Things to do in Chelmsford for self travelers

Set in the heart of rural Essex, RHS Garden Hyde Hall’s glorious hilltop location offers sweeping panoramic views and wide-open skies. Famed for dealing with challenging gardening in dry conditions, RHS Hyde Hall is packed with dramatic colour, texture and wonder. Explore the paths of the _Global Growth Vegetable Garden_, and then enjoy its produce at the cafés and restaurant. Alternatively, take a leisurely stroll up Clover Hill to admire the wide views of the landscape beyond. If you are looking for a peaceful place to take in RHS Hyde Hall’s stunning surroundings and native wildlife, make your way to the glorious reservoir and bird hide to admire over 90 species of bird including swans, tufted duck, and heron. Don't forget to treat your bare feet to their luscious green lawns of the _Hilltop Garden_, filled with fragrant roses, fishponds and colourful herbaceous borders, take a moment to

From big cats of the savannah to tropical fish who call coral reefs home, you’ll find them all inside Colchester Zoo. Each animal has an innovative enclosure, so when you visit the sun bears you might find them playing on their indoor climbing frame, or you’ll find the orangutans in the branches of their forest! If you love the mystique of big cats, then Colchester Zoo tickets will bring you into the world of lions, tigers, leopards, and cheetahs. Maybe you want something with a little less bite – then make sure you see the zoo’s monkeys. There’s baboons, lemurs, and tamarins, and apes aplenty, so swing in to see the chimps before you go. It’s safe to say that every animal lover will find a creature they fall in love with during their visit. With a Colchester Zoo ticket, the keys to the animal kingdom are in your hand.