Lidl

Upminster Windmill

Upminster Bridge · 11 miles

A smock mill of considerable age stands on the edge of Upminster Bridge, its four-storey tower and single-storey brick base dominating the local skyline. Designated a Grade II* listed building, the windmill was erected in 1803 for James Nokes of Hunt’s Farm and originally drove three pairs of millstones with four common sails. Over the following decades steam power was introduced, the number of millstones expanded to six, and the mill passed through the hands of the Nokes and Abraham families before being acquired by the county council in the late 1930s. A 35-year lease was granted to the Upminster Windmill Preservation Trust in 2004, and a restoration programme between 2016 and 2023 returned the mill to working order and added a visitor centre. The structure comprises a 52-foot-high smock on a brick base, a boat-shaped cap with an external gallery, and a six-bladed fantail that automatically turns the cap into the wind. Four patent sails are mounted on a cast-iron windshaft, and the internal machinery drives four pairs of millstones – three of French Burr and one of Peak – by wind alone. The visitor centre, built alongside the mill during the recent restoration, is open to the public at selected times, allowing guests to view the restored sails and learn about the mill’s engineering. Access is via the surrounding footpaths; no admission fee or on-site car park is mentioned in the available information.

Pages Wood

Harold Wood · 11 miles

Pages Wood is a 74 hectare wood and public park in Harold Wood in the London Borough of Havering. It is the largest Forestry England site in the Thames Chase Community Forest, and 100,000 trees have been planted since it opened in 2002. It also has meadow areas, 6.5 kilometres of footpaths and 2.2 kilometres of bridlepaths.

The Frame

Laindon · 3.1 miles

A slide, some swings, and an area of rubber tiles for gymnastics. The area is bordered by a ridge that runs most of the way round the playground, with stone steps for seating on the North-East aspect.

Dicken's Drive Play Area

Laindon · 3.1 miles

Multi climber with slide Benches Safer surfaces

Salt Fleet Flats Reserve

Swigshole · 5.6 miles

Created by DP Ports to compensate for land lost when building the London Gateway port

Blue Cage

South Woodham Ferrers · 7.5 miles

Blue wired cage for football and other ball games. Situated alongside children's swing park.