Thurrock Tourist Information

Thurrock is situated in the south-west of Essex and borders the north bank of the River Thames. Thurrock is the gateway to London with easy access to both Kent and Essex via the M25 motorway and Queen Elizabeth Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Europe.

This thriving borough encompasses huge swathes of green belt country and along its 18 miles of Thames frontage are many important marshland wildlife habitats. The area's strategic riverside location and vast natural resources are the key to its past and future development, growth and success.

Thurrock has attracted many commercial success stories, including the spectacular Lakeside Retail Park, and shopping centre, one of the largest in Europe with superb shopping facilities. Thurrock's town centres and villages also offer a range of high street brand name retailers, family-run shops and market stalls.

Apart from shopping there are many more temptations to draw you to the area. For lovers of history and heritage Thurrock's fascinating past will be of great interest. Prehistoric tribes settled here and worked the land. In classical times Romans, followed by Anglo-Saxons, whose settlement was unearthed by archaeologists at Mucking. The importance of agriculture in the area continued into the medieval period, reflected by the magnificent Woolmarket at Horndon-on-the-Hill.

The defence of the capital was closely linked with Thurrock. Henry VIII built riverside Block Houses at East and West Tilbury, which later became Coalhouse Fort and Tilbury Fort. It was at West Tilbury that Queen Elizabeth I gave her famous speech to her troops, gathered to meet the Spanish Armada threat. Both forts played an important defence role during the two world wars and visitors can see military hardware from the world war period at the forts as well as enjoying the tremendous river views.