Braintree is a town in Essex, England. For a town of its size it boasts very few amenities. However, a shopping village on the outskirts, 'Freeport', has roughly 80 shops. It mainly specialise in clothing, along with a bowling alley and a cinema, which makes Braintree worth visiting.

Understand

Blackwater at Bocking

St Michael's Church

The town has expanded to include neighbouring settlements (the 2011 population of Braintree town was 41,634 whilst the population of the urban area was 53,477). The town lies on the River Brain and south of Stane Street whilst Bocking lies on the River Blackwater to the north. Sometimes the two area is referred to as Braintree & Bocking although they form a single urban area.

The town dates back to habitation in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Later the settlement was used by the Saxons after the Romans left. The town was recorded in the Doomsday Book then called Branchetreu. By the 14th century the town was manufacturing woollen cloth and by the 17th century Flemish immigrants contributed to this making the town famous and bringing prosperity. In the 19th century silk manufacture replaced wool and the town benefitted from a rail link to London.

Get in

By plane

Braintree's nearest airport is London Stansted (STN ^IATA), around 15 mi (24 km) to the west. Stansted is a major international airport, with flights from destinations throughout the UK, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The dual-carriageway is a direct road connection between Stansted and Braintree. Bus routes Airlink X20 and Arriva 133 operate between Stansted and Braintree throughout early mornings, daytimes and late evenings.

London City Airport (LCY ^IATA) is a small international airport in East London, with a selection of routes from major cities throughout the UK and Europe. Use  DLR  from London City Airport to Stratford and change for National Rail services to Braintree.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR ^IATA) is one of the world's largest airports with routes from destinations throughout the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North and South America. Use  ELI  from London Heathrow Airport to Liverpool Street/Stratford/Shenfield and change for National Rail services to Braintree.

London Southend Airport (SEN ^IATA) lies in southern Essex, with a selection of routes from destinations in Europe.

By train

1 Braintree railway station lies in Braintree Approach. Greater Anglia trains serve the station, part of the National Rail network. Travel direct to Braintree from London Liverpool Street in The City, London Stratford in East London, Shenfield, Chelmsford, Witham, White Notley, Cressing and Braintree Freeport. From Ipswich, Clacton and Colchester, change at Witham for trains to Braintree.

2 Braintree Freeport railway station lies near the Braintree Village outlet shopping centre, to the south of the town.

3 Cressing railway station lies between Cressing village and Black Notley, south of Braintree.

Stations further afield include:

• Bishop's Stortford which is served by Greater Anglia and Stansted Express trains - both part of the National Rail network - direct from London Liverpool Street, Tottenham Hale, Cheshunt, Harlow, Sawbridgeworth, Audley End for Saffron Walden, Cambridge and Ely. There is no direct public transport to Braintree. There is parking at this station.
• Chelmsford which is served by Greater Anglia trains - part of the National Rail network - direct from London Liverpool Street, London Stratford, Chelmsford, Clacton, Ipswich, Stowmarket and Norwich. Essex Bus routes 70/170/370 operate between Colchester and Braintree.
• Colchester which is served by Greater Anglia trains - part of the National Rail network - direct from London Liverpool Street, London Stratford, Chelmsford, Clacton, Ipswich, Stowmarket and Norwich. Bus routes Airlink X20/320 operate between Colchester and Braintree.
• Epping which is served by  CEN  - part of the London Underground - direct from West London, Oxford Street, Soho, The City and East London. There is no direct public transport to Braintree. There is parking at this station.
• Marks Tey which is served by Greater Anglia trains - part of the National Rail network - direct from London Liverpool Street, London Stratford, Chelmsford, Clacton, Ipswich and Sudbury. Bus routes Airlink X20/320 operate between Marks Tey and Braintree.
• Stansted Airport which is served by CrossCountry, Greater Anglia and Stansted Express trains - all part of the National Rail network - direct from London Liverpool Street, Tottenham Hale, Harlow, Birmingham New Street, Leicester, Peterborough, Ely, Norwich, Thetford, Cambridge and Audley End for Saffron Walden. Bus routes Airlink X20 and Arriva 133 operate between Stansted and Braintree throughout early mornings, daytimes and late evenings.

By car

Braintree can get busy with motor traffic during the "rush hours" - the morning and evening peak times. Major routes can also get very busy on weekends.

Routes into Braintree include:

• - from Bishop's Stortford, (London, Harlow, Cambridge), Stansted Airport, Great Dunmow, Marks Tey and (Ipswich, Harwich, Colchester)
• - from / (London, Brentwood, Southend), Chelmsford, Halstead, Sudbury and (Bury St Edmunds)
• - from Sible Hedingham, Great Yeldham, Haverhill and (Cambridge)
• B1018 - from Witham
• B1053 - from Saffron Walden and Finchingfield
• B1256 - from Great Dunmow

By bus

Braintree is served by local buses throughout the daytimes. Some routes operate in the early mornings or late evenings. Most services call at 4 Braintree Bus Interchange between Manor Street and Victoria Street, in the town centre.

Bus routes include:

• From Stansted Airport and Great Dunmow - Airlink X20 and Arriva 133
• From Sible Hedingham - FlagFinders 60 and Hedingham and Chambers 89
• From Sudbury - FlagFinders 60
• From Halstead - Stephensons 38, FlagFinders 60, and Hedingham and Chambers 89
• From Colchester and Coggeshall - Airlink X20/320
• From Witham - Stephensons 38
• From Chelmsford and Great Leighs - Essex Bus 70/170/370

By bicycle

Braintree has a limited traffic-free cycle network.

The Flitch Way is a long shared-use track, which is mostly traffic free between Bishop's Stortford and Braintree, via Great Dunmow. There is a short on-road section of this route through Great Dunmow. The Flitch Way is part of National Cycle Network Route 16. The Flitch Way's Braintree end is at the Braintree railway station car park, accessed via Station Approach in the town centre.

From the south, National Cycle Network Route 16 enters Braintree from Great Notley along London Road, through Marshalls Park and along St Johns Avenue. The route is signposted from Beacon Hill (for National Cycle Network Route 1), Witham and Great Notley.

Get around

Braintree is small enough to get away with walking everywhere: although the lazier ones will be pleased to know that there is a fairly reliable bus service that can get you around most parts of the town.

See

Bocking Mill

• 1 Hatfield Forest, Takeley, Bishop's Stortford, CM22 6NE, ☏ +44 1279 870678, hatfieldforest@nationaltrust.org.uk. This forest is about 20 min away heading towards the M11 on the A120 If you are looking for a serene day in the wood its rather pleasant. On a nice summer day the woods can look very nice in the summer. The National Trust do not charge for entry in to the property but to park is £5, well worth the money.  
• 2 Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker, Kelvedon Hall Lane, Kelvedon Hatch CM14 5TL (25 miles SW of Braintree; Access is from the A128 Chipping Ongar to Brentwood road at Kelvedon Hatch.If you have GPS then use CM15 0LA), ☏ +44 1277 364883, mike@japarrish.com. 1 Mar-31 Oct: daily 10AM-4PM; 1 Nov-end-Feb: Th-Su 10AM-4PM. A large underground bunker maintained during the cold war as a potential regional government headquarters. No credit card payment.Crown Buildings Adults £7.50; children (5-16) £5.50. (updated Jun 2017)
• "Bocking end" Down this area of braintree some old houses still remain. Though modernised slightly, they still have the traditional Tudor black wooded beams. While exploring this area of Braintree which is quite small, why not pop into "Hogs" at the bottom of the hill or "The Angel" for a quick pint.
• 3 Paycocke's House and Garden, 25 West Street, Coggeshall, Colchester, CO6 1NS, ☏ +44 1376 561305, paycockes@nationaltrust.org.uk. 
• 4 Bocking Mill (OS Grid ref: TL 763 259), ☏ +44 1376 552525. Visit on Open Days. No parking (park in Church St). No toilet facilities. Small grass picnic area (updated Jun 2017)
• 5 Braintree District Museum, Manor St, Braintree CM7 3HW, ☏ +44 1376 328868, info@braintreemuseum.co.uk. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Adult £4; child £2; concession £3. (updated Jun 2017)
• 6 Warner Textile Archive, Silks Way, Braintree CM7 3GB, ☏ +44 1376 557741, info@warnertextilearchive.co.uk. W 10AM-4PM & 1st Sa of month 10AM-4PM. England’s 2nd-largest collection of flat textiles. Adults £4; children £2; concessions £3. (updated Jun 2017)

Do

• 1 Coggeshall Grange Barn, Grange Hill, Coggeshall, Colchester, CO6 1RE (6½ miles E of Braintree), ☏ +44 1376 562226, coggeshall@nationaltrust.org.uk. Adult £7; child £3.50. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Namco Funscape (Bowling, Fun & Games), Freeport Leisure Village, Charter Way, Braintree CM77 8YH, ☏ +44 1376 569069, braintree@namco.co.uk. M W F noon-late (10AM-late during school holidays); Tu Th Sa Su 10AM-late. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 Braintree Swimming & Fitness (Swimming Pool & Gym), Charter Way, Braintree CM77 8YJ, ☏ +44 345 260 1535. (updated Jun 2017)
• 4 Great Notley Country Park (Activity Centre), Great Notley CM77 7FS (4 miles SW of Braintree), ☏ +44 3330 132900, country.parks@essex.gov.uk. 8AM-dusk. 100-acre site. Sky Ropes and Essex’s longest play trail (1.2 km), giant see-saw, climbing forest, tyre swings, sand pits, rope climbers, slides, forts and a water play area. Birdwatching, walking, cycling, fishing, etc. Dogs allowed. No BBQs. (updated Jun 2017)

Buy

The usual range of high street stores can be found in the town centre.

• 1 Town Market, Manor St, Market Place, High St, & Bank Street, ☏ +44 1376 552525. W Sa 7AM-3:30PM (winter) 7AM-4:30PM (summer). The town centre fills up with market stalls. Nothing that really stands out that not at a hundred other such markets held at small towns across the country, apart from a goth/metal clothing stall, which has some quite nice stuff. The people who run it are dead friendly and chatty, too. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Freeport Outlet Shopping Village, Charter Way, Chapel Hill, Braintree CM77 8YH (2 miles SE of town centre). Over 85 shops and restaurants in a village layout design. See Freeport Village Store List. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 Proper Gander, 6 Little Square, Braintree CM7 1UT, ☏ +44 1376 331669. A small occult/general 'alternative' shop, candles, incense, rocks & crystals, body jewellery. (updated Jun 2017)
• 4 Braintree Antiques Centre, The Bocking Arts Theatre, 15 Bocking End, Braintree CM7 9AE, ☏ +44 1376 618189, info@braintreeantiquescentre.co.uk. W-Su 10AM-4:30PM. (updated Jun 2017)
• 5 Tesco (Supermarket), Market Place, Braintree CM7 3HQ, ☏ +44 345 677 9075. M-W 6AM-8PM, Th F 6AM-9PM, Sa 6AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM. ATMs, Wi-Fi (updated Jun 2017)
• 6 Sainsbury's (Supermarket), 1 Tofts Walk, Braintree CM7 1XH, ☏ +44 1376 551308. M-W 7AM-8PM, Th F 7AM-9PM, Sa 7AM-8PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Petrol station (different hours). ATMs. (updated Jun 2017)

Eat

Finding a place to eat in Braintree should not be a hard task: the town centre is littered with pubs and sandwich bars which cater for a range of needs.

If you are looking for more of an evening meal you have to travel towards the outskirts of the town, Where you will find Freeport. This contains about 7 restaurants each catering for different needs, many of these franchises so you will have a rough idea of what you are likely to get.

Towards Galleys corner you can find fast food restaurants, a Pizza Hut, and Frankie and Benny's. Just across the road Fowlers Farm is a warm friendly pub which serves popular food also.

Along Cressing Road is an Indian/Turkish venue that serves a variety of tasty dishes.

Freeport Shopping Village has a number of fast food outlets.

Avoid Braintree after 5PM on a Saturday as it starts to resemble the set of Michael Jackson's "Thriller", and men and women with tattoos of family members names on their bingo wings start to congregate.

• 1 China Dynasty (Chinese Restaurant), 13-15 Coggeshall Rd, Braintree CM7 9DB, ☏ +44 1376 528833. M-Sa noon-2PM & 6-11PM, Su noon-3 & 6-10PM. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Siam Thai (Thai Restaurant), 14 Coggeshall Rd, Braintree CM7 9BY, ☏ +44 1376 326080. M 6-11PM, Tu-Sa noon-3PM & 6-11PM. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 Merchant Spice (Indian Restaurant), 9 Fairfield Rd, Braintree CM7 3HA, ☏ +44 1376 346300, info@merchantspice.co.uk. M-Th noon-2PM & 5-11:30PM, F Sa noon-2PM & 5PM-midnight, Su noon-11PM. (updated Jun 2017)
• 4 The Chophouse (Restaurant), 34 New St, Braintree CM7 1ES, ☏ +44 1376 345615. Tu-Th noon-10PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-6PM. (updated Jun 2017)

Drink

• 1 The Bull, Market Place, Braintree CM7 3HJ, ☏ +44 1376 320551, hello@bull-braintree.co.uk. Pub: M-W Sa Su 11AM-11PM, Th F 11AM-3AM; food: daily 11AM-9PM. Decent size pub with ideas above its station. At weekends takes advantage of the lack of clubbing options in Braintree by clearing some space for dance floors and getting in a DJ. Fridays errs towards r'n'b and hip hop, while sticks with dance/techno music on Saturdays. Because of this, it sells itself as a nightclub/bar and charges a hefty entrance fee. Dress code is 'Smart Casual' and no hats to be worn inside. 
• 2 The Swan (Pub), 22 - 26 Bank St, Braintree, ☏ +44 1376 344565. Pleasant atmosphere but can often be found a little emptier than other venues in the town. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 The Dolphin (Pub & Food), Coggeshall Rd, Bradwell CM77 8EU (3 miles E of Braintree), ☏ +44 1376 321143. (updated Jun 2017)
• 4 The Picture Place (Pub & Food), Fairfield Rd, Braintree CM7 3HA, ☏ +44 1376 550255. M-Th 8AM-11:30PM, F Sa 8AM-midnight, Su 8AM-11:30PM. Free Wi-Fi. (updated Jun 2017)
• 5 The Fowler's Farm (Pub & Food), Cressing Rd, Braintree CM77 8DH, ☏ +44 1376 551560. M-Sa 11AM-11PM, Su 11AM-10:30PM. (updated Jun 2017)

Sleep

• 1 White Hart Hotel, Bocking End, Braintree CM7 9AB, ☏ +44 1376 321401, whitehart.braintree@oldenglishinns.co.uk. A fairly nice hotel that is normally used to cater for wedding receptions. Free Wi-Fi. 
• 2 Premier Travel Inn (Freeport Village), Fowlers Farm, Cressing Rd, Braintree CM77 8DH (2 miles SE of town centre), ☏ +44 1376 551141. Free Wi-Fi. Free on-site parking. (Former Holiday Inn Express.) from £42. (updated Jun 2017)
• 3 Premier Travel Inn (A120), Cressing Rd, Galleys Corner, Braintree CM77 8GG, ☏ +44 871 527 8138 (premium). Free Wi-Fi. from £44. (updated Jun 2017)
• 4 Gantway House Hotel, 77-79 High St, Braintree CM7 1JS, ☏ +44 1376 618291. Single from £35; double/twin from £70. (updated Jun 2017)
• 5 Panfield House (Guesthouse), 3 Panfield Lane, Braintree CM7 2TH, ☏ +44 1376 326345, sleep@panfieldhouse.com. Free Wi-Fi. Min 2-night stay at weekends. No credit card payments. from £90/night/2 people. (updated Jun 2017)

Connect

Braintree and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of Feb 2023, 5G has not reached town.

Go next

The local bus service can take people to nearby towns and villages. One of the main bus services is the number 70 by First Essex which connects Colchester and Chelmsford and passes through Braintree bus park every 30 minutes in each direction.

Braintree's train line is a spur off of the national service, and all trains leaving will be heading for London, The frequency of these trains is once every hour. Trains take about 45 min to reach London stopping at various stops along the way. Those wishing to head further up the main line towards Colchester, Ipswich, Clacton, etc., can change at Witham.