Essex


<p>Rest, schmest. Want to feel restored and revived? Factor in some good old-fashioned fun –&nbsp;being playful boosts all the good stuff, like endorphins and dopamine, hopefully making you feel a little bit lighter, and dare we say it, more youthful! Here&#8217;s just a few of the fun things to do in Essex for adults.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-run-away-to-the-circus">Run away to the circus</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/tim-mossholder-vi969pdKYWM-unsplash.jpg" alt="Woman on aerial silks" class="wp-image-27191" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/tim-mossholder-vi969pdKYWM-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/tim-mossholder-vi969pdKYWM-unsplash-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/tim-mossholder-vi969pdKYWM-unsplash-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/tim-mossholder-vi969pdKYWM-unsplash-768x767.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/tim-mossholder-vi969pdKYWM-unsplash-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Okay, so we&#8217;re not suggesting that you actually sign up for a travelling trapeze troop, but indulging that childhood dream (just a little) is one way to bring the fun. <a href="https://littlestarscircus.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Little Stars Circus</a> in Chelmsford runs adult circus classes that will have you dangling daintily from a hoop in no time. Or at least having a laugh and honing your upper arms while you&#8217;re at it. At <a href="https://phinacircusanddance.co.uk/#/events" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Phina</a>, Braintree, you can perfect your acrobatics or aerial silk and sling skills, and at <a href="https://www.southessexgymnasticsclub.com/circus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Essex Gymnastics Club</a>, Basildon, adults can get acquainted with the aerial equipment too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-channel-your-inner-ninja">Channel your inner Ninja</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Ninja-warrier.jpg" alt="People at Ninja Warrior UK" class="wp-image-27192" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Ninja-warrier.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Ninja-warrier-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Ninja-warrier-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Ninja-warrier-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Ninja-warrier-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ninja Warrior UK</figcaption></figure>



<p>Hit <a href="https://ninjawarrioruk.co.uk/chelmsford/ninja-warriors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ninja Warrior UK</a>, Chelmsford, without the fear of the kids showing you up, at one the adults only sessions that run every Saturday night from 7-8pm. Enjoy all the fun of the obstacle course and giant inflatables, at your own pace. And if you can&#8217;t hack it, it&#8217;ll be over in an hour, and you can leave without any tears. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-make-a-splash">Make a splash</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1007" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/curve-water-sports-essex-aqua-park-copy.jpg" alt="Aqua Park at Curve Water Sports" class="wp-image-27194" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/curve-water-sports-essex-aqua-park-copy.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/curve-water-sports-essex-aqua-park-copy-800x537.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/curve-water-sports-essex-aqua-park-copy-1000x671.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/curve-water-sports-essex-aqua-park-copy-768x516.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Aqua Park, Curve Water Sports</figcaption></figure>



<p>We challenge you to take a trip to St. Osyth&#8217;s <a href="https://www.curvewatersports.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Curve Water Sports</a> and not feel like a kid again. There&#8217;s so much on offer for families but it&#8217;s the Aqua Park that has us excited, especially with its two new additions for 2026 – El Jefe, a massive climbing wall with two jaw-dropping jump station and a high-speed slide, and Helix, a series of spheres designed to put your balance and coordination to the test. It&#8217;s a bit nippy at the moment, but the park will be open again in April.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immerse-yourself">Immerse yourself</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1002" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/ImmersiveGamebox_HeaderBanner.jpg" alt="Immersive Gamebox" class="wp-image-27195" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/ImmersiveGamebox_HeaderBanner.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/ImmersiveGamebox_HeaderBanner-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/ImmersiveGamebox_HeaderBanner-1000x668.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/ImmersiveGamebox_HeaderBanner-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Get a piece of the action at <a href="https://www.immersivegamebox.com/en-GB" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Immersive Gamebox</a>, Lakeside, where you become the game controller. Jump in to the game of your choice, be at Floor is Lava, Squid Game or Ghostbusters. There&#8217;s Angry Birds and Paw Patrol for younger family members too. It works using augmented reality (AR), projection mapping and touch-sensitive surfaces. We don&#8217;t pretend to fully understand it, we just know it&#8217;s guaranteed fun.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-join-a-club">Join a club</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/sidespin-padel-XY-MoxvKNoo-unsplash-1.jpg" alt="Woman playing padel" class="wp-image-27199" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/sidespin-padel-XY-MoxvKNoo-unsplash-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/sidespin-padel-XY-MoxvKNoo-unsplash-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/sidespin-padel-XY-MoxvKNoo-unsplash-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/sidespin-padel-XY-MoxvKNoo-unsplash-1-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Any parent knows that kids&#8217; clubs rule. After school swimming clubs, early morning sports, and then there&#8217;s football and dance clubs that take over whole weekends. Kids can&#8217;t get enough of them! So what are we missing? Joining a club creates a sense of community as well as accountability, so you actually turn up, and if you&#8217;re feeling a bit gloomy during this last winter stretch, can be a weekly highlight. <a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/padel-power-have-you-joined-the-club/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Padel clubs</a> are the hottest trend right now, with clubs popping up all over Essex. You&#8217;ll find clubs at <a href="https://playtomic.com/clubs/powerleague-romford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Powerleague Romford</a>, <a href="https://www.padel123.co.uk/index.aspx#3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brentwood Padel Club</a> and <a href="https://padelstars.co.uk/padelstars-basildon/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Padelstars</a>, Basildon, amongst others. Why not swing by?</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-step-into-a-storybook">Step into a storybook</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Mad-dogs.jpg" alt="The Lost Bear at Paddington afternoon tea at Mad Dogs &amp; Englishmen" class="wp-image-27198" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Mad-dogs.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Mad-dogs-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Mad-dogs-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Mad-dogs-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/01/Mad-dogs-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Lost Bear at Paddington Station, Mad Dogs &amp; Englishmen</figcaption></figure>



<p>All of the above sound a bit energetic? Relax, this one&#8217;s more laid back, plus there&#8217;s cake involved, and marmalade sandwiches. Mad Dogs and Englishmen have pulled out all the stops again, this time at a London station, with The Lost Bear at Paddington Station themed afternoon tea. Beside the obvious sandwich filling the menu is packed with themed treats, including the cocktails – make ours a Orange Blossom Bear-tini.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">In the mood for more?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/walks-near-me/snowdrop-walks-essex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The best walks for spotting snowdrops in Essex</a></li>



<li><a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/culture-trip-whats-coming-to-a-town-near-you/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Culture trip: What’s coming to a town near you</a></li>



<li><a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/best-dressed-the-most-instagrammable-restaurants-in-essex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Best dressed: The most instagrammable restaurants in Essex</a></li>
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6 fun things to do in Essex to get your dopamine fix

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