Harwich

United_Kingdom

King's Head Street Harwich, pronounced 'Harich' or 'Harridge', is a port town in Essex, East Anglia.

Harwich lies at the junction of two estuaries and the area forms one of the UK's major harbours (although most freight shipping operates from Felixstowe, a short distance over the water, rather than from Harwich). Ferries to northern Europe operate from adjacent Parkeston, while there are fast rail and road links to London.

Harwich Redoubt Harwich Maritime Museum Ha'penny Pier Electric Palace Cinema Local attractions include two lighthouses; the Electric Palace cinema, one of the oldest in Britain and now restored to its original state; the Redoubt fort, dating from the Napoleonic era; a lighthouse museum; a small beach; and of course ship-watching. Many attractions are open during the summer only.

  • Harwich Redoubt. 1 May-31 Aug: daily 10AM-5PM. A circular fort built in 1808 to defend the port, restored by volunteers from the Harwich Society.
  • Beacon Hill Battery, Barrack Ln, Harwich CO12 3NS. Late 19th/early 20th century coastal artillery fortification
  • Maritime Museum, The Low Lighthouse, Harbour Crescent, Harwich, CO12 3NL. May-Aug: F-Su 11AM-3PM. Adults £1; children free.
  • Lifeboat Museum, 6 Wellington Rd, Harwich, CO12 3EJ. May-Aug 10AM-5PM.
  • Ha'penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, CO12 3HH. Wooden, working pier
  • LV18 Lightvessel, +44 7446 171320 (mobile). Mar-end Oct: daily 11AM-4PM. The last surviving example of a manned light vessel in British waters. Adults £2; children £1.
  • High Lighthouse, West Street, Harwich, CO12 3DQ, +44 1255 506183.
  • Mayflower Project, The Railyard, George St, Harwich, CO12 3ND, +44 1255 318023. M-F 9AM-5PM. Project to reconstruct a full sized seaworthy replica of the Mayflower vessel. Visitors Centre.

Harwich Redoubt. 1 May-31 Aug: daily 10AM-5PM. A circular fort built in 1808 to defend the port, restored by volunteers from the Harwich Society.

Beacon Hill Battery, Barrack Ln, Harwich CO12 3NS. Late 19th/early 20th century coastal artillery fortification

Maritime Museum, The Low Lighthouse, Harbour Crescent, Harwich, CO12 3NL. May-Aug: F-Su 11AM-3PM. Adults £1; children free.

Lifeboat Museum, 6 Wellington Rd, Harwich, CO12 3EJ. May-Aug 10AM-5PM.

Ha'penny Pier, The Quay, Harwich, CO12 3HH. Wooden, working pier

LV18 Lightvessel, +44 7446 171320 (mobile). Mar-end Oct: daily 11AM-4PM. The last surviving example of a manned light vessel in British waters. Adults £2; children £1.

High Lighthouse, West Street, Harwich, CO12 3DQ, +44 1255 506183.

Mayflower Project, The Railyard, George St, Harwich, CO12 3ND, +44 1255 318023. M-F 9AM-5PM. Project to reconstruct a full sized seaworthy replica of the Mayflower vessel. Visitors Centre.

  • Harwich Maritime Trail. Walking trail visiting many of the town's maritime sights.
  • Dovercourt Roller Skate Rink, Lower Marine Parade, Dovercourt, CO12 3ST, +44 1255 551296. Roller skate rink, cafe & ice cream parlour. Adult £5.50; children £4.50; plus skate hire.
  • Harbour Ferry River Cruises, The Quay, Harwich CO12 3HH, +44 1728 666329.
  • Harwich Sports Centre, Hall Lane, Dovercourt, CO12 3TB, +44 1255 504380. M-Th 9:45AM-10:30PM, F 9:45AM-8:30PM, Sa 10AM-1PM & 4-7PM, Su 10AM-1PM & 4-8PM. Squash, tennis,racketball, badminton, table Tennis, short tennis.

Harwich Maritime Trail. Walking trail visiting many of the town's maritime sights.

Dovercourt Roller Skate Rink, Lower Marine Parade, Dovercourt, CO12 3ST, +44 1255 551296. Roller skate rink, cafe & ice cream parlour. Adult £5.50; children £4.50; plus skate hire.

Harbour Ferry River Cruises, The Quay, Harwich CO12 3HH, +44 1728 666329.

Harwich Sports Centre, Hall Lane, Dovercourt, CO12 3TB, +44 1255 504380. M-Th 9:45AM-10:30PM, F 9:45AM-8:30PM, Sa 10AM-1PM & 4-7PM, Su 10AM-1PM & 4-8PM. Squash, tennis,racketball, badminton, table Tennis, short tennis.

Shopping in Harwich is extremely limited, although there are a number of art, antique and book stores. Nearby Dovercourt has a number of small supermarkets, mainstream high-street shops, banks and so on, while Parkeston has recently been given the 'kiss of life' and has a number of newly built stores to shop at, including Peacocks, B&M, Home Bargains and Argos. Harwich has several supermarkets including the Co-op (Dovercourt High Street, and Fronks Road), and

  • Morrissons, Iconfield Park, Garland Rd, Harwich, CO12 4EN, +44 1255 556383. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Also petrol station, cafe & Garden Centre (different hours from main store). ATMs.
  • Adsa, Main Road, Harwich, CO12 3HJ, +44 1255 202900. M-Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Petrol station (different hours). ATMs.
  • Lidl, Parkeston Rd, Harwich, CO12 4NX. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM.

Morrissons, Iconfield Park, Garland Rd, Harwich, CO12 4EN, +44 1255 556383. M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Also petrol station, cafe & Garden Centre (different hours from main store). ATMs.

Adsa, Main Road, Harwich, CO12 3HJ, +44 1255 202900. M-Sa 7AM-11PM, Su 10AM-4PM. Petrol station (different hours). ATMs.

Lidl, Parkeston Rd, Harwich, CO12 4NX. M-Sa 8AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM.

The Pier Hotel has a well-regarded restaurant specialising in seafood. The Pier Cafe, opposite the hotel on the pier itself, is especially popular during the summer. A number of pubs also serve food, notably the New Bell Inn (lunchtimes only).

  • Thai up at the Quay, 1 Eastgate St, Harwich, CO12 3EZ, +44 1255 554532. Tu-Sa 6-10PM.
  • The Crown Post, 57 Church St, Harwich, CO12 3DS, +44 1255 553131.
  • Joi Tandori, 3 Kingsway, Harwich, CO12 3AB. Daily 6-10:30PM. Minimum spend for delivery £15.
  • The Waterfront, Lower Marine Parade, Dovercourt, CO12 3ST, +44 1255 507905. M 10AM-4PM (food to 3PM), Tu-F 10AM-11PM (food 11AM-3PM & 4-9PM), Sa 10AM-11PM (food 11AM-9PM), Su 11AM-7PM (food noon-6PM).

Thai up at the Quay, 1 Eastgate St, Harwich, CO12 3EZ, +44 1255 554532. Tu-Sa 6-10PM.

The Crown Post, 57 Church St, Harwich, CO12 3DS, +44 1255 553131.

Joi Tandori, 3 Kingsway, Harwich, CO12 3AB. Daily 6-10:30PM. Minimum spend for delivery £15.

The Waterfront, Lower Marine Parade, Dovercourt, CO12 3ST, +44 1255 507905. M 10AM-4PM (food to 3PM), Tu-F 10AM-11PM (food 11AM-3PM & 4-9PM), Sa 10AM-11PM (food 11AM-9PM), Su 11AM-7PM (food noon-6PM).

Popular pubs include the traditional New Bell Inn and Hanover and the Stingray with large-screen TV.

  • The Alma Inn, 25 King’s Head St, Harwich, CO12 3EE, +44 1255 318681. Food: daily noon-10PM.
  • Samuel Pepys, 31 Church St, Harwich, CO12 3EA, +44 1255 503857. M-Sa 11AM-2:30PM & 6-9PM, Su all day.
  • The New Bell Inn, Outpart Eastward, Harwich, CO12 3EN, +44 1255 503545. M-Th 11AM-3:30PM & 7PM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-midnight.
  • The Hanover Inn, 65 Church St, Harwich, CO12 3DR, +44 1255 502927. Daily noon-late.
  • The Captain Fryatt, 65 Garland Rd, Parkeston, CO12 4PA, +44 1255 240770. Free Wi-Fi.

The Alma Inn, 25 King’s Head St, Harwich, CO12 3EE, +44 1255 318681. Food: daily noon-10PM.

Samuel Pepys, 31 Church St, Harwich, CO12 3EA, +44 1255 503857. M-Sa 11AM-2:30PM & 6-9PM, Su all day.

The New Bell Inn, Outpart Eastward, Harwich, CO12 3EN, +44 1255 503545. M-Th 11AM-3:30PM & 7PM-midnight, F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-midnight.

The Hanover Inn, 65 Church St, Harwich, CO12 3DR, +44 1255 502927. Daily noon-late.

The Captain Fryatt, 65 Garland Rd, Parkeston, CO12 4PA, +44 1255 240770. Free Wi-Fi.

  • Post Office, 477 Main Road, Dovercourt, CO12 4HT. M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-12:30PM.

Post Office, 477 Main Road, Dovercourt, CO12 4HT. M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM, Sa 9AM-12:30PM.