Braintree
Just 20 minutes drive from Stansted Airport, Braintree town is the main settlement of the Braintree district of Essex.
Just 10 miles northeast of Chelmsford and 15 miles west of Colchester off the A120, Braintree has two train stations, and it takes about an hour to get from Braintree to London Liverpool Street.
A popular market town offering a great range of restaurants, shops, leisure facilities and a cinema on the outskirts of town. Braintree also has a bowling alley and restaurants, together with public houses and bars in the town centre, to give even the fussiest of people a good choice for a night out.
At the heart of the town is a delightful mix of high street names and boutiques, including: fashions, and department stores in George Yard Shopping Centre, whilst on the outskirts of Braintree lies the fabulous Freeport shopping area, described as a "designer outlet village". It has approximately 90 departments where designer brands sell surplus stock for lower than the recommended retail price.
Freeport also has its own railway station, namely Braintree Freeport railway station, which is the first stop on the journey from Braintree to London Liverpool Street via Witham.
Close by is the amazing Braintree’s £7.5million premier swimming complex, with plenty to keep the whole family occupied.
The highly popular Braintree and Bocking Carnival takes place each June, attracting visitors from the surrounding areas to join in the fun, with the event starting with a procession of floats through the town centre and finishing at Meadowside. Events, including a fair and sideshows.
The world famous recording artists, The Prodigy, originated in Braintree and the Braintree Musical Society perform two shows a year (in April and October) at The Institute at Bocking End.
