• Get in
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Eat
• Drink
• Sleep
• Get out

Harwich, pronounced 'Harich' or 'Harridge', is a port town in Essex, East Anglia.

Harwich lies at the junction of two estuaries and the area forms one of the UK's major harbours (although most freight shipping actually operates from Felixstowe, a short distance over the water, rather than from Harwich itself). Ferries to northern Europe operate from adjacent Parkeston, while there are fast rail and road links to London.

[edit] Get in

• Train: there are services roughly hourly from London Liverpool Street station. Some are direct and others require a change of trains in Manningtree. Harwich is also easily reached via Manningtree from Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Visitors intending to catch a ferry from Harwich should note that they must disembark from the train at Harwich International station; visitors to the town itself should continue through to Harwich Town station.
• Car: follow A12 eastbound from London.
• Car: follow A14 south/eastbound from Cambridge and Norwich changing to the A12 at Ipswich.
• Ferry: there are regular services between Harwich and Hook of Holland, Esbjerg and Cuxhaven. Cruise ships also call during the summer. Other Routes are present within the UK

[edit] Get around

Harwich is sufficiently small not to require public transport. There are buses and trains linking Harwich to adjacent Dovercourt and Parkeston, although the distance is walkable.

[edit] See

Local attractions include two lighthouses; the Electric Palace cinema, one of the oldest in Britain and now restored to its original state; the Redoubt fort, dating from the Napoleonic era; a lighthouse museum; a small beach; and of course ship-watching. Many attractions are open during the summer only.

[edit] Do

[edit] Buy

Shopping in Harwich itself is extremely limited, although there are a number of art, antique and book stores. Nearby Dovercourt has a number of small supermarkets, mainstream high-street shops, banks and so on, while Parkeston has recently been given the 'kiss of life' and has a number of newly built stores to shop at, including Peacocks, Focus and Argos.

[edit] Eat

The Pier Hotel has a well-regarded restaurant specialising in, although not limited to, seafood. The Pier Cafe, opposite the hotel on the pier itself, is especially popular during the summer. A number of pubs also serve food, notably the New Bell Inn (lunchtimes only).

[edit] Drink

Popular pubs include the traditional New Bell Inn and Hanover, the more youth-oriented Billy, and the Stingray with large-screen TV.

[edit] Sleep

The Pier Hotel is the only full-service hotel in Harwich, although there are a number of B&Bs and pubs with accommodation. Dovercourt offers a wider range of accommodation. There is a Premier Travel Inn in Parkeston, near the port.
Do not to stay at the 'campsite' in Harwich, better to drive to one of the camping grounds in the surrounding countryside.

[edit] Get out