I went on a TOWIE bus tour of Brentwood with a friend a few years ago. It was so
tit it was hilarious! We went to Minnie's, Gemma's shop, Lucy's Boutique, Danielle's shop, Sugar Hut, a bar they always film in that's next to a dual carriageway, and Lockie's cafe (but you were only allowed in if you'd pre-ordered an overpriced item; we didn't bother and went to Greggs round the corner instead).
The shops were all full of overpriced tat, with the exception of Danielle's which has some nice stock and was run by Danielle's mum who was lovely. But it was in Hornchurch, not Brentwood, which seemed a bit random.
The only cast member we met was Gemma who was "working" in her shop (her mum was on the till). I say met it was more like briefly interacted with as when we went into the shop she was all "hi gewls" but as soon as she clocked that me and my friend weren't plus size and therefore unlikely to buy anything she disappeared off out the back never to be seen again
Me and my friend nearly got run over by Mario in his massive white Range Rover with personalised number plate as he didn't stop at a zebra crosssing. We also saw Sam and Billie's stepdad in Sugar Hut talking to some men and waving a wad of cash (this was at like 2pm on a random Wednesday).
The tour guide was the highlight as he knew a lot of the cast and had been an extra a few times. He had loads of stories (none of which I can remember now.......)