Beyond Harwich
Places we love to visit beyond Harwich
Frinton on Sea
This lovely seaside town with beautiful 1920s houses. The high street is a mix of independents and chains. Shops we love include Gr8Danes for scandi goods, Caxton bookshop and art gallery - we went in for a card, we came out with a tonne of books! - they show works by East Anglian Artists, so it’s worth a browse. There are a few antique and charity shops and lots of places to eat too.
Best by car as there is no direct train.
Manningtree
Livelier and more sprawling than Harwich, we love going to Manningtree for the lovely Manningtree Arts shop (books and coffee), Estuary Winebar for wine, cocktails and tapas, and the Manningtree antiques emporium, which is best visited with a car because you need something to carry all your purchases home. The Red Lion is a great pub.
By car: 25 minute drive
By train: there is an hourly shuttle service from Harwich Town station, with a 10 minute walk from the station into the town centre
Mistley
There is a lovely 15 minute walk by the river Stour from Manningtree to Mistley.
In Mistley the Thorn hotel has a lovely bar and restaurant - it’s where the Witch Finder General used to lodge, so it has a strange dark link with the past.
Mistley is on the same train line as Harwich Town so you can take a train back from there. Please check train times.
Wrabness
This unassuming small village on the River Stour is home to the iconic Grayson Perry’s House for Essex and the perhaps less iconic, but no less interesting, the Wrabness Nature Reserve.
By car: 15 minute drive
By train: every hour from Harwich Town station
Felixstowe & Shotley
Before heading off to to Felixstowe town, (there is a lovely walk through the nature reserve and along the sea front), you can visit the Landguard Fort (yes there are a lot of forts in the area)
Shotley is very quiet, but it’s worth it if you want another excuse to take the footferry.
By Foot Ferry
Walton-on-the-Naze
A great seaside resort with lots to see and do including the Naze Tower, both a landmark and an art gallery and the Naze Nature Discovery Centre.
By car: 25 minute drive