The 21 best things to do with kids in Thurrock

Lakeside Shopping Centre is a beautiful place to shop, dine, and unwind. With a great mix of high-street and designer stores, there’s something for every style and budget. The scenic lakeside view adds a calm and charming touch, making your shopping experience even more enjoyable. A perfect spot for a relaxed day out!

Lakeside Shopping Centre is a truly impressive retail destination that stands out for its sheer size and immaculate upkeep. As soon as you step inside, you're struck by the sense of space and the bright, welcoming atmosphere. It's a shopping centre that you could easily spend an entire day exploring, with a vast array of stores to cater to every taste and need. From high-street fashion favourites to department stores, electronics retailers, and specialist boutiques, the variety of shops is outstanding. The layout is logical and easy to navigate, with clear signage guiding you from one area to the next. Even with the large crowds it attracts, the wide walkways ensure that the centre never feels overly cramped or chaotic. What truly sets Lakeside apart, however, is its exceptional cleanliness. The floors are spotless, the restrooms are well-maintained and hygienic, and there is no litter to be seen. It's clear that a dedicated team works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the centre in pristine condition. This attention to detail significantly enhances the shopping experience, making it a pleasant and comfortable environment to browse and relax in. Beyond the shopping, the food court and numerous restaurants offer a great selection of dining options, all of which are held to the same high standards of cleanliness. Lakeside isn't just a place to shop; it's a well-managed, expansive, and incredibly clean environment that makes a day out feel special. It's a credit to the management and staff and a must-visit for anyone looking for a comprehensive and enjoyable shopping trip.

It was Great shopping centre with 2 bus route connections from TFL 370 and 372 . There is lake between the shopping centre with Thurrock shopping centre at border of M25.

First visit since 2020. Sad that the two major department stores at either end were no longer there, but i was still pleasantly surprised by the range of decent large stores and independent shops within. I was even more impressed, if not out of my depth in Zara! No more are there staff at the tills/checkouts. Now you put your items in a weighing area, and it lists the items, then pay the total of the items within!! New one on me, and luckily, I had someone with me who knew what to do 😂

A big retail shopping 🛍 mall always love to go there multiple choices for shopping, Dinning etc Plenty of parking

It's a beautiful place to visit. I enjoyed my time there. I took beautiful photos too

Plenty of free parking, has similar shops to Westfields Stratford but, with a calmer atmosphere; less people to navigate and easier to find shops. Has some restaurants alongside the Lake, for the warmer months. Shops: Primark Next River Island Superdrug Boots HMV JD Sports Flying Tiger H. Samuel Schuh etc. Eating Places: Wimpy Las Iguanas Greggs Costa Coffee etc.

Although it’s definitely not a real beach and it needs a bit of TLC, the riverside park was good for a nice walk. It’s dog-friendly and I could see the small kids were having fun on the rides and in the sand. Nature does a good job of making it pleasant and there are some great views overlooking the water.

Very nice playground for our 2 and half year old son to play around in. Plenty of rides to go on and a fun atmosphere . Our son loved the ducks and geese and he enjoyed feeding them . There were also people racing toy boats on the lake which was nice to observe We will definitely head back soon.

Took my 3 year old and was pleasantly surprised plenty to do here, lots of space, parking charges ok and the cafe was nice. Would definitely recommend it if you are in the area and want to give the kids a run!

Very nice place for children to go and have fun .

Never been before, popped down outside of paid parking hours (after 6pm) to have a look and see if it was worth a daytime visit. Lovely walk along the river path, and the play area looks lots of fun for the kids. Will be back.

Better than we expected for a short day out with the kids. Plenty bouncy fun, splash zone, and large sandy play area all within the park. And a cafe which serves plenty and those hot sugar ring donuts 😋. Recommend 👍 enjoy and relax

Amazing place, you better buy parking for at least 3 hrs. There is so much to explore here. Advised to take a few sets of change of cloths and shoe which is easy to remove as sand will go everywhere, better remove it. About the park, there is a toddler area which is fenced so the little ones can’t just run off. It has a small slide and little things to enjoy. In the giant sandpit there is thinks to do for all ages and there is wheelchair accessible play area too. Outside of the sandpit there are swings, and also wheelchair accessible play stuff. There is plenty green area to do your own games too. There is entertainment this time of the year, small train, big train, water play, mini golf - these you have to pay for around £2 or a bit more. There is a cafe and toilets.

I visited the Museum on its Family Open Day, on Sunday 27/07/2025. It was fairly busy with lots of children, I only saw it advertised the day before. There were many items on display, ranging from badges to fire engines. The volunteers were both friendly and knowledgeable. I spent an hour there, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Check online for days when it is open.

It’s extremely fun at Essex Fire Station today. The staffs are lovely, kind and there to protect safety. So much interesting antique collections to see. Free parking available at the front of the station (extras on grass). We pre-booking is needed via email prior to open day. Open day dates can be checked and found online.

lovely open day for the kids to get up close to fire trucks, learn about fire safety.

Came to the Essex Fire Museum open day on Sunday just gone was so lovely, so much to do for children and its a nice chance for the children to spray the hose, pop into a fire truck and get the history behind the hero's we have today in the service. My daughter loved the fact that there was toys on the ground for her to play, dress up opportunity, and of course glitter tattoos.

Excellent gem of a museum tucked away on a working fire station. Covers the history of the fire service in Essex and the second world war. Great entertainment for both children and adults.

Took my 2 year old grandson to the fire station open day, I didn't realise the museum was there but what an interesting place, I will definitely make a return visit. Spoke to a few of the serving fire fighters and was so impressed about the passion they have for the job, it makes you realise how grateful we must all be to have people like this in the service.

Lovely staff and volunteers. The kids loved visiting the fire station, enjoyed using the water hose and seeing all the meseum pieces. Enjoyed the hunted house.

Country park in Essex about a 10-12 minutes drive from Lakeside shopping Centre and the M25/Dartford crossing. The area is quite large and has numerous lakes,woods,meadowland and Wetland with plenty of paths plus marked trails to follow. The lakes are home to numerous water fowl and the woods have lots of small "Tweety" birds. You could walk for miles,it's quite busy near the car park but as you head out it gets fairly quiet. Sadly the noise from the M25 can be heard all over the area, some parts more than others. The paths are mainly natural but quite wide, I would imagine they would get muddy after prolonged rain. Near to the car park is a cafe serving drinks and light refreshments plus the toilets are situated in this area too! You will find benches here, some under cover. There is a map of the area by the cafe, I would recommend getting a picture of it on your phone. About a five minute walk from the car park you will find a huge kids play area with all kinds of apparatus for them to play on. Dogs are welcome and away from the geese and ducks etc can be off leads. Car park charges: I do think that the parking charges are too expensive. It was over £5 to park for 4 hours, most country parks charge £2-£3 to park all day.

This was my first time coming to Belhus Woods Country Park, and I was so impressed! I originally went looking for somewhere peaceful to walk my dogs, and I couldn’t have chosen a better place. It’s a beautiful park where families gather to enjoy quality time together, and nature lovers can take in the calming and peaceful surroundings. The families are so friendly, which really adds to the welcoming atmosphere. My dogs even made new dog friends and had a great time interacting with other dogs it was very nice to watch. The whole park has a really nice, positive vibe that makes you feel relaxed. There’s also a lovely café where you can grab a snack for yourself and even treats for your pups. They’ve thoughtfully provided outdoor drinking bowls for dogs, which I really appreciated. Just a minute’s walk from the café, there’s a beautiful large outdoor play set for kids even big teens which makes it perfect for families. Nearby, there are clean and well-maintained public toilets as well as picnic benches, making it easy to spend a few hours here comfortably. The park itself is very clean and well looked after. The lakes are absolutely stunning, with swans and birds that are a delight to see a real treat if you’re into photography or simply love nature. Parking is reasonably priced I paid £5.30 for 4 hours, which I think is a good deal considering how much the park has to offer. I would definitely recommend Belhus Woods Country Park if you’re looking for a lovely day out, whether it’s with family, friends, or your dogs. It’s the perfect mix of nature, relaxation, and friendly community vibes.

Belhus Woods Country Park is a nice place to visit if you enjoy nature and outdoor walks. It has a mix of woodlands, lakes, and open spaces, making it good for walking, picnicking, and spotting wildlife. The paths are well-maintained, and there’s a play area for children. It can get busy on weekends, but it’s generally a peaceful spot for some fresh air and relaxation. Really clean place :)

A very big and well kept park. Very pleasing on the eyes, a big lake with ducks. Plenty of paid parking available. A visstor centre at the entrance which is nice Very good for anyone that wants to walk around the park as there are lots of trails, with good signage. Playground is very big, with lots of equipment snd it is kept well and tidy.

Visited with my granddaughter and she loved it, lovely park with lots to do, great kids play section which so much fun, lovely lake and lovely walking areas. Parking is very very expensive but thats only negative.

Belhus Woods Country Park is a peaceful and beautifully maintained spot, perfect for families, couples, dog walkers, and nature lovers alike. The walking trails are scenic and well-marked, passing through woodlands, meadows, and lakes — ideal for a relaxing stroll or a jog. The playground area is clean and safe, great for kids of all ages, and there’s plenty of open space to run around. There are picnic areas with benches and tables, making it a great place to spend the afternoon. The toilets are clean and conveniently located. The park is also very dog-friendly, with plenty of space for pets to roam and enjoy the outdoors. The atmosphere is calm and inviting, and the entire park feels well looked after. Whether you’re looking for a quick escape into nature or a full day outdoors with family, this place is a fantastic choice

Great park to visit with the kids, big play area and nice lakes full of wildlife. Clean toilets and nice cafe. Paid parking with good amount of spaces

Friendly staff, facilities are good, track has a very exciting layout, but the karts have a very big difference, performance wise. One heat you can do a 43.5 and the heat after you struggle to get a 45.9 in a different kart. That has nothing to do with skill. It has been like this for years and that's ashame. Use to come here very often, but 55 pound a session and then fingers crossed to receive a good kart, it's not correct.

First time karting at the tracks with my boys aged 10 and 14yrs. They both loved the experience and can't wait to go back. The track is really good, great for mastering karting. Staff were very friendly and helpful.

My son and his friends had a great time at the karting track. When I booked the party the lady was really helpful and gave me all the options. I’m glad we chose the party so the boys had the track to themselves. This was reassuring to the parents and some of the kids felt better about the experience too. The staff helped the boys with their suits and helmets etc. The racing was fun and we used the picnic benches to have good and drink after. The boys (10years) had never done it before and thoroughly enjoyed it. All of them wanted to go back and do it again.

Best karting in Essex. Really quick karts, great track with a few long straights. They need a cafe / bar though, not sure why they don’t unlike many other sites. Seemed pretty expensive (£67.50 each inc booking fee etc). Worth it though.

I always enjoy my racing experience at lakeside karting , helped bye very helpful polite and professional staff it's always an enjoyable experience and I always look forward to going. Even down to small details ie if I ring up and can't get through because there busy they always ring me back because ove a missed call shows they care and value u as a customer .

Have had 2 sessions here, one in Oct 2024, and one on May 29th 2025. The team there are very welcoming, personable and always helpful. My group loved it, and we'll for sure be coming back again. Special shout out to Becky, Honey, Lewis and Sam. Apologies if I've missed any names out, but thank you all for a great evening of racing

Easy booking, quick sign in, staff were friendly, other customers were chatty and friendly too. Found the live timing ok. Drinks were nice although we did expect a proper cafe and had travelled over 1 and a half hours so that would have been the only improvement for us.

This is one of our absolute favourite places to be, especially in the spring/summer months. The staff are incredibly welcoming and helpful, the activities are second to none and the facilities are fantastic. I would give 10 stars if I could!

My child attended a residential trip with his school. I was able to visit prior to the trip and found everything really well set out and activities available for all age ranges. You need to prebook activities though there are some you can book on the day. The timetable for residential stays is great, allowing time for children to get involved and really enjoy themselves whilst enhancing both social and teamwork skills. There's a disco and a good menu. As my child has additional needs, I travelled to collect and deliver them back meaning I needed to come after closing. Staff are very friendly and helpful on all levels and whilst this is quite a journey for us to travel, it's very reasonably priced and a great day out, outside of a residential trip.

Perfect place for spending all day with family. Love new attractions for kids and lots of to do. We were visiting this park often a couple of years ago, so I was surprised to see all the changes. Need to pay for entrance so not too crowded. Adult £3, child £4, under 5 free. Spacious free parking. Toilets on site. Clean and well taken care. Coffee shop expensive and unfortunately card payment only.

Nice place for a get together. Fun evening spent doing archery. We had booked a 10 ppl group booking and it was a 45 minute slot. Time went by very quickly. may be will book a little longer one next time. Covered picnic huts and lot of play equipment kept the kids and adults busy.

Great place. Gets the kids away from screens and outside. Just the general admission is worth the visit with loads of reasonably priced adventure activities to mix in. Book during the holidays to avoid missing out. Super friendly staff and instructors, plus the little café sells great coffee.

Took my 8 years old niece and 5 year old nephew. Booked in advance online and was very quick and easy to book. Parking is available onsite for free. Getting in was very quick and easy. The children's play area is large and the kids absolutely loved all the equipment, which is very study and well built. We also went on the pedalos and did archery (both cost extra) - the staff were all really friendly and I especially want to give a huge thank you to Max who was super kind and patient with the kids during archery and made their day. We finished the day with the Discovery Trail - this is a lovely walk by one of the lakes and in the woodland. We would have stayed longer but had to leave as it was closing. Will definitely be back!

Disappointing Experience – Let Down by Staff Attitude My wife, our 5-year-old son, and I recently visited Stubbers in Upminster and booked a canoe session, something we were really looking forward to. Unfortunately, the experience was let down by poor staff attitude and a lack of basic customer service. When we arrived at the watersports area, all the staff appeared busy and there was no clear direction or explanation of the process. After waiting around and asking for help, we were sent to a teenage staff member who was incredibly rude and unprofessional. She spoke to us with zero people skills and acted as though we had personally inconvenienced her just by being there. The canoe tipped when she pushed us off into the water, which we didn’t mind – that kind of thing can happen and we were ready for a bit of fun. But her reaction was unnecessarily harsh. She said in all her years she’d "never seen that happen" and walked off without checking if we were okay – particularly concerning given our 5-year-old was involved and visibly climbing back up after the tip. There was no basic courtesy, no check-in, no care shown at all. For a family-friendly location that we’ve genuinely enjoyed in the past during summers, this experience has really put us off. It’s a shame, because Stubbers itself has a lot of potential – but customer-facing staff really make or break the day, especially when children are involved. We hope this is addressed going forward.

What a disappointment and all i get told by the manager after spending an 45minuts/ hour there is: ohhh all other familys liked and spent more time here😩😓 Ive travelled hours to get to this place after so much advertising saying it was a good place to entertain kids and stay hours, 1 of my kids is only 2 years old but loves lights so i brought here, called as well to get deffo confirmation before going that would be enough to spend at lesst 3h and all confirmed so we went on the trip here And yes it looks great from outside and some stuff inside but softplay is quite bad very empty not very entertaining not even for a 2 year old And other bits or dont work or are so simple using that even kids after a try gave up of how boring it is…paid quite a lot for 1h of staying here And will never recommend and never go back And no point to complsin to managers because they dont do anything!!! Even staff members understood me and were on my side

4 of us went, Two adults and Two 3 year old boys. We really enjoyed it here and spent 3 hours in total. There was loads to do and the boys were happy just looping back round and going on the same things, the soft play is small but they where more then happy running around playing. I didn’t catch a day but the guy who was taking pictures with Patrick Star on (19/09/25) was amazing, his attitude and energy was just amazing and you can tell he loves his job and is amazing with kids. On the over hand the lady in the restaurant seemed as if she didn’t want to be there and has better things to do, I never a never understand why people work with children if they have such a miserable and unhappy attitude. There was a few things that wasn’t working, the paw patrol cars have loads of buttons but unsure what they did as nothing noticeable happened when you pushed them. Overall we loved it here and would definitely return.

This is fun not just for the kids but the parents too as most of the displays are interactive. We are a family of 3 and only had to pay less than £30 unlike other places that is £20-30 per person. It has soft play, unlimited rides, 4D mini movie theater, character meet and greets, a cafe and life size Paw Patrol cars and tower the kids can actually slide on it! My daughter had so much fun! It was worth it. I highly recommend! 💯

Our son is a huge Paw Patrol fan, so this was the perfect place for him. He absolutely loved it and the Upside House was such a fun bonus surprise……and the information provided online made our visit smooth. Highly recommend it for families looking for a fun day out!

I took my daughter for her birthday and she was thrilled to see the Paw Patrol characters.it was a magical experience for her. The place has a decent food area and several small attractions, making it ideal for children aged 2 to 7. However, it’s quite a small place overall and better suited for younger kids, as older children may find the rides too simple. I recommend visiting early in the day for the best experience.

*5/5 Stars* "We had an absolute blast at Nickelodeon Adventure Lakeside! The kids were completely enthralled by the SpongeBob and Paw Patrol experiences - meeting the live characters was a highlight of the day. The play areas were spacious and fun, with plenty of interactive elements to keep the little ones engaged. The themed zones, like Paw Patrol Adventure Bay and SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, were a hit with the kids, and the rides, such as Donatello's Ninja Flyers, were a thrill. We loved the 4D cinema experience too! The staff were friendly and helpful, and the venue was well-maintained and clean. We'll definitely be back for more Nickelodeon adventures! Highly recommended for kids who love SpongeBob, Paw Patrol, and other Nickelodeon favorites."

Great stress buster for the grandkids,chasing the toddlers around the various themed areas is better than any workout! Own cafe and staff to assist if required.

Nice enough little theatre that looks very shabby indeed from the outside but the interior is fine and the service at the small bar was polite and efficient and the drinks were decent prices.

As a SEN carer, I have never had such a negative experience. Today, we visited Thameside Theatre in Grays for their Christmas Pantomime. Mum phoned the day before to book the tickets and spoke to a lovely lady who booked the tickets over the phone, it was explained that he would want to sit on the floor as he feels grounded this way, she said she will explain to staff and was very supportive and accommodating to this. Even told us where to sit and booked those specific seats for us. As his first experience I was so unsure with how he would react as he’d never been to one before. We went in, all very happy, the staff greeted us nicely and it was all good and we were ready to go. We had the back seats so we had a bit more space for him to be able to regulate himself with sitting on the floor with his ribbon. The staff gave the okay for this and were really happy with him being able to do this. Surprisingly, he was so engaged in the pantomime - laughing and really smiling. He was doing so amazing, sitting there quietly and every now and then playing with his ribbon. From the moment we sat down, the lady in front of us was watching him. She kept turning round and glaring at him when he was playing with his ribbon. She had her arm round her child every time he would move or even laugh and made sure her child didn’t turn round at all. About 30 minutes into the show, a staff member came over to me and said he needed to move back as it wasn’t fair on everyone else. I questioned what exactly wasn’t fair, as he was sitting so nicely on the floor (which was okay with staff) watching the show. We had a complaint from the lady in front of us that apparently he was hitting a chair in front, which was completely untrue. How can he hit the back of the chair when he’s sitting so nicely next to it? This was where I put my foot down and had enough, so we left. Unfortunately for us, they completely ruined his first experience at the Pantomime for us. We will not be recommending at all, as the staff handled the situation absolutely unfairly. And ruined this experience for him. Photo for reference this is exactly what he was doing at the very back of the theatre by the back doors causing no harm to anyone.

Small compact theatre in need of a refurbishments. Ideal for the local drama club and suitable place for the comedy club that starred comedian seen on Live at the Apoĺlo on television. For the £25 fee good value. Ample parking to the rear and side.

Mixed review, I have seen 2 performances here and they have both been fantastic, due to the size of the venue it has a really lovely atmosphere. The down side is, I needed to raise a complaint about a member of staff because of their discriminatory behaviour towards my disabled son. It left quite a bitter feeling to be honest, the response I had from the venue didnt really make me feel like any changes were going to be made or that the behaviour had been addressed.

I enjoy going to the Thameside Theatre for the museum and look at what could be showing. The receptionists level of product/theatre knowledge needs to be improved and level of politeness as well.

Watched great musical based on the town of Gander in Canada in the 9/11 era. Was very entertaining but overstayed by 12 minutes in the Morrisons car park which resulted in a £60 fine.

Dec 2022, superb pantomime, great comedy for adults and young children. Lovely Theatre too, not too big so nice and intimate so you really feel like part of the show. Get there before this season's run finishes! We will 100% be back for next year's panto!

This is a really good place for a dog walk. It’s not too busy, good views, established walk ways and an excellent cafe where amongst other things, you can get a good cappuccino. Plenty of free parking too.

A lovely place to visit for free, have a very pleasent walk along the Thames and visit the history (have to go on specifc days to actually go into the Fort itself). Lovely coffee shop, free car parking, great for taking the dog for a walk and seeing the wildlife. A lovely few hours relaxing with some nice coffee. We were very impressed by the Engine Room Café at Coalhouse Fort. We'd walked there from Tilbury Town Station, quite a long way already, and were on our way further along the Thames Path. It was a drizzly grey October day. The staff at the café were friendly and cheerful, let us eat our own sandwiches and provided first-rate coffees and teas in real mugs. They are extremely dog-friendly, too. Really exceptional. The food looked good, but we did not sample it, so I can't comment.

Found this place because somewhere else was closed, nice relaxing place, fresh air, nice views. Good cafe, didn't go into fort, just walked around. Good way to spend time.

No access to the inside of the fort but externally the grounds are nice and you get a good idea of the size of the fortification.

Lovely open space, kids can fish with buckets, enjoy walks, play in the park and learn about history. Free toilets onsite, free parking, and a cafe.

Unfortunately fort was closed for visitors to go inside. Around it is a nice park n benches to sit.

Great place to visit for exploring the old Fort and surrounding buildings including the radar station. Also if you dont know, there are some hidden gun placements and other buildings just up and beyond the church. Look at Google maps and you will be able to make them out. We'll worth checking out if that is your type of thing. Bit overgrown in summer time but worth the effort getting in to see.

Nice discovery centre where you can learn a little history. Free public toilets inside.

Plenty to see and do. Nice cafe too. This park is great for walks and riding your bike. You can follow rote 136 which takes you to Rainham RSBP.

Great spot! Beautiful bird watching area and venue. Nice staff. Very nice little museum (room) about RAF Hornchurch. We come here often from the city.

This is one of the nicest country parks I've ever visited. Plenty of hard standing parking. It is very well maintained, and kept very clean and tidy. Lovely for all, Wether you are cycling, walking the dogs, or jogging. The most of the park is nice and flat, with a nice fishing lake during the season. Great visitors center, with a cafe, offering basic foods and drinks at a reasonable price.

Nice facilities at the cafe. Wonderful open spaces & woodland walks!

Nice coffee, but expensive. Just offers ordinary bought in sandwiches and the packets of biscuits are expensive. OK if you just want a coffee.

Very good visitor centre. Food and drinks available, spacious with a shop and a little section telling the story of the former RAF Hornchurch site.

Built in 1803, Upminster Windmill is one of the finest remaining smock mills in the country, and has a rich history. In 2016, a restoration project began to bring the mill back to working order, saving it from collapse.

A beautifully restored smock mill staffed by a very enthusiastic group of voIt's well worth a visit, especially if you're bringing the kids along.

Stunning windmill, especially when the sails are unleashed - Stopped off to see the windmill on Tuesday, 05th August 2025. Past this windmill for years, when it was closed and sail-less. Appears to be open more now that it's been restored, and the site includes plenty of parking and the buildings around the windmill are part of the museum. The stunning aspect of my visit was witnessing the sails unleashed, which, tbh, I had never seen before at windmill visits outside the Netherlands. Check the Website/Facebook site for opening days and times, as otherwise, though you can walk to the site, you won't be able to park next to it. When open parking is free. Very limited parking opportunities nearby if not open.

Please check the Upminster Windmill website for opening times as it runs by volunteers This place is located near Upminster tube station bus 370 248 to be fair it 20 mins to Mary lane I think theirs a place called St Lawrence Church not too far away Once you get to the Upminster Windmill, theirs visit centre with very friendly volunteers who are happy to explain the history of the mill & Surrounding areas located near by is a small garden which is amazing to look out their are toilets 🚻 inside Their is wheelchair accessible to get to the visit centre but you 6 climb up the stairs it's more for able body person only The windmill is the only wind operated mill in London they make a flour but can not sell as its not aloud to & don't have a license The aim is to make it possible to do this sometime in the near future where they can sell to locals and watch the Upminster Windmill website

It was fantastic, volunteers were friendly and informative. Lovely garden and a good old fashioned cuppa.

Nice. If you just visit the outside, it opens 24 hours and free of charge.

I visited the windmill yesterday on an open day with my children. I really enjoyed it, the volunteers were knowledgeable and easy to talk to. The windmill had multiple floors with clear explanations of what each floor did. I loved that it was something different and a great bit of local history.

A lovely location for family walks. Very nicely managed site. There is a friendly cafe shop for a nice coffee or smalls and foods. Other facilities include a wildlife trust shop and restrooms. Would recommended a visit for anytime especially if you have little kids

Lovely few hours here. Didn't know it existed!! Found it by mistake. Has a lovely cafe and shop area, and some lovely walks. Lots of wildlife

We absolutely loved it here. We could spend hours exploring all the grounds. Some of it is quite steep though so not suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs or those who have difficulty walking. The refurbishment was great, the centre is really lovely. My toddler loved finding all the Peter Rabbit characters, which have all been repainted, and the map (available from the shop for £1) was so easy to follow. There is a garden that was separated into lots of little garden and we loved it in there. A couple of lovely fairy gardens were to be found. The fishing Lake was huge and beautiful and seemed really peaceful. We will definitely be coming back here and hope to visit the WW1 House in the future.

The carpark was busy when we arrived but parked without problems. The visitors centre is very welcoming with helpful, knowledgeable staff. The cafe serves very good scones with jam and cream. We had a lovely walk around the nature reserve. From the top of the site, there is a wonderful view across Essex towards the Dartford crossing and London. Unfortunately, it was not clear, so we couldn't see the city. The Peter rabbit trail is great for small children and was fairly busy while we were there.. It is a lovely place for a walk and a picnic weather permitting.

What a lovely Nature Reserve this has turned into. We had a lovely chat with Chris, one of the many volunteer gardeners about what is planned for the future. The garden is superb. It even has a lovely cafe and shop. Highly recommended place to visit and to have a lovely walk around

I found this reserve in an Essex walk book and was drawn to walk there because it has everything I need when I’m walking . History , beauty and wildlife . The land here was bought in plots by wealthy east Enders seeking to live off the land and building holiday homes on the land . One is still intact and left as a museum for us to look around . Fascinating stuff ! There’s an ornamental flower garden to look around as well ! When you eventually set off out into the countryside there is a trail you can walk which is three and a half miles if you wish ? This takes about 90 minutes and takes you mainly through woodland but in the main the paths are wide and firm . There is beauty and wildlife all around obviously and if you work uptown at one point you might be able to see your office building on the horizon ! Lol as this is one of the highest points in Essex . So if you’re clicking your heels one day come and have a look round here ! It’s free ! Lastly the coffee shop isn’t free but we’ll worth a visit at the end

Very underrated lovely park with 2 lakes and woodland walks. There a small plotland bungalow museum here as well. Beautiful new cafe here with a great selection of food and drinks. You have to pay a small donation to park. It was £2.

Very beautiful park but sadly is being neglected. Litter everywhere. Trees are being cut down.

Beautiful landscapes , good for running in dry weather, I found 4 available entries . 2 is without any fates .. this park is 24 hours Monday to Sunday. No lights when it is dark inside the park. It isn't big . There is nowhere to get lost . This park/ reservoir is in shape of masive serial bowl . Stunning views from the edges, there is wild natural pathways to gets the views. And stairs to get down in two sides of the park . Good for cycling or bird watching. Feels safe . Only 4 stars as it could be more tidying up done, and benches are way too high.

The cliffs are the main attraction, and it's a good place to walk around. However, it would be nicer if the view from on top of the cliffs wasn't blocked by trees, and if there wasn't a main road just off to the side of the cliff top path. I would recommend going to the Chafford Gorges first-there's a beautiful lake there.

Very peaceful and beautiful, some parts are like from the Jurassic park. Only negative is no parking, the nearest residential parkings are either - quite a distance away (drake road, chafford hundred), or residents only ( Badgers Dene).

This is an amazing compact nature reserve in the heart of Grays Town. It is an idyllic place to escape, whether is it is alone, with a loved one or to walk your dog. As an abandonned chalk pit there are echoes of the past, some harder than others to spot, e.g. old railway sleepers beneath your feet on the footways, railway tracks and the entrances to old disused tunnels. The site is also of specific scientific interest due to some of the flora and fauna present, as such the reserve is protected. Several routes around the site mean you can explore different ways in and out of the Reserve. Highly recommended place to visit. Only one issue occasionally is litter so a plea for any visitors to take your rubbish with you to keep this place special.

Very muddy when wet, but a nice walk in a little bit of nature

Lovely place for a walk, with the dog or otherwise.

Gorgeous place, lovely walks with places to sit, cafe serving from doorway. Nice playground for children too.

Great place for the kids to cycle around. Lots of opportunities for them to climb and play as well.

To difficult to enter where from where to.

Wonderful walk

A large venue with a good setup. Food for kids and adults was not too bad, what you would expect from this type of venue. The children had lots of fun and there is a wide variety of play equipment for them. Staff seemed really good with the children too. There some aspects of cleanliness that needed working on. A nappy left on a table for a while not cleared. Quite a lot if food left on tables without being cleared away. It was fine though.

It’s a cozy place with friendly staff and plenty of fun stuff for the kids. Clean. The play area as well as the toilets. The play area is not so hug that the kids get lost or scared. Yet it’s enough for them to enjoy. It ha as separate area for under 3 children. All in all a good place for the kids to enjoy.

Awful! Hottest day of the year and air con not working. Slush machine out of action and prices for food absolutely exorbitant. Not even a reduction on the entrance price considering the conditions. The place was stifling hot.Would have not gone in but kids were looking forward to it.

Absolutely disgusting and very tired. I haven’t taken my little girl here for a good year or so and since then it feels so tired and run down, there is thick dust, dirt, food crumbs on top of every step inside the soft play frame. The thick dust along one of the bridge sections is shocking and quite frankly very unhygienic for the kids to be playing on. Everywhere felt sticky. The staff on reception were friendly, although they may want to be careful what they’re discussing behind reception as it backs on to the little role play area. All in all, very disappointed, not worth £10.95 for a just turned 4yr old.

The staff are lovely, the venue is very tired and has changed little in the last five years we have been going. We have annual membership but rarely go. I guess it's not the most expensive play place which reflects.

Staff are friendly, safe environment & fun for kids

We love bringing our grandkiddies here.....the staff are fantastic. Good facilities and amazing food and service makes this a hotspot of sheer fun. The menu is designed with kids in mind and the prices are very reasonable.....The staff are brilliant with the kids (I am sure they are chosen for their child friendly skills) showing unlimited patience and encouraging all of them to have fun. Even the kitchen staff and cleaners are cheerful and everyone is always happy to see you. Would highly recommend this venue.....for adults and kids alike

Came for a childrens birthday party, really good service, you get your own room on the top floor, food options were ok, but drink menu was good. My kids love a Slush drink which had unlimited refills. The play area is mostly suited for kids 5+ age, but there is a small space in the corner for toddlers. Saturday can get incredibly busy so best come early in the day.

Such a great place to go with children 🌟 my son is 5 yo and he was so impressed by this place. He enjoyed jumping and climbing and going through the soft play area challenges. I am now thinking to buy a membership as we plan to visit regularly.

We had a great visit at Flip Out Lakeside! The arena is pretty big with a variety of sections. My brother mostly enjoyed the street football, ninja wipeout, and stunt zone. As there are so many different attractions we were spoilt for choice! This Flip Out caters to a variety of age groups from toddlers to teenagers, and even adults would have a good time here! What made this trip even more special was the member of staff Chris, who was so friendly, helpful, and very attentive. I was so impressed with his interactions with the kids. Safety is paramount in these spaces, and so I really appreciated how he communicated with the kids to keep themselves and others safe. I also observed Chris' interaction with a child who had additional needs; he was so patient and guided the other children to also be patient with the little boy. I was really blown away because I could see that Chris is young, but his maturity and professionalism was so impressive and heartwarming. Having staff members like Chris makes makes a huge difference to the overall experience in these spaces...it certainly did for us! Thank you Flip Out Lakeside!

Went to flip out with my little girl for the soft play area. Food was so good, Joe and Owen the chef were amazing! My daughter enjoyed it also 🥰 thank you so much! X

I had the pleasure of visiting Flip Out Lakeside for the first time for a birthday party, and I can’t speak highly enough of the experience, thanks to Chantai. Her hospitality, warmth, and incredible attention to detail made the day so special. She went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly, and her friendly, welcoming attitude instantly put everyone at ease. Chantai’s professionalism, energy, and genuine care truly made a lasting impression. It was an absolute pleasure being looked after by her — she made the whole experience even more memorable. Thank you, Chantai, for making our day so fantastic!

We visited flip out and the two girls at the front desk were so kind and helpful. Milena helped us with issues with our waivers and took such time explaining it all! Rinnah was also so helpful helping us sort best booking options and helping with the video. Kids has a blast and they both ensured everything was OK when we left!

We would like to leave our feedback about our daughter's party today. She really enjoyed it. The service was very good. The children really enjoyed it, the food was on time. We would like to thank Ms. Dhanika, who served us very well. She was very polite and attentive. Thank you

Fabulous fun and good food! Brilliant staff as well, honestly can’t complain!

Great way to spend a fun afternoon with friends. We had 2 games with time for a cocktail in between. Very imaginative course. Really need to think on some holes!

Me and my husband had a brilliant time at puttshack. The golf courses were very interactive and there is a wide range of courses available. Mote was brilliant, offering us great service and ensured we had a brilliant experience😊

great experience playing golf here. we also got some food. the pizza was amazing, and our server Reece was brilliant. His service was very attentive and helpful. couldn’t recommend more. thankyou!!:)

Amazing Experience for My Daughter’s Birthday! We celebrated my daughter’s 5th birthday at Puttshack White City yesterday, and I honestly couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out. From the moment we arrived, the staff were incredibly helpful, friendly, and attentive they really went out of their way to make the day special. The venue itself is fantastic spacious, vibrant, and full of energy. There was plenty of room to welcome all of my daughter’s little friends, and they had such a great time. The service was excellent, and the food was absolutely delicious both kids and adults enjoyed it! Most importantly, my daughter was over the moon. Her smile said it all! Thank you to the whole Puttshack team for making her day so memorable. I highly recommend this place for any celebration it’s fun, well-organized, and the perfect spot for a joyful, stress-free party.

Mote was very helpful and welcoming! He showed us around and made sure we are all set to go. He answered any questions we had with passion and great knowledge! He served us with great smile and always checked on us to make sure we are doing good

I had the most fun playing golf here. My only issue was party size, there was a group of 10 ahead of me which meant I waited 10-15 minutes for each hole. Other than this I had a great time!

The kids had a fantastic time at the Aqua Park Lakeside course! It was exciting, well-run, and kept them active and engaged the whole time. We’ll definitely be coming back

We attended today. Our son has wanted to come for years but hasn't had a friend able to swim to come along with. Today he was finally able to go and he loved it so much. The inflatables are fabulous. Reception staff are exceptionally lovely, other staff were nice too but didn't directly deal with them. The experience was fantastic for our son and his friend, they absolutely loved it and no doubt will want to come back next year. PLEASE make sure your children can swim though, the staff has to remove to non-swimmers today and it's not fair on them as the backlash they get from parents is awful.

Unreal day. Paid extra for the double dip (2 hours) and it was so worth it and also worth the travel from london to Lakeside. It does get quite tiring to haul yourself from the water onto the course, so I’d recommend getting mates to drag you back on if possible! For those going, I would recommend to bring: - a padlock - shower gel - a towel - sea shoes or flip flops or grip socks - long sleeves or leggings if possible to avoid chafing on the slides Would 100% return, and bring a group of mates!

Friendly staff, clean facilities and during the hot weather a great place to spend your time. I do wish that there was a 10h00 0r 11h00 session. Or sessions for little ones, then teens, then the rest.

absolutely my number one favourite place to spend my summer holidays in! a whole hour of watching my daughter jumping around on the inflatables, having the time of her life! such a great experience and totally recommend x

Our charity team had an absolutely fantastic time with the exclusive hire! A huge thank you to the incredible staff and all the lifeguards for making us feel so welcome. The main facilitator was superb at managing our group, and the timed race went off perfectly. Would highly recommend!

The courses were great fun, with plenty of floats and activities to get involved in. While I didn’t see dedicated parking on-site, it’s conveniently located just across the road from the Lakeside Multistorey Car Park. The staff were friendly, polite, and made the experience even more enjoyable.

One of our favourite dog walking locations. There are no toilets, no cafe, the car park is tiny with potholes BUT it’s a great place to start your mardyke walk from. Lots of possibilities- you can end up under the M25/A13 and see deer, the woods are great to explore, cross the road and follow the mardyke path along the river . The meadow is great for fetch or a picnic ( no tables ) Lovely photo opportunities. I wish there were more Pooh bins as not everyone that visits bothers to clean up 🤬

Great space - a bit of woodland area to walk through from the car park. Spacious land by the old water works. You can walk by the River Mardyke. There is some interesting wildlife in terms of birdlife. The river side from the car park is fairly litter free. Could do with a few more benches so you can rest or take in the view.

With plenty of well maintained space to explore, and an extremely old slow moving river attracting wildlife, this is well worth your time. The visitors centre was closed, but they had clear paths and plenty of maps, with statues to find dotted about, each denoting the diverse creatures in the area... How many can you find?

Lovely place to visit with your dog or just for a decent walk, lots of wildlife and birds to spot.. saw glo worms last year. The dipping pond is in a bit of a sorry state which is unfortunate. The children used to love finding frogs, fish and insect larvae, but not anymore. Still it's a lovely place to picnic.

A hidden park off A13 🤔☺! A large open green space surrounded by higher grounds and lower valley river - Hillside Wood, Pilgrims' Copse, River Mardyke and Mardyke Valley! A beautiful countryside walking Trail for all abilities and all ages! Sculptor Ptolemy Elrington created 6 sculptures from recycled items including shopping trolleys, motor bikes etc that were recovered during the Mardyke Valley restoration project in 2008. Sculptures include fish, dragonfly, heron, Avely mammoth, kingfisher, and stag beetle! Dragonfly sculpture on the tall water tower can be seen from distance! Wetlands, low-lying lands, lower valley - the Davy Down is a very welcoming corridor for many habitats including Marsh Frogs, Kingfishers and many more interesting creatures! Really pleased and amazed to find out the source of the loud quacking and chuckling by the pond and the River Mardyke - it is the Marsh Frogs - the largest European Frog - thanks to the Information ℹ Display Board! The view is spectacular and cinematic perception! The Viaduct over the River Mardyke going in and out of the woods, large grass area, Pumping Station and Visitor Centre on a hill - a brilliant panaromic Picturesque view! Walking, running, relaxing whatever it is - it is perfect! However, there are very limited number of benches around the park! It would be good to install some benches at intervals for all the visitors! Because of low lying land, some parts of the Park are prone to flooding, muddy puddles and muddy soft grass or trail! Walking Trail is very good and resilient to muds and puddles but some stretch of the trail are fully under water even with little rain ☔! The trail becomes particularly difficult for people with mobility needs, wheelchair ♿ users and may well be pushchair users! A Visitor Centre and historic Stifford Pumping Station and a small car park can be found by the main entrance of the Park on Back Lane off Pilgrims Lane! Across the River Mardyke, Davy Down is well connected with the Mardyke Valley and Mardyke Woods through a footbridge with a fabulous sculpture made from recycled items from this very area! The whole park is well connected with interpretation Texts and maps - a perfect way of ensuring the visitors are on track while getting the knowledge of the area! However, the visitor centre and Pumping Station do not have any opening hours displayed. It would be good to know which days or dates these are open for visitors!

A green oasis amidst the bustling A13, if a bit neglected. The waterways are thick with algae and much of the green space is overgrown with nettles which is a shame. Some lovely spots and walking paths, and the viaduct is picturesque, but the 'advertised' visitor centre is just as abandoned as the old pumping station. Had a walk around but didn't feel as enamoured here as at other local reserves and green spaces I'm afraid.

It has a small car park, plenty of woods to explore, a small pond, green field for picnics and ball games, a bridge for trains.... Kids really enjoyed this place.