Essex

County in England

Coordinates:	51.8, 0.64
OS grid ref:	TL 81 14

Essex is a county in the east of England that stretches from the outer suburbs of London to a long, varied coastline on the North Sea and the broad Thames Estuary. Its geography includes low-lying marshes and salt flats on the Dengie Peninsula, estuary landscapes along the River Stour and River Colne, and fragments of ancient woodland such as Epping Forest, as well as small islands like Mersea Island. The county has a strong historic identity: Colchester claims to be Britain’s oldest recorded town with Roman walls and a castle, while ports such as Harwich and Tilbury underline its long maritime role and links to continental trade and defence.

Economically and socially Essex is a study in contrasts - prosperous commuter towns and affluent villages near London, lively seaside resort life in Southend-on-Sea with its famous pier, alongside extensive agriculture, market gardening and increasing energy-related activity off the coast. Culturally it has distinctive local traditions and dialect, and in recent decades its image has been shaped by popular culture and rapid suburban growth; nevertheless large areas remain rural, with a mix of heritage, industry and coastal communities that give the county a varied character.

Local Authority Districts within Essex

Essex postcode districts

CB10, CB11, CM0, CM1, CM2, CM3, CM4, CM5, CM6, CM7, CM8, CM9, CM11, CM12, CM13, CM14, CM15, CM16, CM17, CM18, CM19, CM20, CM22, CM24, CM77, CO1, CO2, CO3, CO4, CO5, CO6, CO7, CO8, CO9, CO11, CO12, CO13, CO14, CO15, CO16, EN9, IG7, IG9, IG10, RM4, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8, SS11, SS12, SS13, SS14, SS15, SS16

Most populated places in Essex

Places in Essex

Basildon Built-up area
Billericay Built-up area
Braintree Built-up area
Brentwood Built-up area
Brightlingsea Built-up area
Buckhurst Hill Built-up area
Burnham-on-Crouch Built-up area
Canvey Island Built-up area
Chelmsford Built-up area
Chigwell Built-up area
Chipping Ongar Built-up area
Clacton-on-Sea Built-up area
Colchester Built-up area
Danbury Built-up area
Epping Built-up area
Frinton-on-Sea Built-up area
Great Dunmow Built-up area
Halstead Built-up area
Harlow Built-up area
Harwich Built-up area
Maldon Built-up area
Manningtree Built-up area
Rayleigh Built-up area
Rochford Built-up area
Saffron Walden Built-up area
Tiptree Built-up area
Waltham Abbey Built-up area
Walton-on-the-Naze Built-up area
West Mersea Built-up area
Wickford Built-up area
Witham Built-up area
Wivenhoe Built-up area