In Harlow, public art, local history, designed gardens and green spaces are the focus of different areas to explore. You can set your own priorities for your trip, from sculptures and historic collections to parkland and activities in the wider River Stort region.
Public Sculptures and Local History
Harlow is considered the world’s first “Sculpture Town” and features more than 100 public sculptures. The sculpture trail includes works by Henry Moore, Elisabeth Frink and Barbara Hepworth. You can also seek out a particular work: Henry Moore’s sculpture “Upright Motive No.2” is located in the Harlow Water Gardens.
The Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens presents the town’s history from the Iron Age to the present day. The museum includes three historic gardens across two acres of green space. The exhibition also features finds excavated at the Roman temple site in Harlow. This gives local history and archaeological finds their own cultural focus alongside the public art collection.
Parkland and Wildlife Experiences
Harlow Town Park covers more than 160 acres of green space. Its water garden, also known as the Watercress Beds, consists of three cascading ponds fed by natural springs. If you’re interested in orienteering, there are four orienteering courses in the park. As course arrangements may change, it’s a good idea to check the latest information before your visit.
Pets’ Corner offers a different insight into wildlife: the aquarium features fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Every weekday, it offers animal experiences for people of all ages from four upwards and for visitors with different abilities. If you’d like to take part in a particular experience, check the booking arrangements in advance.
Gibberd Garden also brings together garden design and art. Sir Frederick and Lady Pat Gibberd designed the garden, which is listed as Grade II in the British heritage classification. Its landscape features include formal terraces, lawns, ponds and avenues; woodland glades lead down to Pincey Brook. Modern sculptures and architectural objects collected by the couple over the course of their lives are also part of the collection. Visitor access is seasonal, so check the access arrangements before planning a specific visit.
For a nature-focused outing, consider Parndon Wood Nature Reserve. This ancient woodland is home to many birds, small mammals and deer; plants and fungi are also part of its natural environment. The woodland offers a different focus from the designed terraces, avenues and ponds at Gibberd Garden.
Art, the River Stort and Activities
Parndon Mill is an arts and creative centre in a picturesque riverside setting in north-west Harlow, on the River Stort. Parndon Mill runs workshops and courses in artists’ studios and in the Project Space. The Gallery hosts exhibitions of art and craft. The Stort Sculpture Trail also begins near Harlow, at Parndon Mill Lock.
In the wider River Stort region, there are routes for walking and cycling, as well as opportunities for canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. A specialist climbing and paddlesports centre in Harlow offers high ropes activities, abseiling, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and bumble. Check which activities are available before booking.
Guests can use the swimming pool, fitness classes, Urban Limitz, VertiGo and Kidzz Kingdom at Harlow Leisurezone. As these are current offerings, check the information when planning your visit. The theatres and studios at Harlow Playhouse may be hired for events, classes and rehearsals, subject to suitability and availability.
Getting Here and Choosing Your Focus
Harlow Town railway station has connections to London Liverpool Street, Cambridge and Stansted Airport. Check the timetable and connections before travelling. Harlow also has a cycle network connecting all parts of the town; you can plan specific routes to suit your plans. Harlow Town Railway station is beside the River Stort, with just a short walk across the road to the riverside path.
When choosing a place to stay in Harlow, you can first decide what matters most for your trip: public art and local history, historic gardens and parkland, or nature and activities in the wider River Stort region. These different areas of interest offer starting points for your plans without requiring you to fit everything into a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Black Notley, Theydon Bois, Weeley, Basildon, Rochford, Birchanger, Takeley, Warley.
For the broader travel overview: Essex.
