Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Mersea Island

"A mere half a mile from Colchester’s train station, High Woods Country Park is a Green Flag-winning patchwork of meadows, woodland, scrub, meadows and lakes. The park is within the town’s limits but on the signposted walking trails it will be hard to believe you’re not out in the countryside. Much of this land once belonged to the Medieval Forest of Kingswood, prized for its timber, while the innumerable sweet chestnuts were planted in the last 200 years."

"Located at the pier's entrance, this living museum portrays the history of the pier and life in the resort. Just outside the museum you can take the famous electric train to the end of the Pier, where you will find a Lifeboat Centre, cafe and shop. Opening times: daily from 10:15am - Admission Charges for Museum & TrainLocation: Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS1 1HTel: 01702 611214Website:southend.gov.uk/pier"

"Extending 1.34 miles (2.16 km) into the Thames Estuary, it is the longest pleasure pier in the world. Sir John Betjeman once said that “the Pier is Southend, Southend is the Pier."

"Southend has the most visited aquarium in the southeast of England, at Sea Life Adventure on the Eastern Esplanade. There are 40 displays to take in, featuring clownfish, rays, sharks, starfish, sea snakes, otters, penguins, dwarf caiman, poison art frogs and giant snails. Kids will have every chance to get involved at the Interactive Education Room, which has two rockpools where they’ll be able to touch a crab and starfish."

"Despite the name, Sea Life Adventure, isn’t actually affiliated with the SEALIFE global chain. It is still a fairly large aquarium though!. Unlike Clacton’s ‘Seaquarium’, Sea Life Adventure showcases marine life and animals that can be found around the world, as well as those native to the UK."

"The Aquarium hosts like to talk about all of their family of creatures, they are passionate about the animals in the aquarium and want to share that passion with you!"

"Along the ‘cliffs’ between Adventure Island, and you guessed it, the Cliffs Pavilion, is the Cliff Gardens. This is an alternative to walking along the seawall, however it is obviously a little steeper in places!. There are paths and benches where you can sit and people watch!"

"In open countryside to the west of Southend, Hadleigh Castle is a former royal residence atop a London clay hill surveying the flat landscape to the south and east. The castle was first constructed at the start of the 13th century in the reign of Henry III. In that time its role was mainly defensive, guarding the estuary. Later, in the Hundred Years’ War Hadleigh Castle was remodelled as both a stronghold against the French and a home for King Edward III who spent a lot of time here during the last years of his reign in the 14th century."

"Hadleigh Castle is a ruined fortification in the English county of Essex, overlooking the Thames Estuary from south of the town of Hadleigh. The romantic ruins of a royal castle overlooking the Essex marshes is the perfect place for a historical day out."