CityUsable guide

Harwich (England)

Town in Essex, England

Photo: Rwendland, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Harwich, pronounced 'Harich' or 'Harridge', is a port town in Essex, East Anglia.

Sights and activities

From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.

Harwich Redoubt
See
A circular fort built in 1808 to defend the port, restored by volunteers from the Harwich Society.
Hours
1 May-31 Aug: daily 10AM-5PM
Details
Beacon Hill Battery
See
Late 19th/early 20th century coastal artillery fortification
Details
Maritime Museum
See
Hours
May-Aug: Fri-Sun 11AM-3PM
Price
Adults £1; children free
Details
Lifeboat Museum
See
Hours
May-Aug 10AM-5PM
Details
Ha'penny Pier
See
Wooden, working pier
Details
LV18 Lightvessel
See
The last surviving example of a manned light vessel in British waters.
Hours
Mar-end Oct: daily 11AM-4PM
Price
Adults £2; children £1
Details
High Lighthouse
See
Details
Mayflower Project
See
Project to reconstruct a full sized seaworthy replica of the Mayflower vessel. Visitors Centre.
Hours
Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM
Details

Show all 12

Harwich Maritime Trail
Do
Walking trail visiting many of the town's maritime sights.
Details
Dovercourt Roller Skate Rink
Do
Roller skate rink, cafe & ice cream parlour.
Price
Adult £5.50; children £4.50; plus skate hire
Details
Harbour Ferry River Cruises
Do
Details
Harwich Sports Centre
Do
Squash, tennis, racketball, badminton, table Tennis, short tennis.
Hours
Mon-Thu 9:45AM-10:30PM, Fri 9:45AM-8:30PM, Sat 10AM-1PM & 4-7PM, Sun 10AM-1PM & 4-8PM
Details

Where to eat, drink and stay

Eat4 places

Thai up at the Quay
Restaurant
Hours
Tue-Sat 6-10PM
Address
1 Eastgate St, Harwich, CO12 3EZ
Phone
+44 1255 554532
Website
thaiupatthequay.com
The Crown Post
Address
57 Church St, Harwich, CO12 3DS
Phone
+44 1255 553131
Website
thecrownpost.com
Joi Tandori
Restaurant & Take-away
Minimum spend for delivery £15.
Hours
Daily 6-10:30PM
Address
3 Kingsway, Harwich, CO12 3AB
Website
joitandoori-harwich.co.uk
The Waterfront
Hours
Mon 10AM-4PM (food to 3PM), Tue-Fri 10AM-11PM (food 11AM-3PM & 4-9PM), Sat 10AM-11PM (food 11AM-9PM), Sun 11AM-7PM (food noon-6PM)
Address
Lower Marine Parade, Dovercourt, CO12 3ST
Phone
+44 1255 507905
Website
waterfrontharwich.co.uk

Drink4 places

The Alma Inn
Pub, Food & Accommodation.
Hours
Food: daily noon-10PM
Address
25 King’s Head St, Harwich, CO12 3EE
Phone
+44 1255 318681
Website
almaharwich.co.uk
Samuel Pepys
Wine Bar & Restaurant
Hours
Mon-Sat 11AM-2:30PM & 6-9PM, Sun all day
Address
31 Church St, Harwich, CO12 3EA
Phone
+44 1255 503857
Website
samuelpepysharwich.co.uk
The New Bell Inn
Hours
Mon-Thu 11AM-3:30PM & 7PM-midnight, Fri Sat 11AM-midnight, Sun noon-midnight
Address
Outpart Eastward, Harwich, CO12 3EN
Phone
+44 1255 503545
Website
thenewbell.co.uk
The Captain Fryatt
Pub, Food & Guesthouse
Free Wi-Fi.
Address
65 Garland Rd, Parkeston, CO12 4PA
Phone
+44 1255 240770
Website
fryatthotelharwich.co.uk

Sleep5 places

The PierB&B double £140
Cosy stylish hotel with brasserie, gets great reviews.
Price
B&B double £140
Address
The Quay CO12 3HH
Phone
+44 1255 241212
Website
milsomhotels.com
The Good Life
Hotel, Bar & Restaurant
AA 3*. Free parking. Biker friendly. Pets allowed (£6)
Address
162 High St, Harwich, CO12 3AT
Phone
+44 1255 556565
Website
goodlifehotel.co.uk
Premier Innfrom £53.30
Free parking. Free Wi-Fi.
Price
from £53.30
Address
Parkeston Rd, Dovercourt, CO12 4NX
Directions
For SatNavs use postcode CO12 4FE. Entrance at rear of Lidl car park
Phone
+44 871 527 8494 (premium)
Website
premierinn.com
The Tower Hotel
Hotel, Restaurant & Bar
AA 3*.
Address
Main Rd, Dovercourt, CO12 3PJ
Phone
+44 1255 504952
Website
tower-hotel-harwich.co.uk
The Bottle Kiln
Hotel, Bar & Restaurant
Address
60 Kingsway, Dovercourt, CO12 3JR
Phone
+44 1255 245400
Website
jdwetherspoon.com

Shop3 places

Morrissons
Supermarket
Also petrol station, cafe & Garden Centre (different hours from main store). ATMs.
Hours
Mon-Sat 7AM-10PM, Sun 10AM-4PM
Address
Iconfield Park, Garland Rd, Harwich, CO12 4EN
Phone
+44 1255 556383
Website
my.morrisons.com
Asda
Supermarket
Petrol station (different hours). ATMs.
Hours
Mon-Sat 7AM-11PM, Sun 10AM-4PM
Address
Main Road, Harwich, CO12 3HJ
Phone
+44 1255 202900
Website
storelocator.asda.com
Lidl
Supermarket
Hours
Mon-Sat 8AM-10PM, Sun 10AM-4PM
Address
Parkeston Rd, Harwich, CO12 4NX

Getting there and around

Getting there

By train
Harwich, including the international port, is served by Greater Anglia trains, on the Mayflower Line.
By bus
From Colchester, use routes 102/104.
By road
Harwich lies at the eastern end of the , which is part of European route . European routes (E-roads) are not signposted within the UK.
By boat
The Harwich Harbour Ferry operates between Shotley, Harwich and Felixstowe. Journeys between Harwich and Felixstowe take around 15 minutes.
By bicycle
Harwich lies on National Cycle Route 51.

Read in the guide

Getting around

Harwich is fairly small and it is easy to walk between all the main sights.

Read in the guide

Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

London Southend Airport

Southend-on-Sea, Essex · Regional · SEN

Search stays near SEN

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Read before you go to Harwich (England)

Articles and travel topics about Harwich (England) and United Kingdom.

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Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

Get inEssex's two international airports are London Stansted Airport (STN) and London Southend Airport (SEN). Neither has a direct public transport link to Harwich.

Get aroundHarwich is fairly small and it is easy to walk between all the main sights.

SeeLocal attractions include two lighthouses; the Electric Palace cinema, one of the oldest in Britain and now restored to its original state; the Redoubt fort, dating from the Napoleonic era; a lighthouse museum; a small…

BuyShopping in Harwich is limited, although there are some art, antique and book stores.

EatThe Pier Hotel has a well-regarded restaurant specialising in seafood. The Pier Cafe, opposite the hotel on the pier itself, is especially popular during the summer.

DrinkPopular pubs include the traditional New Bell Inn and Hanover and the Stingray with large-screen TV.

SleepThere are a number of Hotels, B&Bs and pubs with accommodation in or around Harwich.

ConnectAs of Feb 2023, Harwich and its approach roads have 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone, but a poor signal from O2. 5G has not reached this area.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Harwich (England)" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Harwich", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Rwendland, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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