Rachel’s guidebook
Food scene
Excellent family run café, serving a delightful selection of cakes, breakfast treats and lunches, lots of vegan options here and very child friendly. Their bacon doughnuts & vegan sausage rolls are to die for. Awesome ice-creams too.
Bird & Bean
95 Connaught AveExcellent family run café, serving a delightful selection of cakes, breakfast treats and lunches, lots of vegan options here and very child friendly. Their bacon doughnuts & vegan sausage rolls are to die for. Awesome ice-creams too.
We think this long standing family run business serves the best fish and chips around here, lots of food options here and parking out the front (it's a rarity), they offer Gluten free on Mondays too!
Kirby Fisheries
33-37 Frinton RdWe think this long standing family run business serves the best fish and chips around here, lots of food options here and parking out the front (it's a rarity), they offer Gluten free on Mondays too!
Fun, child friendly café, offering great milkshakes, ice creams and sweet treats galore. Another family run business we like to support
Poppins
131 Connaught AveFun, child friendly café, offering great milkshakes, ice creams and sweet treats galore. Another family run business we like to support
Lovely cosy country village pub, open fires with great restaurant attached, nice pub garden too. Recommend to book
The Ship
The Ship Walton RdLovely cosy country village pub, open fires with great restaurant attached, nice pub garden too. Recommend to book
Beautiful setting on the marina here on the backwaters just on the edge of Walton. At it's best in the sun so you can sit outside and have a drink. Large restaurant, that offers carvery on Sundays, (we'd recommend coming to have a drink here for the view) but it's not the best food in town.
Harbour Lights Restaurant
Coles LaneBeautiful setting on the marina here on the backwaters just on the edge of Walton. At it's best in the sun so you can sit outside and have a drink. Large restaurant, that offers carvery on Sundays, (we'd recommend coming to have a drink here for the view) but it's not the best food in town.
Excellent Italian restaurant, if you fancy a drive towards the Suffolk border (25 mins) then head over to Manningtree, a delightful spot & the pizza & pasta is mouth watering good. Family friendly.
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Lucca Enoteca Manningtree
High StreetExcellent Italian restaurant, if you fancy a drive towards the Suffolk border (25 mins) then head over to Manningtree, a delightful spot & the pizza & pasta is mouth watering good. Family friendly.
For a Suffolk delight head over to Milsoms, this is a popular rurally located restaurant in Dedham vale, for fine dining and a beautiful setting head here.
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Milsoms
Stratford Road DedhamFor a Suffolk delight head over to Milsoms, this is a popular rurally located restaurant in Dedham vale, for fine dining and a beautiful setting head here.
Seafood lovers must - locally famous for it's queues (but worth the wait) to get in as it's based on first come first served, BYO alcohol and bread - they'll do all the cooking of the seafood. Think basic surroundings - with elegant food, they have just recently started taking a small amount of bookings so good luck, you won't be disappointed.
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The Company Shed
129 Coast RdSeafood lovers must - locally famous for it's queues (but worth the wait) to get in as it's based on first come first served, BYO alcohol and bread - they'll do all the cooking of the seafood. Think basic surroundings - with elegant food, they have just recently started taking a small amount of bookings so good luck, you won't be disappointed.
Very popular with the locals this favourite take-away and restaurant serves excellent freshly prepared Thai food - I always have a good meal from here and the staff are very friendly, they also offer a quick delivery service with a very reasonably priced menu
Pearl of Samui Thai Restaurant
11 Old Pier StVery popular with the locals this favourite take-away and restaurant serves excellent freshly prepared Thai food - I always have a good meal from here and the staff are very friendly, they also offer a quick delivery service with a very reasonably priced menu
Avenue Bistro Frinton
145 Connaught AveG&T's
19 Connaught AvePier One
35 Connaught AveStanley's Restaurant
83 Fourth AvenueDifferent Restaurant
83 Fourth AvenueNew Tapas in Frinton
Efes Kitchen
35 High StreetRecently opened - turkish grill & meze restaurant
Garden centre
Fantastic family run garden centre with a lovely selection of plants, garden essentials, furnishings & local farmers market food selection. A recent extension of the popular Applegarth café has been made, & has always been a local favourite to pop in for tea, cake & lunches. They often host children's activities in the school holidays
Parkers Nurseries Ltd
93 Harwich RoadFantastic family run garden centre with a lovely selection of plants, garden essentials, furnishings & local farmers market food selection. A recent extension of the popular Applegarth café has been made, & has always been a local favourite to pop in for tea, cake & lunches. They often host children's activities in the school holidays
Pubs
The Crown, Thorpe-le-Soken
High StreetThe Red Lion
32 The StThe Crown, Thorpe-le-Soken
High StreetRose & Crown
High StreetThe Victory
4 Suffolk StWine Boutique
14 Old RdLovely place for a decent bottle & a catch up with friends - closes at 9pm
Sightseeing
If you can manage the climb to the top it's well worth the view, after a restoration and renovation in recent years the Naze tower and education centre is a great place for all the family. Excellent dog walks and shark tooth hunting here. pay as you display car park.
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Naze Tower
Old Hall LaneIf you can manage the climb to the top it's well worth the view, after a restoration and renovation in recent years the Naze tower and education centre is a great place for all the family. Excellent dog walks and shark tooth hunting here. pay as you display car park.
Beautiful area where you can hire rowing boats along the river, excellent walks, kayaking and canoeing possible here too. Very pretty old English countryside
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National Trust
Beautiful area where you can hire rowing boats along the river, excellent walks, kayaking and canoeing possible here too. Very pretty old English countryside
Frinton-on-Sea spreads over 1600m of a sandy hut lined beach. family friendly, dog friendly in sections (they will be labelled) attracting visitors for years, come and enjoy this well kept Northern Essex beach. The greensward runs nearly the entire length of the beach which offers well used additional space to tourists & locals alike, get your BBQ and chair and set up camp for the day.
Frinton On Sea
Frinton-on-Sea spreads over 1600m of a sandy hut lined beach. family friendly, dog friendly in sections (they will be labelled) attracting visitors for years, come and enjoy this well kept Northern Essex beach. The greensward runs nearly the entire length of the beach which offers well used additional space to tourists & locals alike, get your BBQ and chair and set up camp for the day.
Take the ferry over to Shotley and enjoy the lovely pub it has to offer or walk along Harwich beach
Harwich / Shotley Ferry station
View Point RdTake the ferry over to Shotley and enjoy the lovely pub it has to offer or walk along Harwich beach
Miles of pretty coastline off the beaten track with beautiful views. Many lengths of walks available here
Hamford Water National Nature Reserve
Miles of pretty coastline off the beaten track with beautiful views. Many lengths of walks available here
Recreational
One of the best zoo's in the country, huge area, lots of activities daily, highly recommend a visit. Great for the children.
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Colchester Zoo station
One of the best zoo's in the country, huge area, lots of activities daily, highly recommend a visit. Great for the children.
Family run mini farm park, great outdoor adventure playground & small animals to pet and feed. Activities in holidays here too.
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Hastys Adventure Farm
West RoadFamily run mini farm park, great outdoor adventure playground & small animals to pet and feed. Activities in holidays here too.
Fancy a row along the river Stour taking in the beautiful scenic countryside that it has to offer and grade listed buildings along the way. Head into the town for a traditional English cream tea afterwards. Very pretty day out.
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The Boathouse
Mill LaneFancy a row along the river Stour taking in the beautiful scenic countryside that it has to offer and grade listed buildings along the way. Head into the town for a traditional English cream tea afterwards. Very pretty day out.
You can set up for the day here, walks, bike rides, water sports galore take your pick.
During the summer they have a huge inflatable assault course on the water for adults and for any children who can swim a length by themselves. It's a great family day out.
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Alton Water
You can set up for the day here, walks, bike rides, water sports galore take your pick.
During the summer they have a huge inflatable assault course on the water for adults and for any children who can swim a length by themselves. It's a great family day out.
Amusements, rides & tenpin bowling all on offer at Walton pier with cafes and treats for all. Good family fun.
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Walton Pier
Amusements, rides & tenpin bowling all on offer at Walton pier with cafes and treats for all. Good family fun.
Brightlingsea Beach
Lovely beach to visit or walk along, decent fish and chips at the yacht end :)
Beautiful walks in stunning settings, you can hire rowing boats and go along the river at your own pace, it's a beautiful drive over there, finish with an afternoon tea in the tearooms.
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Flatford mill
Beautiful walks in stunning settings, you can hire rowing boats and go along the river at your own pace, it's a beautiful drive over there, finish with an afternoon tea in the tearooms.
Jimmys Farm
Pannington Hall LaneBrilliant family fun for all ages & a great recently improved soft play area for younger children. Rides, amusmants and plenty of classic seaside food available
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Clacton Pier
Brilliant family fun for all ages & a great recently improved soft play area for younger children. Rides, amusmants and plenty of classic seaside food available
Seal watching Harwich
Kite surfing school PUSH Kiting in essex
Thrive Outdoor Ltd
Island LaneTransport
For anyone using Harwich as an entry port we are only a 25 minute drive from there.
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Harwich International Port
For anyone using Harwich as an entry port we are only a 25 minute drive from there.