Discover Great Baddow

Great Baddow brings together an unusual mix of a landmark in the history of technology, medieval architectural history and an Iron Age coin hoard. The Great Baddow Walk adds a specific walking route to these themes. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on landmarks, the history of the hoard or an active outing.

A tower with a history

Great Baddow Chain Home Tower is the only fully intact Chain Home transmitter tower in the British Isles. It is 109.12 metres high and still has all six working platforms; it is listed as a Grade II building. Its history includes a change of location: it was originally erected near RAF Canewdon in 1937 and moved to Great Baddow in 1956. The tower’s height, platforms and history of relocation offer distinct, tangible aspects to explore.

Churches, houses and the history of the hoard

The Church of St Mary is listed as a Grade I building. It probably dates back to the 12th century; the nave arcades and chancel date from the 13th century. This distinction separates the church’s probable early origins from the later dates of some of its features. Other buildings also reflect different historical styles: 47 and 49 Church Street are a Grade II listed building. The house at 66 and 68 High Street was originally timber-framed and plastered; it dates from the 15th to 16th century. The Beehive Inn is a distinctive landmark on the corner of Beehive Lane and Baddow Road.

The Great Baddow Hoard is an exceptional find of national importance, consisting of 933 Iron Age gold coins. Alongside the buildings, it offers a different way to explore the area’s history: here, the focus is an archaeological find rather than surviving architecture. Dining can also be combined with a historic building: Russells Restaurant is housed in a magnificent timber-framed tithe barn, which is Grade II listed and has been dated by experts to 1372. Restaurant details may change; check the latest information before visiting.

Exploring Great Baddow on foot and by bike

The Great Baddow Walk runs mostly through Great Baddow Recreation Ground. It follows paved paths and some nearby pavements, and starts at the car park of Great Baddow Millennium Centre on Baddow Road. You can get off the bus for the walk at The Blue Lion or Longfield Road; both stops are served by bus routes 31 and 336. On the Great Baddow Cycling Route, there is a spot on Vicarage Road from which you can see Great Baddow Mast. A walk with a set starting point and a view from a specific location along the cycling route thus offer different activity options. Check the current route, meeting point and bus services before travelling.

Choose a holiday rental to suit your travel plans

When looking for a holiday rental, you can choose your location in Great Baddow according to your preferred focus: the history of the buildings and the hoard offers a different emphasis from a walk or the Cycling Route. If you plan to take the Great Baddow Walk, consider its stated starting point when choosing your accommodation. For a cycling trip, the spot on Vicarage Road can serve as a reference point. Compare the locations of individual properties with your own daily itinerary, so that your chosen base suits the experiences you want to prioritise.

Discover more destinations: Great Yeldham, Rivenhall, Rowhedge, Finchingfield, Hempstead, Elsenham, Heybridge, Wickford

For the wider travel overview: Essex.