A Merry Chigwell Christmas, One and All !!

The festive season is a magical time for everyone and in our corner of Essex there’s plenty to see and do at this time of year.

The author, Charles Dickens(1812-70), a frequent visitor, called Chigwell, …” the finest place in the world  and like many people, the undulating golden brown

leaves of Hainault Forest’s autumn landscape  blanketed  white  by the wintry snow in winter, creates unforgettable memories.

The  overwhelming charming bright street lights of Abridge village, shops and homes are a fascinating warm, and welcoming contrast to the no streets lights of Theydon Bois village.   Admire half-timbered buildings and take in the view along the River Roding from Abridge’s historic and Grade II listed brick bridge.

Book our our popular Mystery Christmas Tour where you will experience the full charm of an Essex village, followed by a delicious Christmas meal in a 400 year old inn with traditional decorations, low ceiling and log fire.

The brightly lit streets, homes, shops and the traditional Christmas tree in the centre of Abridge whether walking or driving paints a delightful image of a traditional English village, warm, wintry nights welcoming

The nearby village of Theydon Bois also harks back to Dickensian times; there are no

street lights here at all, which means that Theydon retains the same traditional village ambience it has held for decades. At Christmas, the absence of street lighting means that the Christmas trees, fairy lights, candles and other decorations in Theydon’s shops and homes twinkle just a little more brightly in the winter darkness, bringing colour and warmth to cold December nights.

Theydon Bois sits at the edge of the ancient and magnificent Epping Forest, and whether there’s a carpet of snow on the ground or simply the sparkle of frost in the air there’s little that can beat wrapping up in warm winter clothes, scarf, hat and gloves and taking a Christmas stroll in this wooded winter wonderland. And what better way to warm up after a bracing winter walk than with a warm drink by a roaring fire in one of Essex’s many historic and traditional inns?

At this time of year Chigwell itself is a hive of activity, from the annual turning on of the Chigwell Station Green Christmas lights at the beginning of the festive season to the various carol concerts and Christmas services in the village’s historic churches. The shops are decorated, aglow with Christmas lights and buzzing with shoppers, the inns are full of good cheer and in the windows of Chigwell’s many period houses and mansions, handsomely-decorated Christmas trees glitter and shine.

The beauty of Chigwell and its surrounding areas is that they are wonderful to visit not just at Christmas but at any time of year, and here at Chigwell Tours and Visits we look forward to welcoming our guests and introducing them to the many treasures that our corner of the County of Essex holds. Come and join us for our special Christmas tours.

Click and Make Christmas Special.

For now, let all of us at Chigwell Tours and Visits wish you a very  happy Christmas, and peaceful holiday and a safe, Covid-19 free, healthy, and prosperous New Year.