Quietest town in England is a perfect ‘tranquil escape’ surrounded by water and vineyards
Burnham-on-Crouch is a historic town situated on the banks of the River Crouch on the East Coast of England.
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Visit Essex describes the area as a “quiet, unspoilt riverside town known as the Cowes of the East Coast”, with a quayside full of “old-world charm, listed buildings, boat-building yards and sailing clubs”.
According to some locals, “Burnham is a bit forgotten” but “most of them seem keen to keep it that way”, making it’s “tranquillity” appealing to visitors, and anyone looking to live outside the hustle and bustle.
In terms of its location, it’s an hour and a half’s drive away from central London, or just over an hour on the train, making it convenient for a day trip.
The town itself is tucked away on the Dengie Peninsula, and is surrounded by three sides of water - the River Crouch, the River Blackwater and the North Sea.
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The high street “is charming”, as is the waterfront for a walk. But to learn more about the local area, check out Burnham Museum which is located in a former boat-builders premises built around 1910.
Over two floors there is an interesting collection of exhibits, displays and archive material relating to Fishing, the Oyster Fishery, Farming and Agriculture, Boat Building and the local Iron Foundry as well as more homely items, relating to the way our forebears lived.
Visitors can also enjoy a trip on the water with a ferry across the river to Wallasea Island RSPB Reserve for £5 each way, and it’s a great spot for some bird watching or a walk.
After working up an appetite, the Jolly Fryer, a local institution for 100 years, has been voted the best chippy in Essex and has an array of fish to try with a portion of chips.
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Inland, there are several vineyards to explore. With warm, dry weather, the Crouch Valley has the biggest concentration of vineyards in the UK, and two of them are within walking distance from Burham - Clayhill and Crouch Ridge.
The Telegraph said the “fantastic views across the gentle hills and lush floodplain” that make up the Valley could be mistaken for “the South of France”, it’s that beautiful.
If you’re looking for more culture, then Mangapps Railway Museum is the number one tourist attraction on TripAdvisor for Burnham, but don’t expect the stereotypical museum building.
Mangapps Railway Museum is a privately owned working railway and museum established on a farm and has 18 steam and diesel locomotives and over 80 carriages and wagons, some of considerable historic and technical interest.
