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Town in Essex, England
Photo: Dudley Miles, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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This forest is about 20 min away heading towards the M11 on the A120 If you are looking for a serene day in the wood its rather pleasant. On a nice summer day the woods can look very nice in the summer. The National Trust do not charge for entry in to the property but to park is £5, well worth the money.
A large underground bunker maintained during the cold war as a potential regional government headquarters. No credit card payment.Crown Buildings
No parking (park in Church St). No toilet facilities. Small grass picnic area
England’s 2nd-largest collection of flat textiles.
Bowling, Fun & Games
Swimming Pool & Gym
Activity Centre
100-acre site. Sky Ropes and Essex’s longest play trail (1.2 km), giant see-saw, climbing forest, tyre swings, sand pits, rope climbers, slides, forts and a water play area. Birdwatching, walking, cycling, fishing, etc. Dogs allowed. No BBQs.
Chinese Restaurant
Thai Restaurant
Indian Restaurant
Restaurant
Decent size pub with ideas above its station. At weekends takes advantage of the lack of clubbing options in Braintree by clearing some space for dance floors and getting in a DJ. Fridays errs towards r'n'b and hip hop, while sticks with dance/techno music on Saturdays. Because of this, it sells itself as a nightclub/bar and charges a hefty entrance fee. Dress code is 'Smart Casual' and no hats to be worn inside.
Pub
Pleasant atmosphere but can often be found a little emptier than other venues in the town.
Pub & Food
Pub & Food
Free Wi-Fi.
Pub & Food
A fairly nice hotel that is normally used to cater for wedding receptions. Free Wi-Fi.
Free Wi-Fi. Free on-site parking. (Former Holiday Inn Express.)
Free Wi-Fi.
Guesthouse
Free Wi-Fi. Min 2-night stay at weekends. No credit card payments.
The town centre fills up with market stalls. Nothing that really stands out that not at a hundred other such markets held at small towns across the country, apart from a goth/metal clothing stall, which has some quite nice stuff. The people who run it are dead friendly and chatty, too.
Over 85 shops and restaurants in a village layout design. See Freeport Village Store List.
A small occult/general 'alternative' shop, candles, incense, rocks & crystals, body jewellery.
Supermarket
ATMs, Wi-Fi
Supermarket
Petrol station (different hours). ATMs.
By train
Braintree railway station lies in Braintree Approach. Greater Anglia trains serve the station, part of the National Rail network.
By car
Braintree can get busy with motor traffic during the "rush hours" - the morning and evening peak times. Major routes can also get very busy on weekends.
By bus
Braintree is served by local buses throughout the daytimes. Some routes operate in the early mornings or late evenings.
By bicycle
Braintree has a limited traffic-free cycle network.
Braintree is small enough to get away with walking everywhere: although the lazier ones will be pleased to know that there is a fairly reliable bus service that can get you around most parts of the town.
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London, Essex · International · STN
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