Thorndon Country Park — Attraction in Brentwood

Only came across this picturesque colorful country park when searching for The Gruffalo Trail with handcrafted characters from Julia Donaldson’s bestselling picture book - The Graffalo. The Country Park didn't disappoint at all! 😲 ☺ 😊

It is a natural beauty! You can spend countless hours observeing the 500 acres of diverse habitats and wildlife with delights and full of appreciation - all praise to the Lord! It is a fabulous place for all members of the family to walk, cycle, run, exercise, have picnic in the midst of nature with fresh air! Thorndon Country Park is full of characters including colourful Woodlands with tall canopies of trees, birdlife, open parkland, fishing, famous Gruffalo Trail, the deer 🦌 Park, compacted walking Trail, Heritage Trail, fenced picnic areas, lots of picnic tables, café, visitor centre & gift shop toilets 🚻 including baby changing areas & disabled ♿ 🚽 Toilets, Fishing Lake with wildfowl, all terrain bike hire, mountain bike trail, accessible bike hire, guided cycling group, horse riding, orienteering course, Pay & Display Car Parks and much much more! Thorndon is open 7 days a week from 8 am till dusk.

Thorndon Country Park is divided into two major sides - Thorndon North & Thorndon South - based in the facilities and car parks making it easier for all visitors to explore the park in an enjoyable way! Don't forget your wellies if you want to jump in muddy puddles and walk through challenging trails!

Thorndon North off The Avenue is where the Visitor Centre, the Graffalo Trail and TrailNet are located! Thorndon South off Brentwood Road leads the way by providing easy access to dedicated walking routes, open Parklands suitable for picnics and picturesque viewpoints on top of hills - enjoying view across countryside as far as Canary Wharf. There is a pavilion with Café and toilet facilities. Thorndon North has Childerditch Pond, while Thorndon South has Old Hall Pond attracting diverse habitats and wildlife to both parts of the Country Park!

Each side has large visitors Car park with dedicated Blue Badge Holders only bays! Mobile Network is very poor and hence, purchasing parking ticket through mobile app might be bit tricky! There are playing machines available with Contactless Payment. Disabled ♿ 🅿 Blue Badge Holders are not exempt from parking charges and must Pay & Display or buy tickets through mobile app.

The Country Park is a favourite destination for all ages of all abilities - nature lovers, joggers 🚶, runners 🏃, dog-walkers, cycling 🚴 groups, children, families! TrailNet - a community interest company - is doing an amazing job providing onsite training, guided cycling tour and accessible bikes for those with access needs!

One drawback is that there is no Children's Play Area. The nearest play area is at the nearby King George's Playing Fields - further North of the Thorndon North. A nature-themed children's play area with adventure sports could be another valuable addition to this magnificent country park

It is a must visit Park...

Some reviews speak about parking charges, but you pay 3 times that to go to a cinema. This park is much better than watching some of the rubbish films we've all seen at times! A peaceful paradise of light green fields, dark green cool woods, small winding paths of hazelnut brown earth meander through them so each walk you take is a new journey where only the noise of the wind rustling the leaves of the trees and the bird song breaks your concentration. As you near the lake, there is the occasional splash of a fish leaping or a duck landing in the water to annoy the odd fisherman having a lazy afternoon by the water. Cows wander the higher fields, ancient burial mounds adorn the landscape, tall grasses to play hide or seek with a lover or for kids to play. A Barbecue area for parties with your mates, deep dark forests of old trees to make you feel at peace as you take a break from the suffocating city life of concrete buildings. A cafe hidden inside the woods of the North or another cafe on a hill in the South so you can have some of the modern life conveniences such as a tea & cake. No, this is a great place that we're lucky Lord Petre gave to the council to maintain for public use rather than remain in private ownership. 600 acres of ancient medieval deer park, meadows and forest that date back to William the Conquer's time, available for anyone to enjoy....

Thorndon Country Park is a beautiful place to visit, offering scenic walking trails suitable for all ages and mobility needs. Whether you’re out for a casual stroll, a family day with kids, or a longer nature walk, the park provides a peaceful and enjoyable experience. The well-maintained paths, stunning woodland, and open spaces make it a great spot to unwind and take in nature.

One of the highlights is how accessible the park is, with routes that cater to different levels of mobility, making it welcoming for everyone. It’s also a great place for children, with plenty of space to explore.

The only downside is the parking payment system. The signal for WiFi and 4G is unreliable, making it difficult to pay via phone, and unfortunately, there is no cash payment option. This can be frustrating, especially for those who may struggle with digital payments.

That being said, Thorndon Country Park is an amazing place to visit, and we highly recommend it. Just be prepared for potential parking issues, and you’re in for a wonderful...