What’s your favourite icon of Essex?

Visit Essex, the county’s tourism organisation, is asking the people of Essex what’s their favourite icon of Essex?

From Southend Pier to Colchester Castle, Essex is packed with top tourist destinations. It’s also the birthplace to a wide range of well-known figures from Dame Helen Mirren to Mark Wright.

The county’s food and drink is also legendary with Tiptree Jam and Maldon Sea Salt household names across the globe. Plus, the county’s vineyards are booming, and Essex’s sparkling white wines have been compared with the world’s finest.

But Visit Essex is keen to find out what the people of Essex feel are the places and well-known names they love best. Councillor Mark Durham, Chair of Visit Essex, explains: “Essex is full of iconic places from stately homes to theme parks. We also have a vast popular culture and history with standout characters, such as Boudicca, the Queen of the Iceni, to singer, Olly Murs.

Aston spoke to Cllr Mark Durham, chair of Visit Essex.