Braintree (Essex)

The town has expanded to include neighbouring settlements (the 2011 population of Braintree town was 41,634 whilst the population of the urban area was 53,477). The town lies on the River Brain and south of Stane Street whilst Bocking lies on the River Blackwater to the north. Sometimes the two area is referred to as Braintree & Bocking although they form a single urban area.
The town dates back to habitation in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Later the settlement was used by the Saxons after the Romans left. The town was recorded in the Doomsday Book then called Branchetreu. By the 14th century the town was manufacturing woollen cloth and by the 17th century Flemish immigrants contributed to this making the town famous and bringing prosperity. In the 19th century silk manufacture replaced wool and the town benefitted from a rail link to London.
For a town of its size it boasts very few amenities. However, a shopping village on the outskirts, 'Freeport', has roughly 80 shops. It mainly specialise in clothing, along with a bowling alley and a cinema, which makes Braintree worth visiting.

By car

Getting into Braintree by road is easy. The main roads in and out of Braintree are the A120 and A131. Using the A120 you can travel to Braintree from the M11 or From Colchester, Using the A131 you can approach from the Chelmsford or Sudbury direction. It is also possible to exit the A12 road at Witham and 15 minutes further to Braintree.
Braintree is also ideally suited for those who are intending to drive to or from Stansted airport as is located about 15 min by car away on the A120 dual carriageway towards the M11.

By bus

Braintree is served frequently by buses from Chelmsford, Stansted Airport, only 20 min away, and Colchester among other routes. There are also other smaller bus services for the smaller surrounding towns and villages.

By train

• Braintree Train Station

  address: Station Approach, Braintree, CM7 3QL
  Regular trains from London Liverpool St terminate at Braintree Train station (also stopping at Braintree Freeport Station). Generally the service is once an hour but this can vary from time to time. Traveling from further north of Braintree generally requires a change of trains at Witham station. Station managed by and services run by Greater Anglia.

• Braintree Freeport Train Station

  address: Chapel Hill Retail Park, Braintree, CM77 8YH
  Station managed by and services run by Greater Anglia.

By bicycle

The town in on National Cycle Route 16 Bishop's Stortford to Southend-on-Sea, passing through Great Dunmow 11 miles to the W and through Witham 8 miles to the SE (just beyond which it joins National Cycle Route 1 and the National Cycle Network.

Braintree is small enough to get away with walking everywhere: although the lazier ones will be pleased to know that there is a fairly reliable bus service that can get you around most parts of the town.

• Hatfield Forest

  phone: +44 1279 870678
  address: Takeley, Bishop's Stortford, CM22 6NE
  This forest is about 20 min away heading towards the M11 on the A120 If you are looking for a serene day in the wood its rather pleasant. On a nice summer day the woods can look very nice in the summer. The National Trust do not charge for entry in to the property but to park is £5, well worth the money.

• Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

  phone: +44 1277 364883
  address: Kelvedon Hall Lane, Kelvedon Hatch CM14 5TL
  A large underground bunker maintained during the cold war as a potential regional government headquarters. No credit card payment.Crown Buildings
• "Bocking end" Down this area of braintree some old houses still remain. Though moderized slightly, they still have the traditional Tudor black wooded beams. While expoloring this area of Braintree which is quite small, why not pop into "Hogs" at the bottom of the hill or "The Angel" for a quick pint.

• Paycocke's House and Garden

  phone: +44 1376 561305
  address: 25 West Street, Coggeshall, Colchester, CO6 1NS

• Bocking Mill

  phone: +44 1376 552525
  No parking (park in Church St). No toilet facilities. Small grass picnic area

• Braintree District Museum

  phone: +44 1376 328868
  address: Manor St, Braintree CM7 3HW

• Warner Textile Archive

  phone: +44 1376 557741
  address: Silks Way, Braintree CM7 3GB
  England’s 2nd-largest collection of flat textiles.

• Coggeshall Grange Barn

  phone: +44 1376 562226
  address: Grange Hill, Coggeshall, Colchester, CO6 1RE

• Namco Funscape

  phone: +44 1376 569069
  address: Freeport Leisure Village, Charter Way, Braintree CM77 8YH

• Briantree Swimming & Fitness

  phone: +44 345 260 1535
  address: Charter Way, Braintree CM77 8YJ

• Great Notley Country Park

  phone: +44 3330 132900
  address: Great Notley CM77 7FS
  100-acre site. Sky Ropes and Essex’s longest play trail (1.2 km), giant see-saw, climbing forest, tyre swings, sand pits, rope climbers, slides, forts and a water play area. Birdwatching, walking, cycling, fishing, etc. Dogs allowed. No BBQs.

The usual range of high street stores can be found in the town centre.

• Town Market

  phone: +44 1376 552525
  address: Manor St, Market Place, High St, & Bank Street
  The town centre fills up with market stalls. Nothing that really stands out that not at a hundred other such markets held at small towns across the country, apart from a goth/metal clothing stall, which has some quite nice stuff. The people who run it are dead friendly and chatty, too.

• Freeport Outlet Shopping Village

  address: Charter Way, Chapel Hill, Braintree CM77 8YH
  Over 85 shops and restaurants in a village layout design. See Freeport Village Store List.

• Proper Gander

  phone: +44 1376 331669
  address: 6 Little Square, Braintree CM7 1UT
  A small occult/general 'alternative' shop, candles, incense, rocks & crystals, body jewellery.

• Braintree Antiques Centre

  phone: +44 1376 618189
  address: The Bocking Arts Theatre, 15 Bocking End, Braintree CM7 9AE

• Tesco

  phone: +44 345 677 9075
  address: Market Place, Braintree CM7 3HQ
  ATMs, Wi-Fi

• Sainsbury's

  phone: +44 1376 551308
  address: 1 Tofts Walk, Braintree CM7 1XH
  Petrol station (different hours). ATMs.

Finding a place to eat in Braintree should not be a hard task: the town centre is littered with pubs and sandwich bars which cater for a range of needs.
If you are looking for more of an evening meal you have to travel towards the outskirts of the town, Where you will find Freeport. This contains about 7 restaurants each catering for different needs, many of these franchises so you will have a rough idea of what you are likely to get.
Towards Galleys corner you can find fast food restaurants, a Pizza Hut, and Frankie and Benny's. Just across the road Fowlers Farm is a warm friendly pub which serves popular food also.
Along Cressing Road is an Indian/Turkish venue that serves a variety of tasty dishes.
Freeport Shopping Village has a number of fast food outlets.
Avoid Braintree after 5PM on a Saturday as it starts to resemble the set of Michael Jackson's "Thriller", and men and women with tattoos of family members names on their bingo wings start to congregate.

• China Dynasty

  phone: +44 1376 528833
  address: 13-15 Coggeshall Rd, Braintree CM7 9DB

• Siam Thai

  phone: +44 1376 326080
  address: 14 Coggeshall Rd, Braintree CM7 9BY

• Merchant Spice

  phone: +44 1376 346300
  address: 9 Fairfield Rd, Braintree CM7 3HA

• The Chophouse

  phone: +44 1376 345615
  address: 34 New St, Braintree CM7 1ES

• The Bull

  phone: +44 1376 320551
  address: Market Place, Braintree CM7 3HJ
  Decent size pub with ideas above its station. At weekends takes advantage of the lack of clubbing options in Braintree by clearing some space for dance floors and getting in a DJ. Fridays errs towards r'n'b and hip hop, while sticks with dance/techno music on Saturdays. Because of this, it sells itself as a nightclub/bar and charges a hefty entrance fee. Dress code is 'Smart Casual' and no hats to be worn inside.

• The Swan

  phone: +44 1376 344565
  address: 22 - 26 Bank St, Braintree
  Pleasant atmosphere but can often be found a little emptier than other venues in the town.

• The Dolphin

  phone: +44 1376 321143
  address: Coggeshall Rd, Bradwell CM77 8EU

• The Picture Place

  phone: +44 1376 550255
  address: Fairfield Rd, Braintree CM7 3HA
  Free Wi-Fi.

• The Fowler's Farm

  phone: +44 1376 551560
  address: Cressing Rd, Braintree CM77 8DH

• White Hart Hotel

  phone: +44 1376 321401
  address: Bocking End, Braintree CM7 9AB
  A fairly nice hotel that is normally used to cater for wedding receptions. Free Wi-Fi.

• Premier Travel Inn (Freeport Village)

  phone: +44 1376 551141
  address: Fowlers Farm, Cressing Rd, Braintree CM77 8DH
  Free Wi-Fi. Free on-site parking. (Former Holiday Inn Express.)

• Premier Travel Inn (A120)

  phone: +44 871 527 8138 (premium)
  address: Cressing Rd, Galleys Corner, Braintree CM77 8GG
  Free Wi-Fi.

• Gantway House Hotel

  phone: +44 1376 618291
  address: 77-79 High St, Braintree CM7 1JS

• Panfield House

  phone: +44 1376 326345
  address: 3 Panfield Lane, Braintree CM7 2TH
  Free Wi-Fi. Min 2-night stay at weekends. No credit card payments.

• Post Office

  address: 3-5 New St, Braintree CM7 1ER

The local bus service can take people to nearby towns and villages. One of the main bus services is the number 70 by First Essex which connects Colchester and Chelmsford and passes through Braintree bus park every 30 minutes in each direction.
Braintree's train line is a spur off of the national service, and all trains leaving will be heading for London, The frequency of these trains is once every hour. Trains take about 45 min to reach London stopping at various stops along the way. Those wishing to head further up the main line towards Colchester, Ipswich, Clacton, etc., can change at Witham.