossil hunting) and Leigh On Sea.
Pumpkins and Santa
Looking ahead to the end of this year, Essex businesses don't want pups to miss out on big seasonal events including Halloween or Christmas. Check out our guides to Halloween and visiting Father Christmas in Essex which will be updated for 2026, but in previous years dog friendly offerings have been available at Hatters Farm, Pumpkin Picking Village (Marsh Farm), The Pumpkin Patch (East Bergholt), Scotts of Southend and a good dog grotto at Mercury Shopping Centre, Romford.
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