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Itineraries to Inspire

Brightlingsea is a hidden gem just waiting to be explored — whether that's a weekend sail into the Harbour, one of our boat trips, an afternoon crabbing, a dip in the Lido, a visit to our maritime museum, or one of our circular walks. There's plenty to bring you back, and if you're staying longer, Colchester and London are both within easy reach.

A Day Out Discovering Brightlingsea

Morning: Start with breakfast at one of Brightlingsea's cafés — a traditional English breakfast at Victoria Café, or something lighter at Café Lido. Call in at the Harbour Office for walking booklets and local recommendations (there are snacks for four-legged companions too), or head straight to the seafront for a stroll along the prom. From April to September, why not start your adventure with a Harbour Tour?

Lunch: No.1 Harbour Square and the Yachtsman's Arms are a minute's walk from the Harbour, or venture into town — a 10-minute walk — for more choice, including the Rose Bud on Hurst Green, known for seafood and river views.

Afternoon: Explore Brightlingsea Museum, then finish with a coastal walk from the walking booklet — or book the Lido for a dip in its 1930s open-air pool. Round off the day with fish and chips at the waterfront.

Staying longer? See Visit Brightlingsea's accommodation listings.

Circular Walks

All three walks are easy, and start and finish from the Harbour Office.

• Walk One — Rope Walk: 42 minutes, 3.4km / 2.1 miles
• Walk Two — Historic Promenade: 60 minutes, 5.45km / 3.4 miles
• Walk Three — Escape the Seafront: 33 minutes, 2.8km / 1.7 miles

Download the Circular Walking Guide for full route details.

Brightlingsea Directory

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Marine & Boating

• Brightlingsea Sailing Club — sailbrightlingsea.com
• Colne Yacht Club — colneyachtclub.org.uk
• Smack Preservation Society — colnesmack.co.uk
• University Community Sailing Club — ucscbrightlingsea.com
• Brightlingsea Coastal Rowing Club — brightlingseacoastalrowingclub.co.uk
• French Marine — frenchmarine.com
• Boat Park & Ride — boatparkandride.co.uk
• DB Marine Engineering — cylex-uk.co.uk listing
• Advantage Sails — advantagesails.co.uk
• Brightlingsea Boat Maintenance — Facebook
• Morgan Marine — morganmarine.com
• Essex Marine Training — essexmarinetraining.com

Attractions

• Brightlingsea Museum — brightlingseamuseum.com
• Brightlingsea Lido — brightlingsealido.org
• Springmead Gardens — Facebook

Food & Drink

• Batemans Tower Café — Facebook
• The Olive Room — Facebook
• Café Chic
• Café Lido — brightlingsealido.org
• The Yachtsman's Arms — Facebook
• No.1 Harbour Square — no1harboursquare.co.uk
• Rose of Bengal — roseofbengalcolchester.co.uk
• Star Fast Food — Facebook
• Ye Olde Swan — Facebook
• Winkies Fish & Chips — Facebook
• The Brewers Arms — brewersarms-brightlingsea.co.uk
• The Railway Tavern — alesattherails.co.uk
• Victoria Café — edan.io
• Golden Wok — business.site
• Tutto Bene — Facebook
• The Waterside — Tripadvisor

Town Centre Shops

• Bumbles Greengrocers — Facebook
• Smiths Butchers — smithsbutcher.co.uk
• Brightlingsea Bakery — Facebook
• Little Boat Gifts — littleboatgifts.co.uk
• The Bargain Store — Facebook
• R G Prentice — prenticecarpets.co.uk
• Dave's Barber Shop — Facebook
• John Fowlers Solicitors — johnfowlers.co.uk
• Lucas Estate Agents — lucasestates.com
• Chapman & Co Jewellers — listing
• Spar — store locator
• Post Office — branch finder
• East of England Co-op — store page
• Royal Mail Sorting Office
• Spirals — spiralsbrightlingsea.co.uk

Places to Stay

• The Brewers Arms — brewersarms-brightlingsea.co.uk
• Lakeside Caravan & Camping Park — listing
• Harbour View Lodges — Airbnb

Other Useful Sites

• Visit Brightlingsea — visitbrightlingsea.co.uk
• Community Centre — bseacc.co.uk
• Colne Medical Centre — colnemedicalcentre.nhs.uk
• Town Council — brightlingseatowncouncil.gov.uk
• St James Church — allsaintswithstjamesb-sea.co.uk
• Waterside Laundrette — Facebook