Brentwood

Getting there

By car Brentwood is accessible by car via the A12.

By train Both stations are served by the Elizabeth line (Crossrail) from Reading, which also goes to Abbey Wood and Heathrow Airport . Brentwood is in TfL fare zone 9 and can be reached via an Oyster or Travelcard, however, Shenfield requires a train ticket.

1 Brentwood railway station (10 minute's walk away, down King's Road). With direct Elizabeth line trains to London Liverpool St and London Paddington. Trains leave every 10 minutes during off-peak periods. (updated Oct 2022) 2 Shenfield railway station. The eastern terminus of the Elizabeth line. It also has Great Anglia trains to Ipswich, Southend-on-Sea, Colchester, Braintree, Witham, Clacton-on-Sea and Ingatestone. (updated Oct 2022)

Getting around

You can easily get to Brentwood's high street by foot or by one of the taxis always waiting at the station.

By minibus Brentwood Coaches.

See

1 Brentwood Cathedral. (updated Mar 2018) 2 Chapel of Thomas Becket, 44 High St, CM14 4AJ (in front of the Bay Tree Shopping centre). The ruins of a 13th-century stone chapel dedicated to St Thomas a Becket. Until the 19th century Brentwood's parish church was St Peter's in nearby South Weald and the chapel, which largely served travellers on the London to Colchester road and pilgrims heading for Becket's tomb in Canterbury, fell into disuse as travel by carriage became generalized. The chapel was later used as a schoolroom before becoming derelict. The High Street follows the path of the Roman road between London and the capital of Roman Britain, Colchester. 3 Brentwood Museum, 2 Lorne Rd, Warley, CM14 5HG, ☏ +44 1277 218854. Su 2:30PM-4:30PM (April to October, first Sunday of every month). A great place to visit if you want to find out a bit more about this historic town. Housed in a 19th-century building, previously a sexton’s cottage; you will find a wonderful collection of social and domestic objects dating from 1840 to 1950. (updated Mar 2018)

High Street The High Street retains a few buildings from the 15th and 16th centuries but unlike in nearby Chipping Ongar and Billericay, these are spaced too widely apart to appeal to the casual visitor. Many of the High Street's older buildings are obscured by later frontages, notably the former White Hart Inn, which boasts a galleried 16th-century courtyard behind its neo-Georgian facade. The building now houses a nightclub and is only accessible to customers. All but one of Brentwood High Street's traditional pubs have given way to chain eateries and drinking has shifted from the eastern to the western end of the road, where large theme pubs have taken over former retail spaces. The exception is The Swan, an ancient inn rebuilt in the early 20th century. William Hunter a Protestant martyr, was burnt at the stake in Brentwood in 1555 at the age of 19 after being caught reading the bible in the chapel. Hunter, who

Do

For those who enjoy clubbing, the Eclipse club/pub is an option. If you're looking for somewhere actually designed for young people the Hermit Club showcases (mostly) local bands on Wednesdays and Fridays from 7ish until late and although prices vary it is unlikely that you'll spend more than £5 getting in.

1 Old MacDonald's Farm, Weald Rd, Brentwood CM14 5AY (5 minutes from M25 J28), ☏ +44 1277 375177. Daily 10 am – 5 pm. Open weekends only, 5–25 January. Closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. A colourful farming adventure for all the family. As well as the usual fluffy bunnies, pigs, cows and sheep you will find reindeer and rare breeds from wallabies to alpacas. There is an indoor and an outdoor play area to occupy the kids in all weathers and the Farmyard Café has a full range of hot and cold meals, snacks and refreshments on offer. (updated Feb 2023)

Buy

Brentwood has the usual array of British chain shops, including Argos, Marks & Spencer, Robert Dyas, mobile phone brands and a rather feeble Waterstones. As in most towns of its size, trade is dominated by and dependent on a single major supermarket, here Sainsbury's, which occupies the site of the town's former Thermos Flask factory and open-air swimming pool. Locals now work and swim elsewhere. The future of many of the shops appears to be uncertain. Shops have fallen victim to the financial downturn or the draw of nearby Lakeside Shopping Centre or the expensive parking, depending on one's point of view. On the bright side, for the wealthier shopper, Curry's has been replaced by an expensive cookware shop and Sainsbury's offers free parking for people who spend money at Sainsbury's. One useful insider tip: all of Brentwood's pubs operate a similar scheme, offering free drinks and parking in exchange for pounds sterling.

Calcott Hall Farm. Calcott Hall Farm, up the Ongar Road to the north, just beyond the A12 bypass, sells its own excellent produce and other treats including very nice beer from the Brentwood Brewing Company. Probably the safest way to sample a Brentwood Blonde (it's a beer). (updated Mar 2018)

Drink & nightlife

People come from miles around to drink in Brentwood, for some this is a good reason to avoid the place. The High Street and surrounding roads are chock full of bars and pubs, ranging from the quiet cosy "local" pubs to the C-list celebrity-packed and extremely loud Sugar Hut Village although be wary, they don't just serve drinks there. The days are long gone of squaddies brawling with teddy boys in the High Street after the long crawl through patriotically-named, military pubs from the barracks at Warley. Nowadays, young male and female civilians brawl outside the Sugar Hut with firefighters.

1 The Swan, 123 High St, CM14 4RX, ☏ +44 1277 211848. 10AM-1AM. For visitors who prefer to think of themselves as lovers, not fighters, The Swan is probably the only safe choice in the High Street, but in here you won't find the glamorous, orange-skinned creatures you may have admired in the TV documentaries that elevated Brentwood to national fame. The Swan has a civilized yard at the rear with plenty of seating for smokers and lovers of fresh air. The local wine society convenes mid-afternoon daily in this area for congenial chat over Superkings and Shiraz. There is parking too, but make sure you buy a drink. (updated Mar 2018) 2 Victoria Arms, 50 Ongar Rd, CM15 9AX, ☏ +44 1277 223371. M-Th 11AM-11PM, F Sa 11AM-midnight, Su noon-11PM. To the north of the High Street lie the best bets for traditional pubs and a welcome for visitors from out of town. The Victoria Arms is cosy and old fashioned, with outside space, lots of ornaments inside and many whiskies to choose from. (updated Mar 2018) 3 Rising Sun, 144 Ongar Rd, CM15 9DJ, ☏ +44 1277 213749. M-Th 3PM-11:30PM, F 3PM-midnight, Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. For the beer drinker, The Rising Sun has by far the best selection of cask ales in town, including some local beers. It is cosy, warm, friendly and has parking and a small terrace where the Cheeky Cockle van sells vinegary seafood treats the equal of anything to be f

Sleep

1 H