Retirement Properties Spotlight in Holland-on-Sea

Essex has some very attractive towns such as Finchingfield, Dedham and Saffron Walden - named after the crocus fields from which saffron was once produced for flavouring food and dying cloth. Historically slightly isolated from London due to the difficulty of crossing the undrained wetlands near the Thames the county is now popular with commuters due to much better communications.

Colchester is famous for its oysters and is still the pre-eminent town with its many old roads radiating out from what was once the Roman provincial capital of Camulodunum. Chelmesford is the county town and in the summer Essex County agricultural show is held at Great Leighs.