In our latest round-up of quirky Essex facts Mica Bale looks at Cressing Temple's links to the Knights Templar, the history of Hedingham Castle and the Essex origins of George W Bush's family

Essex Life previews the 104th Tendring Show which is taking place this month

Essex's woodland is full of ancient secrets and varieties of wildlife you may have never seen before. We've picked 9 walks that give you the best look at these incredible environments

On social media we asked Essex Life's followers and readers to tell us our county's funniest, rudest, silliest and weirdest place or street names. You came back to us in droves and have allowed us to put together this list of 23 chuckle-worthy locations

Nothing is more satisfying than eating a delicious piece of fruit that you've picked yourself. Strawberries with cream whilst watching Wimbledon or some blackberries and raspberries in a nice crumble - here are 10 farms where you can PYO

A day out in Essex doesn't always require you to go diving deep into your wallet. In fact, many of our county's best known attractions can be visited completely free of charge. Here are 19 top things to do for free in Essex

Summer has officially arrived here in Essex, so it's time to grab your picnic blankets and sunglasses and begin ticking off your bucket list…

Southend has been named in the list of the UK's best seaside towns for families in a new study run by dayoutwiththekids.co.uk

From woodlands and nature reserves to Dedham Vale, we pick 9 perfect places for countryside walks plus some of the best cosy pubs along the way

The Romans knew a good thing when they saw it, and they say Mersea Island as a very good thing. Perhaps that's why there is so much to celebrate even today on this special island | Words: Petra Hornsby - Photos: Chrissie Westgate and VisitEssex

Essex Life highlights some of the open air theatre and music events taking place this summer that are sure to draw a crowd, whatever the weather

New research by TotallyMoney suggests Essex is one of the best counties for London commuter hotspots. Based on average house price, length of commute by train and the cost of an annual train ticket these are the best commuter towns in Essex

The county of Essex has leant its name to a variety of different items and animals that are now recognised across the world and linked to Essex. Holly Louise Eells picks out some that might surprise you

Following the most anticipated finale in television history, four regions across the nation have been transformed into the World of Westeros to mark the Digital Download release of Game of Thrones: The Final Season

In our latest round-up of quirky Essex facts Mica Bale looks at the history of Hatfield Forest, how the Essex Pig was developed in the county and the origins of Bocking's iconic windmill

For most people bluebells are the first sign that spring has arrived and nothing beats a stroll through ancient woods or country parks surrounded by a sea of blue, so here are some of our favourite places to find bluebells in bloom

While times might be tough for retail in our town centres, Brentwood is bucking the trend with plenty on offer for both shoppers and visitors, as Holly Eells discovers | Photos: Richard Barker

In their heyday, our coastal resorts attracted thousands of holidaymakers every summer and now a celebration of this rich heritage, through the Resorting to the Coast project, aims to boost tourism today. Juliana Vandegrift explains more

A unique destination along the county's coast, Harwich's maritime history takes on international prominence over the next 18 months. Petra Hornsby discovers why Harwich is one of the county's best-kept secrets

What's not to like about the month of May? The long months of summer stretch out before us in expectation, plus there are two Bank Holidays to get out and enjoy the warmer weather. Essex Life helps you make the most of this special time with some great ideas for top family days out in the county