Playgrounds have come a long way from just swings and seesaws - and Essex is full of some of the best.
They’re free and your children can run, climb and play to their heart’s content.
But while all playgrounds are fun, some are definitely better than others.
Some just have brilliant play equipment and others are in gorgeous surroundings or part of a bigger attraction.
Here are some of the best ones in Essex, as decided by parents and people on TripAdvisor.
Promenade Park
Park Drive, Maldon CM9 5JQ
Definitely one of the best playgrounds around. Promenade Park has so many things to do but the playground at the entrance to the park is one of the favourite attractions for young children. There’s a huge pirate ship climbing frame which is enough on its own to keep the kids busy. But you also have a sandpit, small pieces of play equipment and the Splash Park for hot summer days.
If you take a picnic, you can easily spend all day here. Especially as there’s the rest of the prom to explore including the river, the playground at the top of the hill and chips and ice creams to be eaten.
Trip Advisor average rating: 4.5
Great Notley Country Park
Braintree CM77 7FS
Surely the biggest playground in Essex? This park is set over 100 acres and is the place to go if you want your kids to be able to run free. It officially houses the longest play trail in the county. As you walk through the park, you can follow a 1.2km long trail and every now and then you’ll come across a different piece of play equipment. There are tyre swings, rope climbers, forts, giant seesaw, slides, climbing forest and a water play area.
While you’re there, you can also go cycling, walking, fishing, kite flying, try Sky Ropes or enjoy a picnic on the grass.
Trip Advisor average rating: 4.5
Stay and Splash
The Paddocks, Canvey Island SS8 0JA
Your little ones can enjoy the best of both worlds at Stay and Splash. While it’s known as a splash park, that’s not all there is to do there. There’s also some nice play equipment including a climbing frame for older children with two slides and two wooden platforms to clamber up. Younger kids have their own play area too with mini slides and playhouses to explore. There’s also a sandpit with a great little plastic boat to play in and pretend to be a pirate.
Trip Advisor rating: 4.5
Hardie Park
Hardie Road, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 0PB
There truly is something for everyone at this play area. Inside Hardie Park, you’ll find children’s play apparatus, a zip line, skate park, petanque rink, BMX track and cafe.
Visitors can also enjoy regular events held at the park like petanque tournaments, craft days and dog shows.
What’s also great about this place is that it’s community-led and the residents have taken ownership of the space to benefit everyone who lives locally.
Trip Advisor rating: 5
Natural Foundations
7 Writtle Road, Widford, Chelmsford CM1 3BL
This is somewhere really different. The aim of Natural Foundations is to encourage children to play outdoors and explore within a residential setting. Although it’s built within a housing area, this is a little haven of hands-on, mainly outdoor, play.
Outside there’s mud kitchens, sand pit, water play area and mini caravans which are perfect for role playing. If it’s raining, the indoor play section has dressing up and things to make and do.
Trip Advisor rating: 4.5
Hylands Park
London Road, Chelmsford CM2 8WQ
It’s nice to see a wooden play area that the kids absolutely love and there’s a brilliant one at Hylands. The main playground here is based around a wooden castle and fort and there’s places to run, climb, slide, spin and jump. It’s a big play area too so even if it’s busy, there’s normally room for your children to run free. As you move around the main apparatus, there are interactive games like an outdoor xylophone and spinning wheels to play with.
Dotted around the castle area are lots of other things to do including tyre swings, balancing poles, normal swings and an area for younger children.
Elsewhere in the park, there’s a smaller playground near the house with climbing, slides, ropes and a swing.
Trip Advisor rating: 4.5
Colchester Zoo
Maldon Road, Colchester CO3 0SL
It’s one of the best zoos in the region but many a parent has had to drag their children away from the playgrounds while at this attraction. When you first go into there, there’s a large play area with large slides, walkways, ropes, climbing and towers to peep out of.
Heading to the enclosures, there’s another, smaller playground near the elephants which has climbing, towers and a curly slide.
There are parents with annual passes who pop to the zoo for an hour or so just for the playgrounds.
Of course, if you’re a day visitor, you absolutely have to make sure you also see the amazing animals too including the lions, tigers, bears and lemurs on Madagascar island.
Trip Advisor rating: 4.5
Priory Park
Victoria Ave, Southend-on-Sea SS2 6ND
The focus of Southend is on the seafront but just near Prittlewell is a playground and park suitable for the whole family.
Priory Park boasts a children’s playground with climbing equipment, slides, swings and spinners.
You can easily spend a whole day there however as it also has four bowling greens, tennis courts, basketball courts, formal gardens and it houses Prittlewell Priory Museum which is free to enter. Priory Park Cafe is also in the centre of the park, right next to the playground, and offers lunchesn homemade cakes and drinks.
Trip Advisor rating: 4.5
Castle Park
High Street, Colchester CO1 1UG
More than one million visitors a year can’t be wrong.
If you want to take your children to a playground, why not take them to one that’s steeped in British history? This area is a Victorian park with more than 2,000 years of history.
The play area itself is popular, with climbing apparatus, enclosed slide, rope walkway and a sandpit area with pirate ship.
You can explore the grounds, play, have a picnic and admire the award-winning gardens.
Trip Advisor rating: 4.5
High Woods Country Park
Visitors Centre Turner Road, Colchester
One of Colchester’s favourite beauty spots. This is a stunning country park that families love to explore but it also houses three play areas.
All of them are partially built with natural products like wood, rocks and trees. There are rope swings, tyres to climb and rock climbing.
The park itself is made up of woodlands, open spaces for picnics, a lake and wildflower meadows. You can spend hours with your kids here spotting hundreds of birds and wildlife.
Trip Advisor rating: 4.5
Raphael Park
Parkway, Romford RM2 5PA
There’s lots to do here but one of the focal points is the large play equipment area with something for most age ranges.
While you’re there, you can also enjoy the lake where you can feed the ducks, sports facilities including tennis courts and a cafe.
Fun for the family in Essex
Trip Advisor rating: 4.5
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