The Cowshed's guidebook
Sightseeing
This is an English Heritage site with a gorgeous gardens to roam around including a beautiful kitchen garden. Take a picnic or enjoy the cafe near the kids play area or the restaurant near the house. They often have events on which are well worth it, including a winter light festival and one of our favs apple tasting in the autumn.
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Audley End House and Gardens
Audley End RoadThis is an English Heritage site with a gorgeous gardens to roam around including a beautiful kitchen garden. Take a picnic or enjoy the cafe near the kids play area or the restaurant near the house. They often have events on which are well worth it, including a winter light festival and one of our favs apple tasting in the autumn.
Great day out for airplane enthusiasts - our children have really enjoyed this from as early as 4 years old. The air shows are fab.
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IWM Duxford
Great day out for airplane enthusiasts - our children have really enjoyed this from as early as 4 years old. The air shows are fab.
Knebworth House
Old Knebworth LaneEnjoy the house and dino park.
Don't get put in the stocks! Feed the sheep & goats.
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Mountfitchet Castle & Norman Village
Don't get put in the stocks! Feed the sheep & goats.
Cambridge
Go punting and take a walk round the colleges.
Hatfield House
Great North RoadQueen Elizabeth I spent most of her childhood here.
Scott's Grotto
28/34 Scotts RdIncredible secret hidden in a garden in Ware.
Family Friendly
This place has just had an upgrade to the play area. The fairy and elf walk is a hit with boys and girls and the train is super. If you are lucky enough to be visiting around Christmas it is well worth booking the train to meet father christmas - so magical.
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Audley End Miniature Railway and Enchanted Fairy and Elf Walk
Audley End RoadThis place has just had an upgrade to the play area. The fairy and elf walk is a hit with boys and girls and the train is super. If you are lucky enough to be visiting around Christmas it is well worth booking the train to meet father christmas - so magical.
PYO all soft fruit and pumpkins in autumn. Great cakes and play area. during Covid you must book PYO and a table in the play area. Check their website for time slots and what fruit is available. The Farm shop also sells great local produce including English wine!
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Cammas Hall Farm
PYO all soft fruit and pumpkins in autumn. Great cakes and play area. during Covid you must book PYO and a table in the play area. Check their website for time slots and what fruit is available. The Farm shop also sells great local produce including English wine!
Small but very sweet zoo, perfect for little ones as they won't get too tired. Take a packed lunch or there is a cafe onsite.
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Linton Zoo
Hadstock RoadSmall but very sweet zoo, perfect for little ones as they won't get too tired. Take a packed lunch or there is a cafe onsite.
Daisy May's Farm
Hall RoadPetting farm and ponies. Very well run.
Our all time favourite farm visit. Farmer Roy does a great tour. See the cows being milked, feed to sheep and goats. Lamas, ponies, ducks, chickens everything you'd expect. Take a rind the cart pulled by the donkey. Don't foget your wellies to have a splash in the stream.
BOYDELLS DAIRY FARM
Braintree RoadOur all time favourite farm visit. Farmer Roy does a great tour. See the cows being milked, feed to sheep and goats. Lamas, ponies, ducks, chickens everything you'd expect. Take a rind the cart pulled by the donkey. Don't foget your wellies to have a splash in the stream.
Rye-assic Adventure Park
Dinosaur park great day out.
Paradise Wildlife Park
White Stubbs LaneGreat day out, take a picnic
Walton-on-the-Naze Beach
43 The ParadeLovely beach check tide times.
Colchester Zoo
Maldon RoadFeed the Elephants and Giraffes. Quite hilly.
Bishop's Stortford Southern Country Park
Thorley Lane EastLocal park
Amazing lavender fields, great photo opportunities. Pick your own sunflowers and enjoy a pizza too!
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Hitchin Lavender
Arlesey RoadAmazing lavender fields, great photo opportunities. Pick your own sunflowers and enjoy a pizza too!
A great little pets corner - free (just a donation) lovely little cafe and a short walk over the town park and paddling pool. Park in the pay and display by the pub and a very short walk over.
Pets Corner
Edinburgh WayA great little pets corner - free (just a donation) lovely little cafe and a short walk over the town park and paddling pool. Park in the pay and display by the pub and a very short walk over.
The Little Arts Workshop
Southmill RoadFavorite with the children.
Priory Lido Ware
Priory StreetGreat outdoor pool, visit the park and priory next door
Little Monsters House of Fun
Soft play in Great Dunmow
Hatter's Farm PYO Pumpkin
Fire the pumpkin cannons!
Get Outdoors
Beautiful National Trust forest full of walks. Great den building opportunities and amazing chips from the cafe! Bikes and dogs welcome - don't forget during Covid-19 to book a slot.
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National Trust Hatfield Forest
Beautiful National Trust forest full of walks. Great den building opportunities and amazing chips from the cafe! Bikes and dogs welcome - don't forget during Covid-19 to book a slot.
Aqua Splash Redricks Lakes
Redricks LaneFishing lakes and aqua splash in the summer - are you brave enough?
Great Notley Country Park
Fab park - lots of water and sand play for little ones.
National Trust - fabulous gardens & house. Historic farm centre with play area. Meet the huge Shire horses!
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Wimpole Hall
National Trust - fabulous gardens & house. Historic farm centre with play area. Meet the huge Shire horses!
Lovely walks filled with stunning sculptures, great for kids to explore. Head to Hoops Inn for a bite to eat.
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Henry Moore Foundation (Henry Moore Studios & Gardens)
Lovely walks filled with stunning sculptures, great for kids to explore. Head to Hoops Inn for a bite to eat.
Lovely beach with huts, you can hire for the day for around £50, very oldy worldly feel. watchtide times as the beach all but disappears, there is a promenade and a hut helps.
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Frinton Beach
17-18 EsplanadeLovely beach with huts, you can hire for the day for around £50, very oldy worldly feel. watchtide times as the beach all but disappears, there is a promenade and a hut helps.
Local playground with paddling pool. 2 parks at either end - one with sand pit by Grange Paddocks Leisure centre.
Sworder's Field Adventure Playground
Local playground with paddling pool. 2 parks at either end - one with sand pit by Grange Paddocks Leisure centre.
Fab for rock pooling and crabbing. Lovely beach huts. Sand and shingle beaches. Make sure you check tide times as the causeway is impassable at high tide!
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Mersea Island
Fab for rock pooling and crabbing. Lovely beach huts. Sand and shingle beaches. Make sure you check tide times as the causeway is impassable at high tide!
Birchanger Wood
Lovely bluebell wood. look out for Stortford Rocks painted pebbles.
Take a bike or explore on foot. Pubs get busy so worth booking .
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Epping Forest
Take a bike or explore on foot. Pubs get busy so worth booking .
Great for little ones, take a picnic or stop in the cafe. Free but need to pay for the car park. Can get muddy in the winter.
Gruffalo Trail
29 Brentwood RdGreat for little ones, take a picnic or stop in the cafe. Free but need to pay for the car park. Can get muddy in the winter.
Follow the Stick Man trail, play pooh stick and find the family tree. Free but pay for car park. Great park, one of our favourite places to roll down a hill!
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Weald Country Park
Weald RoadFollow the Stick Man trail, play pooh stick and find the family tree. Free but pay for car park. Great park, one of our favourite places to roll down a hill!
Soo much to do here, zorbing, aquasplash on the lake, footgolf, fishing, Woody's soft play etc.
Westmill Farm
Soo much to do here, zorbing, aquasplash on the lake, footgolf, fishing, Woody's soft play etc.
The Edge Outdoor Activities Limited
Based at Westmill Farm in nearby Ware. Segway, High Ropes etc...
H2O Rampage
Brilliant aquasplash
Brook Cottage Farm Riding School
Riding school in Furneux Pelham
Lots of events over the summer including Shetland racing. Great food options and year round cafe. Just 5 mins drive.
Silver Leys Polo Club
Lots of events over the summer including Shetland racing. Great food options and year round cafe. Just 5 mins drive.
Food scene
Skew Restaurant Champagne & Oyster Bar
4 Adderley RdGreat cocktails, food isn't bad either.
Smoke BBQ Kitchen
17-19 Hockerill StSmall independent restaurant, inspired by S.African BBQ. A meat lovers paradise.
Saffron Grange Vineyard
Young local vineyard now providing tours and tasting.
Chilford Hall
Balsham RoadLong established vineyard
The Bishop's Cave
22 North StWine and cheese, gin bar at the back - must book.
Giffords Hall Vineyard
Some decent wine - you can pick this up in Waitrose.
Zara Indian Dining
24 Hadham RdGreat Indian with gin bar! Take away available, order online.
Yummy Thai restaurant - limited outside dining. Takeaway collection available.
Baan Thitiya - Thai Cuisine
102 London RdYummy Thai restaurant - limited outside dining. Takeaway collection available.
Pircio
Market SquareMix of Italian and Turkish food - fun for groups
Highly rated restaurant on trip advisor. In Sawbridgeworth - 15mins drive.
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The Orange Tree
7 Totteridge VillageHighly rated restaurant on trip advisor. In Sawbridgeworth - 15mins drive.
Rubys Indian Restaurant Bishop’s Stortford
43-45 Hockerill StIf it's good enough for Rod and Penny?
The Lower Street Brasserie
30 Lower StLovely little restaurant in nerby Stansted Mountfitchet
Churchill's Fish & Chips
9 Melbourne AveGreat fish & chips parking outside in nearby Stansted Mountfitchet
Different pop up restaurants in a grocery style store, worth a visit.
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Star Bishop's Stortford
7 Bridge StDifferent pop up restaurants in a grocery style store, worth a visit.
Buffalo Joe's
3 Church StreetRoni's Restaurant
16 North StreetNew relatively new restaurant but gaining a good reputation.
Star Bishop's Stortford
7 Bridge StCôte Brasserie - Bishop's Stortford
17 North StAlways a good meal and service
Star Bishop's Stortford
7 Bridge StCibo
34 South StItalian in town
Great food, lock down pizza delivers to The Cowshed and is yummy.
Host Grill Restaurant (downstairs) Host Terrace and Lounge (upstairs)
4 Market SquareGreat food, lock down pizza delivers to The Cowshed and is yummy.
PEACH.
5 Church StreetLively and vibrant cafe and bar, brunch and bubbles.
Petrucci's Artisan Stonebaked Pizza
23 Potter StreetTake away pizza through Go Getters or Just Eat
Delivery through Just Eat but eat in at market Square, Bishop's Stortford
DOUGH&co Woodfired Pizza Bishop's Stortford
14 Anchor StDelivery through Just Eat but eat in at market Square, Bishop's Stortford
Best Chinese take away, collection only and phone through order - they get busy so call early
China City
25 Church StreetBest Chinese take away, collection only and phone through order - they get busy so call early
Down Hall Hotel & Spa
Matching RoadGreat restaurant and afternoon tea.
Franco Manca
15 North StreetDelicious pizza
Pizza Express
316 Kennington RdCan't go wrong with Ppizza!
One Thai Restaurant in Bishop's Stortford
Delicious Thai food, small so worth booking
Rosey Lea Cafe & Tea Room
Team room onsite, other branches nearby
Drinks?
The Horn at the Half Moon
31 North StGreat local venue for cover bands. Also a secret garden hidden in town.
Drinks Boutique
8 Station RoadTiny bar but super friendly, Raphael will sort you out. Wine tasting available.
Stay Indoors
Ace Of Lanes
4 Anchor StBowling Alley - also has flight club style dart boards
Big garden centre with small animal enclosure but....in the winter has an ice rink!
Van Hage Garden Centre
Big garden centre with small animal enclosure but....in the winter has an ice rink!
Harlow Leisurezone
Second AvenueClimbing, trampolining, soft play and a decent swimming pool
Cambridge Arts Theatre
6 St Edward's PassageLovely theatre in Cambridge
Attracts some household names along with some lesser known but fantastic comedians - every time we have been we say we should go more often. Usually has a pop curry etc. during the interval.
The Great Dunmow Comedy Club
Attracts some household names along with some lesser known but fantastic comedians - every time we have been we say we should go more often. Usually has a pop curry etc. during the interval.
Brilliant florist based at Wickham Hall so if you need a special bouquet during your stay these ladies will help you out.
Elegant Stems Floral Design
Brilliant florist based at Wickham Hall so if you need a special bouquet during your stay these ladies will help you out.
Grange Paddocks Leisure Centre
Rye StreetLocal indoor swimming pool
Large indoor climbing wall. Lots of outdoor activities including high ropes and kayaking
The Lock Climbing Wall
Burnt MillLarge indoor climbing wall. Lots of outdoor activities including high ropes and kayaking
Escape If You Dare
12 Potter StreetWell run Escape rooms
Ninja Warrior UK Chelmsford
Great fun for the energetic
Jump Street Chelmsford
12 Richmond RdTrampoline fun
Akasha Wellness
Pirates and Yoga studio onsite.
Supermarkets
Waitrose & Partners Bishop's Stortford
Northgate EndTesco Superstore
Lancaster WayALDI
34 London RdSainsbury's
16 Jackson SquareLittle Waitrose At Shell Thorley
London RoadShell
93-113 Park RdShell
93-113 Park Rd