The Bauble

A massive bronze sphere sits in the Essex countryside east of Braintree, looking like something that fell from space and decided to stay. The Bauble is exactly what its name suggests - a gleaming orb of a monument that catches the light in ways that shift throughout the day. You can walk right up to it, circle it, and stand beneath it feeling pleasantly dwarfed.

It's the sort of thing that stops you mid-drive. Not a destination that demands hours, but absolutely worth a 20-minute detour if you're staying at one of the nearby caravan parks like Gosfield Lake Resort or Stocks Farm Camping. The walk from the road is easy enough, though you might get muddy depending on the season.

Historically minded visitors will want context - it's a bold contemporary piece that makes you think about what Essex has become. Families passing through won't regret the stop; kids find it genuinely striking rather than boring. Photographers will circle it obsessively, which says something about its design.

Open year-round and free to visit, it's low-fuss tourism. Go mid-afternoon when the light angles properly across the surface. Pair it with a walk around the wider area if you've got time - the countryside here is rolling and genuine, not flattened. If you're camped nearby, it's an easy evening walk before dinner.