Essex hen do

The Only Way Is Essex - Whether it's your guilty pleasure or you're an out and out TOWIE fanatic, you can't deny that this show is seriously entertaining thanks to Joey, Lydia, Arg and co.

First City - Believe it or not, Colchester is actually the oldest recorded town in Britain and was the nation's first capital city under Roman rule. That's your Essex hen do fancy dress theme sorted then!

The Secret Garden - This beautifully bijou bistro is so chic that within minutes of sitting down at our table we were mentally redecorating our homes in the effortless style of this uncomplicated but delightful diner serving seriously delicious dishes.

Jessie J - We honestly can't get enough of Jessie J. While she's penned some of the biggest chart hits of recent years with tunes like Laserlight, Price Tag, Do it like a Dude and Domino she's also an incredibly down-to-earth girl who once shaved her head for charity! That's brave.

Off the Scale - Danbury Common is a lovely green space perfect for a beautiful picnic with your favourite girlies... or at least it would be if it didn't have the largest adder population in the UK?!?

Alec's - Fabulously stylish and wonderfully tasty, the fish dishes you'll treat yourselves to in this exclusive dining space are culinary art that is best washed down with a glass of bubbly. Cheers!

Local Delicacy - Essex is one of the only places in the world where you'll find the 'Little Scarlet' strawberry used in the famous Wilkin & Sons jam. A few jars make for a fabulous souvenir and tastes amazing on a fresh croissant!

CTZN - Funky, fun and always up for a good time, CTZN is one of the most chic bars you'll ever visit! Treat yourselves to some amazing cocktails and hit the dance floor with your best girlfriends for an amazing night of Essex hen party fun.

County Fortune - Essex is in fact the wealthiest county in the whole of the UK, if you couldn't already tell from all the supercars, designer clothes and incredibly sexy suited men!?!

Cheetah-ing - Romsford Greyhound track once hosted cheetah racing in an attempt to attract more punters, needless to say, the gimmick didn't take off. Only in Essex!

'We are the village green...' - Great Bentley has one of the largest village greens in Britain at a whopping 43 acres and has won multiple 'Village of the Year' awards. Anyone who's seen Hot Fuzz knows that this needs investigating...

Eclipse - A night on the tiles in the fabulous Eclipse nightclub is a night spent getting down to Essex's best DJs with plenty of hunky men around providing some hen-friendly views while you sip your tasty vodka mixers.

Mark Wright - The ex-TOWIE star and jungle hottie is one celebrity you probably wouldn't want to get out of there. With his bling, white teeth and designer clobber he's about as Essex as a man can get.

Circuit - One of the most popular clubs in Essex, the local glitterati can all be found in Circuit on a weekend for a night of high quality thrills and spills amidst some of Essex's most gorgeous men.

Mr. Blue Sky - The village of Ashingdon is allegedly one of the sunniest places in the whole of the country. This must be where the lovely Lauren Goodger tops up her 'natural' tan?!?

Bedknobs & Broomsticks - During the Middle Ages there were more reported witches in Essex than in both Devon and Cornwall put together. Judging by some of the catty arguments in TOWIE, it's a good thing the witch hunts are history or we'd lose all our favourite characters!

Lee Evans - Moving to Essex as a teenager, Lee Evans embodies the cheeky spirit of this fabulous county and leaves it all on the stage every night as well as roughly 30% of his body's water mass.

The Breast Place Ever - Have you ever noticed that girls from Essex are sort of just, bustier? If so, you won't be surprised to hear that the top bra-makers in the UK sell more D-G cups here than anywhere else in the country. #jealous

Luxe - This is the kind of brilliant bar that's worthy of that beautiful black cocktail dress that you've just been simply dying to wear out. The cocktails are amazing, the barmen are cute and the effortlessly stylish surrounds are stunning.

'Oh I do like to be beside the seaside...' - Essex has 580 metres of glorious coastline filled with beautiful beaches that are well worth visiting to top up those pre-wedding tans.

Jamie Oliver - We LOVE Jamie Oliver and guess what? He's an Essex-born lad through and through, his parents even still run The Cricketers pub although we're still not sure if they're convinced that a 'Naked Chef' is ever a good idea?!?

The Flitch Trials - A 13th century tradition still exists in Great Dunmow today aimed at finding married couples who haven't 'quarrelled' or 'repented their marriage' for at least a year. A mock court of locals interrogates the couples and if they're convinced, the happily married man and wife win a 'flitch' of bacon. Nope, we've no idea what a 'flitch' is either!

Dame Helen Mirren - The Essex born Dame has won, a BAFTA, a Tony, Golden Globes, an Oscar, Cannes Best Actress, Emmy and countless others. And she seems to keep getting younger!

Evoke - A truly amazing nightlife experience awaits you in Evoke. This fantastic, futuristic club is full of TOWIE lookalikes and is perhaps the fabulous epitome of an Essex hen do night out.

Phil Jupitus - This wonderful man is like that favourite uncle at a family Christmas party who always makes you giggle. A real comedy legend born and bred in Essex, we'll Never Mind a bit of Phil Jupitus!

From Brentwood to Hollywood - Essex has served as the perfect filming location for blockbuster movies such as The Woman in Black, Goldfinger, Goldeneye, Four Weddings and a Funeral as well as every girl's favourite, Bridget Jones' Diary.

Club 195 - Amazing performers make the sparks fly (literally) in this spectacular club where the party never seems to end and when it does, you'll be simply raring to go again.

Joey Essex - We really do just want to pick up Joey Essex and put him in our bag so that we can take him everywhere with us. You've got to be a bit special to have a county named after you!?!

Sally Gunnell O.B.E. - One of our greatest ever female athletes who ran away with a gold at the British, European, Commonwealth, Goodwill, World and Olympics. Phew!

Faces - This luxurious lounge and club is the perfect place to come and laugh with the girls over delicious cocktails before heading to one of the sexiest dancefloors in Essex for an evening of amazing hen party thrills and spills.

A-maze-ing - Saffron Walden has been the home of the world's largest turf maze which could make for a great Essex hen party challenge!?!

'Take me to church...' - St. Andrew's in Greenstead is thought to be the oldest wooden church in the entire world. Dating back to the 11th century, it's a truly beautiful building that could be worth a visit if you're looking to add a little culture to your weekend.

Depeche Mode - Hens from the 80s will be delighted to hear that beloved British band Depeche Mode began their career in amazing Essex before going on to write chart hits like My Own Personal Jesus and Just Can't Get Enough.

Clinton Cards - If you've ever had to dash to the shops to pick up a forgotten birthday or Christmas card then you can thank Essex for producing national greeting card giant Clinton's. Remember to take off the price tag!

Champagne Tasting - Essex can be rather luxurious, so to make sure you've got a refined palate for the finer things in life, our champagne tastings will see you try a variety of bubblies and sparkling wines to boot. Read more...