If you come visit us at our offices you may be interested to know about the local area and take time to visit some of the more interesting parts of this part of the world.
When you say Thurrock in Essex to people, you can bet on them thinking of two things. The QE2 Bridge, which connects Thurrock, Essex to Dartford, Kent, and the juggernaut that is Intu Lakeside shopping centre. While these are both marvels of the modern world, they do not represent the real flavour of the area, and often their fame means that people overlook some of the really great places in and around Thurrock to visit.
Thurrock is a borough, and it encompasses areas with a lot to offer, such as Grays, Tilbury and Stanford Le Hope. When you first arrive, and see the now unused Coryton refinery looming on the landscape of Thurrock, you would correctly get the impression that this is a heavily industrial area. But Thurrock and all of the little towns that make it so great are not just a sea transport hub and hot spot for the modern oil refinery. There are many places to visit and famous people to be proud of in the area. Here is a little overview of the towns in Thurrock, places to visit and people from the area.
Stanford-le-Hope
Stanford-le-Hope is not a large town by any standard, but it is worth a visit for the overwhelming sense of community. Harping back to days when people used to chat on their doorsteps, Stanford really does do community bonding well.
Thurrock Thameside Nature Park is probably the most notable tourist attraction in Stanford Le Hope. If the weather is nice pack the family with a picnic and go and see some nature in action. The attraction is known for its birds and butterflies, so rather than pay for expensive zoo’s or wildlife parks with butterfly houses, visit this free attraction and see them in their natural habitat. There is also a very interesting twist to the visitor centre which you may enjoy – it was actually built on a landfill site. Not only is it a great day out for wildlife spotting, it is also good for walking and cycling, so if you are in the local area why not wake up and go and blow the cobwebs out with a stroll. David Attenborough opened the park at a ceremony in 2013, so if you want any more authority on how good it is you probably won’t get any better than the man who talks nature for a living
When it comes to famous faces in Stanford Le Hope, a lot of people will pick out Rylan Ross Clark, X Factor contestant turned Big Brother contestant turned TV presenter. He has done well for himself indeed, but a lot of people do not realise Stanford-le-Hope has a rich literary heritage as well as spawning the odd TV star. Joseph Conrad, who wrote the famous novel ‘Heart of Darkness’, that inspired the film ‘Apocalypse Now’, lived in Ivy Walls House, Billet Lane in Stanford-le-Hope and wrote there. Maria Boosey is also from the town, and she gained notable success with her book Twins of Time, for which she performed signings in Waterstones all over the country and sold many copies here and in America.
Chafford Hundred / Lakeside
You cannot mention Chafford Hundred without mentioning the centre point of the town, Lakeside Shopping Centre. Completed in 1990, the shopping centre has continually expanded to become one of the largest in the country. With a well balanced mix of affordable and luxury brands, Lakeside offers a shopping experience which caters to everyone. They have very recently also expanded their food court, not only offering shoppers the experience of run of the mill fast food such as Pizza Hut, but also less common eateries like Wasabi, a Japanese sushi and noodle bar, and Tortilla, which specializes in all things Mexican.
If the idea of a busy shopping centre sounds like a nightmare, and you prefer the serenity and calm of ‘outdoors’ there is another Essex Wildlife Trust nature park in Thurrock, which comes in the shape of Chafford gorge. The visitors centre over looks Warren gorge, and not only is the gorge easy to view from the platform at the back of it, but also most of Chafford and lots of the surrounding areas can be seen. A short walk downwards, and you come to the nature park itself, complete with pond and handy trail for those inclined to get lost in the moment as well as real life.
Tilbury
Technically, Tilbury is split into East Tilbury and West Tilbury, but unlike pre 1989 Germany there is no huge wall splitting the two and they can be easily passed through. The port of Tilbury is one of Britain’s three major container ports, and it enjoys a long rich shipping history that has made way for the settlements themselves surrounding it and the attractions they have to offer.
Tilbury fort is a great, and again free day out for all ages. It was built by Henry VIII to ward off invasion from France, and is now an English Heritage site. There is lots to do other than just wander the grounds. There is a museum showcasing British and German weapons, and also a ‘Defending the river’ exhibition. No day out would be complete without a cup of tea and a souvenir, so you are in luck as they have both an onsite shop selling drinks and a gift shop.
If you are in the mood for a walk, why not use the ‘two forts way’ pathway to take a walk to the other fort in Tilbury, the Coalhouse Fort. This fort is slightly smaller than Tilbury Fort, but there is still lots to do and they hold evens such as a motorcycle day and special events around Memorial Day in November.
With so many great places to visit in the area, hotels in Thurrock have started to become savvy to the idea of it being a ‘tourist’ spot, and you can get a room in the area from around £50. With the ‘Thames Gateway’ project set to change the landscape of Thurrock in the future, make sure you visit before the great places to visit become victim to the ever growing micro-economy that is set to engulf Thurrock.
