Top Ten Icons of Essex revealed on patron's day
Olly Murs and Richard Madeley have supported Essex Day
The county’s tourism organisation is celebrating the county’s culture, landscapes and attractions by revealing what they believe are Essex' "Top Ten Icons".
Olly Murs and Richard Madeley are also celebrating Essex Day (26 October), aiming to place the county on the visitor map.
TV Presenter, Richard Madeley, has said he's "very proud" of his roots.
“I almost don’t like telling people what a terrific county Essex is in case everyone moves here!"
Pop sensation, Olly Murs, adds: “My favourite place is Osea Island – I just got married there and it’s a very special place to me”
THE TEN ICONS OF ESSEX
- Seaside resorts – Southend-on-Sea is home to the world’s longest pleasure pier, where you can take a trip to the end of the pier by train! It’s also a great place to enjoy a yummy Rossi ice-cream. Visitors can also enjoy a day by the beach relaxing in a stylish beach hut that line the county’s promenades.
- Visitor Attractions – Topping the list of ‘must places to visit’ is Colchester Zoo, which is home to 155 species set in 60 acres of parkland and lakes. Southend Pier is the second most visited attraction followed by RHS Hyde Hall, which offers a range of beautiful gardens from its wild ‘Sky Meadow’ to pretty rose garden.
- Constable Country, Epping Forest and the Gruffalo Trail – In the early 1800s, landscape painter John Constable brought romanticised views of Essex to the rest of the world. The countryside hasn’t changed much in over 200 years and visitors still enjoy a walk alongside the Stour or taking a row in ‘Constable Country’. Epping Forest is home to 55,000 trees and is famously known for being one of King Henry VIII’s royal hunting grounds. Another favourite is a walk with snake, owl and mouse at Thorndon Country Park on their Gruffalo Trail.
- Castles, Villages, a Church, House and Gardens – Colchester is Britain’s first city, where historic Roman walls and mosaics remain. Finchingfield’s village green and duck pond are known as the most photographed in the country. The ancient Flitch towns of Thaxted, Great Dunmow and Saffron Walden are jam-packed with mediaeval architecture and are a visitor’s paradise.
- Essex saltmarshes – A trip to Tollesbury is the perfect place to view the saltmarshes and get a shot of a stunning red lightship.
- A golden banana and award-winning theatre – The iconic curved building in Colchester, known as the ‘golden banana’, was designed by Uruguayan architect Rafael Vinoly, following a worldwide design competition. The gallery is home to Michael Landy’s exhibition ‘Welcome to Essex’, which stands tall as a cliche of what was perceived as ‘Essex Man’ in the 1980s.
- A river runs through it – From the Thames to the Stour, estuary life creates its own rhythm for the people of Essex. Whether its fishing, crabbing, paddleboarding or kayaking, the rivers of Essex provide the perfect backdrop for a whole range of pastimes. The rivers are also the secret ingredient in the county being announced as the ‘best place to grow wine in the UK’.
- Gastro Essex: the county is world-renowned for its oysters; the world-famous Tiptree jam from Wilkin and Sons is based in Tiptree, Essex; Maldon Sea Salt is harvested on Spring tides alongside the river Blackwater; and Saffron Walden Tourism Information Centre hosts food tours every Thursday to celebrate their local producers, from fine chocolatiers to on-trend ale houses.
- Thames Sailing Barges – Visitors can wonder at these beautiful ships along the harbourside in Maldon or take a cruise up the river Blackwater onboard a barge with Topsail Charters.
- Wild Essex – Take a boat from Harwich harbour and cruise to Hamford Water Nature Reserve where visitors can watch seals playing on the mudbanks. Wallasea Island offers a RSPB reserve which offers mudflats, lagoons and saltmarshes and has become a haven for birdlife.
Councillor Mark Durham, Chairman of Visit Essex, is proud of what the county offers and reflects on its heritage. He said: “Essex Day marks the celebration of our Patron Saint, St Cedd, a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon bishop who played a key role in converting the East Saxons to Christianity. He founded a monastery in Bradwell-on-Sea in 654 AD, which is now known as St Peter-on-the-Wall. The church is one of the oldest Christian buildings in England.
“Essex is home to so many unexpected places, from our 350-mile coastline to iconic landmarks, such as Colchester Castle and Audley End House and Gardens. We love where we live and would like to invite all to celebrate our county this Essex Day.”