Essex

Need things to do in Essex this July? You&#8217;re in the right place, we&#8217;ve got everything from open-air theatre and awe-inspiring art, to sunflowers fields and summer wine tasting.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music">MUSIC</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Lazydays-copy.jpg" alt="Silks performer at Lazydays Festival" class="wp-image-28283" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Lazydays-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Lazydays-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/04/Lazydays-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Lazydays Festival, Southend</figcaption></figure>



The <a href="https://www.lazydaysfestival.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lazydays Festival</a>, Priory Park, Southend (Fri 24 &#8211; Sun 26 Jul), is just how we like them – full of community spirit and seriously good fun for families, but still with a banging line up. Headliners are Tinie Tempah, Feeder and Sister Sledge over the three day festival. As well as other major acts including The Feeling, We Are Scientists, Professor Green and Fun Lovin’ Criminals. Beside the music, there will be comedy acts and captivating street theatre and when you need to re-fuel, inspiring flavours from local street food stalls. 



Sausages. Cider. And Chris Moyles on the tunes. Hell, yeah. The <a href="https://www.sausageandciderfest.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sausage and Cider Fest</a> is heading first to <a href="https://www.sausageandciderfest.co.uk/colchester" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colchester&#8217;s Castle Park</a> (Sat 11 Jul), then to <a href="https://www.sausageandciderfest.co.uk/chelmsford" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Central Park, Chelmsford</a>, on Sat 25 Jul. There&#8217;s also a drum and circus workshop, silent disco and kids&#8217; . And Prosecco, cocktails and gin. And axe throwing (not after Prosecco, cocktails, cider and gin, please).



Returning on Fri 17 &amp; Sat 19 Jul to Burnham-on-Crouch&#8217;s Creeksea Place Farm is the <a href="https://parlour-cafe.co.uk/events/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Midsummer Music Fest</a>. Expect a brilliant line up of bands, food vendors, beer tent, cocktail bar and fun for the kids.



On Fri 17 Jul, you can catch Essex country artist, Lucy Blu, at Brentwood&#8217;s <a href="https://heyjoemusic.co.uk/products/lucy-blu-live-in-store-fri-17th-july" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hey Joe Music &amp; Coffee</a>. Expect an intimate record shop show of soulful modern country.







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-amp-culture">ART &amp; CULTURE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/museum-of-th-moon.jpg" alt="Luke Jerram's Museum of the Moon" class="wp-image-28975" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/museum-of-th-moon.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/museum-of-th-moon-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/museum-of-th-moon-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Luke Jerram&#8217;s Museum of the Moon</figcaption></figure>



Next on our things to do in Essex this July is <a href="https://hylandsestate.co.uk/events/hylands-open-estate-day-12-2/2026-07-12/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chelmsford’s Hylands House</a> Open Day (Sun 12 Jul). Start by finding out about its history in the library. There&#8217;s also a street food market, handmade gifts and baked goods. The Artist Studios in The Stables are open for you to browse, too. Be sure to stay and enjoy the live music.



Also in Chelmsford you&#8217;ll find the <a href="https://www.museumofchelmsford.co.uk/events/timeless-treasures/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Timeless Treasures</a> exhibition at Museum of Chelmsford, from 18 Jul. As part of the exhibition there will be<a href="https://www.museumofchelmsford.co.uk/events/iron-age-day/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Iron Age Day</a> on Sat 18 Jul, and <a href="https://www.museumofchelmsford.co.uk/events/summer-holiday-hoard-heroes-treasure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Summer Holiday Hoard: Treasures</a>, from 21 &#8211; 30 Jul, with more to follow in Aug.



It&#8217;s the <a href="https://firstsite.uk/event/the-firstsite-art-fair/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Firstsite Art Fair</a> on Sat 11 Jul. Head to the Colchester gallery to snap up one-of-a-kind pieces and take part in interactive work shops and live demos.



If you caught Luke Jerram&#8217;s Mars at Chelmsford Cathedral or Colchester Castle last year, then you&#8217;ll be excited to see his <a href="https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/events/moon-museum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Museum of the Moon</a> at Colchester Castle, from 24 Jul &#8211; 31 Oct.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comedy-amp-theatre">COMEDY &amp; THEATRE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/The_Cast_of_Barnum_UK_Tour_-_Photo_credit_Pamela_Raith_-_112__1_-copy.jpg" alt="Cast of Barnum" class="wp-image-28976" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/The_Cast_of_Barnum_UK_Tour_-_Photo_credit_Pamela_Raith_-_112__1_-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/The_Cast_of_Barnum_UK_Tour_-_Photo_credit_Pamela_Raith_-_112__1_-copy-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/The_Cast_of_Barnum_UK_Tour_-_Photo_credit_Pamela_Raith_-_112__1_-copy-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Barnum: The Circus Musical, Cliffs Pavilion</figcaption></figure>



For your fill of comedy this month head to the <a href="https://www.colchesterfringe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colchester Fringe Summer Weekender</a>, Thu 23 &#8211; Sun 26 Jul. With venue&#8217;s such as The Mercury Theatre, The Minories, The Dragonfly Lounge and Patch, there&#8217;s places all over the city to get the giggles.



There&#8217;s plenty going on at Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff, this month. <a href="https://trafalgartickets.com/southend-theatres/en-GB/event/comedy/richard-ayoade-afterthoughts-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Richard Ayoade</a> will be there on Wed 8 Jul dishing out the laughs, and from Tue 14 &#8211; Sat 18 Jul, you can catch <a href="https://trafalgartickets.com/southend-theatres/en-GB/event/musical/mean-girls-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mean Girls</a>, direct from the West End, starring Faye Tozer (of Steps fame). Also catch <a href="https://trafalgartickets.com/southend-theatres/en-GB/event/musical/barnum-tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barnum &#8211; The Circus Musical</a> (Tue 30 Jun &#8211; Sat 4 Jul), starring Lee Mead (he smashed his West End roles in Wicked and Sister Act, so we&#8217;re expecting another top performance!).



Hedingham Castle has some magical open-air performances this summer, including <a href="https://www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk/events/sherlock-holmes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sherlock Homes &amp; the Hounds of the Baskervilles</a> on Thu 9 Jul, and <a href="https://www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk/events/open-air-theatre-the-jungle-book" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Jungle Book</a> on Tue 28 Jul. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-family-fun">FAMILY FUN </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/finchingfield-lavender-copy.jpg" alt="Lavender field at Finchingfield Lavevender" class="wp-image-28831" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/finchingfield-lavender-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/finchingfield-lavender-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/finchingfield-lavender-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Finchingfield Lavender</figcaption></figure>



What else is on our things to do in Essex this July? We&#8217;ll be cooling off with <a href="https://nuclearessex.com/nuclear-wild-forest/splash/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Splash at Nuclear Wild Forest</a>, Brentwood. The epic water obstacles will have kids bouncing, climbing and sliding all over the place!



Over at Maldon&#8217;s Museum of Power, kids can learn all about the power in our <a href="https://www.museumofpower.org.uk/event/summer-holiday-fun-oceans-rivers-and-seas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ocean, Rivers and Seas</a>, through fun activities, arts and crafts, on Thu 23 Jul &amp; Thu 30 Jul.



Look out for the opening of Essex&#8217;s flower fields from this month. At <a href="https://www.writtlesunflowers.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Writtle Sunflowers</a>, Chelmsford, you can pick (or just admire) the sunflowers as well as an assortment of wildflowers to create your own bunch. You can also PYO wild flowers at <a href="https://hattersfarmpumpkins.co.uk/events/flower-fields" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hatter&#8217;s Farm</a>, Bishop Stortford, and let kids have a blooming fun time in the hale bale maze, bale mountain and maize maze. You can pick at <a href="https://www.finchingfieldcamping.co.uk/lavenderfarm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Finchingfield Lavender</a>, Finchingfield from early July to mid August, the perfect time of year to enjoy one of the afternoon tea picnic boxes too. 







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-food-amp-drink">FOOD &amp; DRINK</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="998" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/aleksandra-dementeva-NdcH-WxzWgo-unsplash-998x1000.jpg" alt="summer cheese and wine" class="wp-image-28983" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/aleksandra-dementeva-NdcH-WxzWgo-unsplash-998x1000.jpg 998w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/aleksandra-dementeva-NdcH-WxzWgo-unsplash-798x800.jpg 798w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/aleksandra-dementeva-NdcH-WxzWgo-unsplash-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/aleksandra-dementeva-NdcH-WxzWgo-unsplash-768x770.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/aleksandra-dementeva-NdcH-WxzWgo-unsplash-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/aleksandra-dementeva-NdcH-WxzWgo-unsplash.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px" /></figure>



Essex Wine School has loads going on this July if you fancy brushing up on your wine tasting skills. If facing the wall of wine in Tesco blows your mind, you could benefit from <a href="https://www.localwineschool.com/essex/scaling-the-wall-of-wine-what-to-buy-and-not-to-buy-in-the-supermarket-chelmsford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What to buy (and not to buy) in the supermarket</a>, on Thu 9 Jul, at The Chelmsford Club. We also fancy <a href="https://www.localwineschool.com/essex/summer-cheese-wine-colchester/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Summer Cheese &amp; Wine</a>, at The Minories, Colchester, on Fri 10 Jul.



<a href="https://www.zoeskitchen.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zoë&#8217;s Kitchen</a> x <a href="https://www.millysdeli.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Milly&#8217;s Deli</a> have brought back the <a href="https://www.zoeskitchen.co.uk/events/bbqmillysdeli5thjuly2026" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sunday BBQ</a> this summer, with an event on Sun 5 Jul. Bookings are not being taken at the Leigh-on-Sea deli, seats are on a first come first served basis, so be ready from midday.







<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wellbeing">WELLBEING</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/22/2026/06/amauri-mejia-GvF7RkA-E9Q-unsplash.jpg" alt="yoga outside" class="wp-image-28984" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/amauri-mejia-GvF7RkA-E9Q-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/amauri-mejia-GvF7RkA-E9Q-unsplash-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/amauri-mejia-GvF7RkA-E9Q-unsplash-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/amauri-mejia-GvF7RkA-E9Q-unsplash-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/06/amauri-mejia-GvF7RkA-E9Q-unsplash-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



So wine might not be instantly recognised as being significantly good for your wellbeing (expect for the boost you get when sharing with the besties). However, once a month over the summer Crouch Ridge Estate, Althorne, has a <a href="https://crouchridge.com/upcoming-events-at-the-vineyard/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">yoga class amongst the vines</a>, hosted by the fabulous <a href="https://www.myyogitribe.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My Yogi Tribe</a>. The next date is Fri 24 Jul. Yoga, then wine and food on the terrace!



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<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/best-pick-your-own-farms-in-essex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The best pick your own farms in Essex</a></li>



<li><a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/local-producers/top-vineywards-in-east-anglia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pop the cork! Top vineyards in East Anglia</a></li>



<li><a href="https://essex.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/cute-cafe-catch-ups-essex/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Muddy’s fave Essex brunch spots</a></li>
</ul>

What’s on near you? 25+ things to do in Essex this July

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