Essex!

[GreatGooglyMoogly]

We are spending the day in Essex tomorrow, starting near Chelmsford. Where is nice to go (with DC)? Nice towns/ villages in particular please :). TIA

Maldon. 8 miles from Chelmsford. Head for promenade park and the quayside. They have a splash park for children(£1.50), so take swim suits and towels. My children love crabbing in the lake or off the quay wall. Crab lines, buckets and nets can be bought cheaply in the ice cream shops in the park... you just need a couple of slices of ham and the children will have fun for a couple of hours.

There is a great orienteering trail and tree trail in the park that you can download from the town's website, just put 'Promenade park Maldon' into Google.

If its raining, Blackwater swimming pool has great flumes. Madison Heights has a roller skating rink, 10 pin bowling and a huge soft play park.

Enjoy!