Top 10 Things To Do In Brentwood, The UK

1. Visit the beautiful Ingatestone Hall

This is a Tudor mansion located outside the village of Ingatestone. The gardens are also beautiful to explore, especially on a sunny day. There is also a tearoom that serves a range of homemade cakes. You can have a glimpse of the oak-panelled rooms, priest holes, and hundreds of years’ worth of art and furnishings on a guided tour. It is a beautiful place to spend a few hours and understand local history through your senses.

Ingatestone Hall

Address: Hall Ln, Ingatestone CM4 9NR, United Kingdom

Website: Ingatestone Hall

2. Head to Warley Place Nature Reserve

Warley Place is a beautiful nature reserve that was planted by Ellen Willmott. She was a well-known horticulturist who cultivated numerous species of unique plants. Some plants that were planted by Ellen Willmott back in that time still survive. You can even see the remains of her house in this extraordinary reserve. Warley Place Nature Reserve is a must-see place to visit because of its amazing collection of flowers, including daffodils, magnolia, camellias, and bluebells. The beauty of the reserve is picturesque and will make you calm and relaxed.

Warley Place Nature Reserve

Address: 9 Dark Ln, Great Warley, Brentwood CM14 5LN, United Kingdom

Website: Warley Place Nature Reserve

Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)

3. Get a glimpse of Mountnessing Windmill

Mountnessing Windmill is a Grade II* monument, with a weatherboard body and brick base. This quaint post mill dates back to 1807. In fact, there are records that show that there has been a mill here since 1477 and it is believed that the existing building used timber from its predecessor. It has four spring sails, four floors, and two pairs of millstones. It is in full working condition and sometimes mills flour. You can stop by in Mountnessing just to catch a glimpse of it from the outside.

Mountnessing Windmill

Address: Mountnessing Windmill, Mountnessing CM15 0UG, United Kingdom

Website: Mountnessing Windmill

4. Spend time with animals at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary

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Hopefield Animal Sanctuary is a haven for many injured, abused, and undesired animals. Hopefield Animal Sanctuary protects these animals and helps them to recover from their sufferings. It shelters various animals, including deer, reptiles, donkeys, alpacas, cats, reindeer, horses, sheep, and rabbits. There are many diverse habitats that you can explore. Make sure to visit Hopefield Animal Sanctuary and get closer to the animals there.

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary

Address: Sawyer’s Hall Farm, Sawyers Hall Ln, Brentwood CM15 9BZ, United Kingdom

Website: Hopefield Animal Sanctuary

5. Learn about culture at Brentwood Museum

Brentwood Museum is a small attraction that is staffed by volunteers and should be in your itineraries if you are planning to visit Brentwood. It is located at the lodge of an old cemetery that has been turned into a nature reserve. You can learn about domestic and social history in Brentwood from 1840 to 1970. A lot of space is allotted to the two World Wars, with exhibitions of uniforms, newspaper cuttings, ration books, gas masks, and wireless radios.

Brentwood Museum

Address: Warley, Brentwood CM14 5NE, United Kingdom

Website: Brentwood Museum

6. Visit Chapel Ruins

In medieval times, Brentwood was a crossroads in the Great Forest. The trees were burnt down to provide a stop-off spot for the pilgrims who were travelling from East Anglia to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury. So, the first thing to be built here was a chapel to serve the pilgrims. The ruins of the chapel are still visible in Brentwood. In a small garden on the High Street, you can catch a glimpse of the irregular ragstone and flint walls. The detailed doorway mouldings show that the chapel was reworked near the end of the 14th century.

Chapel Ruins

Address: High Street, Brentwood, CM14 4AJ

7. Revisit history at Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker is a vast underground bunker from the Cold War era. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Essex. The bunker was used by the military and can accommodate up to 600 militants. There are so many interesting things that you can see inside the underground bunker. The site also has a canteen that serves delicious sandwiches, soups, and chocolates.

Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

Address: Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood CM15 0LA, United Kingdom

Website: Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

Opening hours: 10am - 4pm (daily)

8. Skate at Brentwood Park Ski & Snowboard Centre

Brentwood’s Park Ski & Snowboard Centre is stretched over an area of 50 acres (20.2 hectares). If you love skiing or snowboarding, then this is an incredible place to come, especially if you’ve got a winter sports holiday coming up. A broad range of lessons is available, whether you are a beginner or want to learn some fantastic techniques for the slopes. You may just like to feel the freedom of sliding downhill without journeying further than Essex.

Brentwood Park Ski & Snowboard Centre

Address: Warley Gap, Warley, Brentwood CM13 3DP, United Kingdom

Website: Brentwood Park Ski & Snowboard Centre

Opening hours: Sun - Mon: 10am - 8pm; Sat: 12pm - 8pm

9. Appreciate the classical architecture of Brentwood Cathedral

You would think that this English Baroque-style cathedral on Ingrave Road was at least 300 years old. But Brentwood Cathedral was only built in 1991, by the famous architect Quinlan Terry. Students of classical architecture will notice that all the classical orders are illustrated inside–Ionic, Doric, Composite, Corinthian, and Tuscan. The cathedral is extraordinary and is one of the best in Brentwood.

Brentwood Cathedral

Address: Ingrave Rd, Brentwood CM15 8AT, United Kingdom

Website: Brentwood Cathedral

Opening hours: 7am - 6pm (daily)

10. Have a fun time with kids at Gruffalo Trail

Gruffalo Trail in Thorndon North is an incredibly constructed woodland walking trail recreating the marvel of deep dark woods and dotted with illustrations of Julia Donaldson’s Gruffalo characters. This amazing family trail will make memories that will last forever. The 45-minute trail is an apt way for children to learn and connect with nature.

Gruffalo Trail

Address: Thorndon Lodge, 29 Brentwood Rd, Ingrave, Warley, Brentwood CM13 3RE, United Kingdom

Website: Gruffalo Trail

Opening hours: 8am - 6pm (daily)

Visit Brentwood soon

Brentwood is a beautiful reminder of the fascinating aspects of 16th-century British culture and history. It also has monuments like Ingatestone Hall and the Secret Nuclear Bunker from the Cold War era. So with so much to explore and do in Brentwood, it’s an incredible place to enjoy with your friends and family.