From London to the coast in around two hours, Essex is made for easy seaside escapes. With more than 350 miles of coastline, traditional seaside towns and peaceful nature reserves, there's plenty to explore at your own pace.
At the heart of it all is Orchards Holiday Village, set on the Point Clear Peninsula and surrounded by creeks, coastal walks and wide-open views. Whether you're planning a family getaway, a couples break or trip with friends, our caravan holidays in Essex combine coastal scenery, great on-park facilities, and the freedom to holiday your way.
Our holiday park on the 'Essex Sunshine Coast' enjoys a lovely location near seawater creeks, close to the seaside fun of Clacton-on-Sea.
Essex’s huge coastline is home to traditional seaside towns, subtle remnants of history and and fresh sea air. Walk along the Sunshine Coast from Clacton to Frinton to experience all its glory.
A quiet change of scenery, Dedham Vale is home to lush greenery, riverside strolls and traditional places to eat. It’s a great day out for all the family, and is close to Orchards Holiday Village.
The historic centre of Colchester, Britain’s oldest city, is great for the whole family. Boasting one of Britain’s smallest towns, Manningtree, it's also home to Tiptree, known for its famous jam.
Like to look around a stately home? How about the decadent 17th century manor at Audley End House – it even offers a glimpse at what life was like "below stairs". Next, set out for St. Andrews Church, Greensted: it's the oldest wooden church in the world. Or picture yourself at the Jaywick Martello tower, a former Napoleonic fort transformed into an arts venue. In fact, you'll find art galleries of all sorts all over Essex – it is Constable Country, after all. To keep the kids happy, visit Colchester Zoo, home to over 220 different species, or Tropical Wings Zoo, where you can see free-flying butterflies all year round! Or if you prefer a more hands-on approach to animals, Old McDonald's Farm is the perfect name for a petting farm.
Curve Water Sports is full of action-packed adventures, close to the park.
Head to Colchester Zoo for a full day packed with some amazing experiences.
Conveniently located close to London, Essex is home to around 1.5 million people and is one of England’s home counties. As close to the big city as it is, it also has vast rural areas and a long coastline.
Essex is home to the oldest recorded town in Britain. Colchester contains several remnants of the past including an enchanting 12th-century castle in its historic centre. The town also served as Britain’s capital from AD 43 to AD 61.
Essex hosts the longest pier in the world. The iconic structure in Southend-on-Sea extends for over a mile and can be navigated on its dedicated train. It’s been here since 1829!
The Essex coastline is a whopping 350 miles long and forms the second longest stretch in England, behind Cornwall. This makes for a wealth of seaside experiences in famous towns with many hidden gems.
So well connected, it doesn’t take long to get to the tranquil areas of Essex from the busier parts of the country. A couple of hours is all it takes for the scenery to transform and forthe county to deliver an escape from the hustle and bustle.
Clacton-on-Sea is a big name in the world of holidays and is home to a huge number of family-friendly attractions and things to do. It’s brilliant that we’re just a short drive away from the heart of the action!
Our Essex holiday park at Orchards sits in a prestigious position on the Point Clear Peninsula. Spectacular scenery, lush countryside and relaxing beach walks are the order of the day here. Stay at Orchards and you’ll be within convenient distance of Clacton-on-Sea, and the brilliant town of Brightlingsea is just across the bay it’s named after.
Check out all of the exciting events happening in our roundup of What's on in Essex.
Situated on the Point Clear Peninsula near Clacton-on-Sea and Brightlingsea, Haven's Orchards Holiday Village is a perfect getaway for those looking to enjoy Essex with its coastal views and indoor and outdoor pools on-park.
One of the closest coastal destinations to London, Orchards is ideal for short breaks and last-minute getaways. Depending on the location, a drive from the capital would take less than two hours.
Dog-friendly holidays are available at Orchards, while you can find more information on accommodation and on-site pet policies here.
With an indoor and outdoor pool, you'll be able to splash about whatever the weather. For the golf enthusiasts, the park features a nine-hole course with a beautiful backdrop. The kids also have their fair share to enjoy, with an entertainment venue, climbing wall and football dartboard just some of the fun activities on offer.
If you want to check out what accommodation is available, then be sure to head to our Orchards park page.
Whether you're planning a family day out or looking to explore the coast, there's plenty to discover nearby. Meet thousands of animals at Colchester Zoo, enjoy classic seaside fun at Clacton Pier, try paddle boarding with Curve Water Sports, or simply soak up the scenery on one of Essex's beautiful coastal walks.
For a more comprehensive guide, check out our things to do in Essex page.
Starting at just £49 for three nights, our holiday breaks in Essex are affordable for the whole family. If you're looking for even greater value, then booking it last-minute or during mid-week instead of the weekend, often offers the best deal.
Southend-on-Sea serves up brilliant dining options for every taste. From Oldham's classic fish and chips to Il Pescatore's Italian fare and Tomassi's legendary ice cream, the town offers fantastic food just an hour from London.
Colchester offers a superb mix of history, nature and family fun. Explore an 11th-century castle, visit the award-winning Firstsite Museum, bounce at AirHop, or stroll through Highwoods Country Park — all just 14 miles from Haven's Orchards.
Essex delivers outstanding family days out, blending seaside thrills at Clacton Pier, watersports at Curve Aqua Park, seal-spotting boat trips, and Roman history at Colchester Castle — all within easy reach of Orchards Holiday Village.
Clacton-on-Sea's best restaurants offer something for every taste, from Italian and Thai to award-winning steaks and fresh seafood. All nine sit within 8 miles of Haven's Orchards, making them easy to reach for a great meal out.
Essex offers five dog-friendly beaches year-round: secluded Irlam's Beach in Harwich, panoramic Dovercourt Bay, the rugged Naze, and Cudmore Grove and West Mersea on Mersea Island.
Essex's ten best beaches range from the bustle of Clacton-on-Sea to peaceful Whitehouse Beach, featuring Blue Flag winners, Victorian piers, and watersports galore.
Our park at Orchards is a great place to base yourself and the family at any time of the year. To help you decide when to go, we’ve picked out the best events in the Essex calendar. Here’s what’s on in Essex in 2026.
With fantastic transport links and a lovely coastline, Essex is one of the best places for a stress-free staycation with the loved ones. See the places to visit that make the county extra special here.
Wonderful Walton is home to a whole host of awesome attractions for all the family. See the must dos and hidden gems in this one stop shop of all things near the Naze.
Essex boasts some of the country's most diverse and beautiful wildlife, including ancient woodland, hard to find plants and rare bird species. Here are some of our favourite spots to visit.
We think Essex is underrated as far as its coastline is concerned, so we’ve put together a list of Essex coastal walks that will bring many a holiday memory to every family.
Essex is one of the handiest places in the country to escape to for some time away, and this is in no small part down to the lovely pubs dotted across the county. Find out our favourites here.
Frinton-on-Sea is a brilliant day out along the exciting Essex coast, and we’ve rounded up everything that makes this town great into one article to help you plan your visit.
Clacton is a household name when it comes to a holiday by the sea, so we’ve put together our list of favourite things to do so you can make the most of your time in the town.
Beautiful Brightlingsea is just across the bay from our base at Orchards, so we’ve rounded up the best things to do in this coastal gem.
Southend is a staple of the British seaside, so we’ve put together our team’s favourite things to do in the town that’s home to the longest pleasure pier in the world.
Tucked away near Brightlingsea Creek, St Osyth is a village hidden from the hustle and bustle of bigger tourism towns like Clacton and Walton-on-the-Naze. Despite that though, you and your holiday troupe will have lots of things to do in St Osyth!
As great as Essex is for its quaint countryside and miles-long coastline, it’s the convenient journey from London that's made it the go-to place for generation after generation of young families looking for a change of scenery from the big city. Fantastic
