| One thing Essex certainly isn’t short of is beaches. | | | | connection from London and Ipswich, bus service from |
| For many, many years the Essex coastline has | | | | Frinton on Sea and Clacton on Sea, or by road from |
| proved to be a popular holiday destination for London | | | | the south, from London and Colchester via the A12, |
| and the Home Counties, as well as attracting tourists | | | | A120, A120, A133 and B1034 and from the north, from |
| visiting from Europe and even further afield. | | | | Ipswich via the A12, A120, A133 and B1034. |
| For your convenience we have brought together | | | | Brightlingsea Beach (Brightlingsea) |
| information and resources for the majority of Essex | | | | Brightlingsea on the River Colne is rich in seafaring |
| Beaches to be found along our counties picturesque | | | | history and has the distinction of being the only Cinque |
| coastline. | | | | Port outside Kent and Sussex. The town is a haven |
| Canvey Coastline | | | | for yachting and hosts international sailing events |
| Thorney Bay Beach (Canvey Island) | | | | annually. Its sandy Blue Flag beach runs along Western |
| This quiet and sheltered sandy beach is ideal for | | | | Promenade next to Batemans Tower, a historic local |
| families and for a great relaxing day out. The beach is | | | | landmark. A parade of beach huts line an attractive |
| surrounded by large open grass areas with picnic | | | | and enjoyable waterside walk where you can join the |
| tables, a children’s play park and free car park. | | | | nature trail along the site of an old railway line to |
| There is also a newly opened café, with public | | | | Alresford Creek. A range of sports and leisure |
| toilets, that allows for that all important cup of tea, hot | | | | activities are available along the promenade and sailing |
| lunch or just a cool ice cream to sooth away the | | | | barges offer pleasure trips to visitors. Access by road |
| rigors of sun bathing, rock pooling or ball games on the | | | | is via the B1027 and B1029. |
| grass. Picnics and paddling are always a favourite at | | | | Dovercourt Bay Beach (Dovercourt, Harwich) |
| this beach. | | | | Dovercourt is a peaceful family resort with gentle |
| All this and yet just an hour from Fenchurch Street | | | | shelving sand and shingle Blue Flag beaches, including |
| station in London via a short bus hop and short walk. | | | | the land mark historic leading lights. A wide range of |
| The A127 & A13 from London and the A130 from | | | | family activities are available along the promenade, |
| Chelmsford all head towards Canvey. Alternatively, | | | | including an impressive range of sport and leisure |
| frequent buses from Benfleet train station will drop you | | | | facilities e.g. skate park and model yacht pond and |
| off at the livelier Canvey seafront areas – but then | | | | boating lake. The resort enjoys panoramic views of |
| it’s just 400 yards of soft grassy seawall slopes to | | | | Harwich and the port of Felixstowe and Hamford |
| take you to this little Canvey gem. | | | | Water National Nature Reserve. Enjoy a stroll around |
| Labworth Beach (Canvey Island) | | | | the narrow streets in the historic old town of Harwich |
| Stretching along for 900 yards on the north bank of | | | | or walk along the seawall to the nature reserve with |
| the Thames, you can choose a quiet spot or a more | | | | its resident seals. |
| popular area of this beach and walk the high or low | | | | Located adjacent to the town of Dovercourt, access |
| promenade paths or mown grass slopes that fall | | | | by road is via the A120 following the signs for Award |
| between. There are café’s & snack bars | | | | Beach, by mainline rail from London and Ipswich, |
| abound and there is even a top quality restaurant set | | | | Dovercourt or Harwich Station. There is also a bus |
| in an Ove Arup designed circular building called the | | | | service from Colchester, Clacton and Ipswich. |
| Labworth Café, alternatively the Concord café | | | | Frinton Beach (Frinton on Sea) |
| snack bar is set right on the beach itself. The large | | | | Frinton on Sea is a quiet family beach destination |
| park is continually being added to and wide open | | | | located on the Essex Sunshine Coast. A gently |
| grassy areas are set with sensory garden areas and | | | | shelving sandy beach noted for its cleanliness and |
| ornate flower beds. For the children there are two | | | | gentility, the area places special emphasis on relaxed |
| large sea water paddling pools to provide hours of fun | | | | family fun at the seaside. Enjoy walks along the |
| along with a children’s fun fair, amusements and | | | | extensive greensward or take a short walk into the |
| mini golf. The Times newspaper recently placed | | | | town centre with its full range of shopping amenities. A |
| Canvey beach in their top ten great British attractions. | | | | walk in one direction brings you to Walton on the Naze, |
| Come to Canvey seafront to enjoy the sun, have | | | | a lively seaside resort, and in the other direction to |
| family fun or just watch the world go by or the large | | | | Holland Haven Country Park, a local nature reserve. |
| boats on the river – it really is a great British day | | | | The Quality Coast Award beach is located adjacent |
| out! | | | | to the town of Frinton on Sea, on the Essex Sunshine |
| By car, just follow the A127 & A13 from London | | | | Coast. Access is by mainline railway to Frinton on Sea |
| or the A130 from Chelmsford – car parking is | | | | with connections from London and Ipswich, by bus |
| always available. Try the Train from Fenchurch Street | | | | services from Clacton on Sea and Walton on the |
| station in London and a short bus hop right to the | | | | Naze, or access via road, from the south via the A12, |
| bandstand at the beach. | | | | A120, A133 and B1033 and from the north, from |
| Southend on Sea Coastline | | | | Ipswich via A14, A12, A120, A133 and B133. |
| Southend on Sea has seven miles of sparkling | | | | Harwich Beach (Harwich) |
| seafront spanning from Shoeburyness to Leigh on | | | | Harwich Quality Coast Award Beach is located |
| Sea. Along this unique stretch of coastline you will find | | | | adjacent to the historic town of Harwich on the |
| six very special beaches. | | | | estuary of the rivers Stour and Orwell in north east |
| Bell Wharf Beach (Leigh on Sea) | | | | Essex. The town is an important port and the old town |
| A very small and sandy beach which is extremely | | | | of Harwich is a conservation area, containing many |
| popular with families, situated at the eastern end of Old | | | | beautiful historic buildings. |
| Leigh in an area famous for cockle fishing and heritage. | | | | Harwich Beach is a rare example of an emerging |
| Shops, cafés and car parking are close by. Access | | | | dune system in Essex, where the coast is |
| is from Leigh Old Town and Leigh railway station is ten | | | | predominately saltmarsh. It could be best described as |
| minutes walk away. | | | | a "working beach" that fishermen and sailors use |
| Winner of the prestigious ENCAMS Quality Coast | | | | throughout the year to launch, land and moor their |
| Award 2008. | | | | boats on. Although not a designated bathing beach, it |
| Chalkwell Beach (Chalkwell) | | | | offers excellent views of Felixstowe docks. For this |
| This is a long, narrow sandy beach with refreshments, | | | | reason it is ideal for those that wish to enjoy a walk |
| car parking and volunteer lifeguards at weekends. | | | | along the seashore in both the summer and winter. |
| Access is from Chalkwell Gardens and Western | | | | Access by road is via the A120; follow the signs for |
| Esplanade, and Chalkwell railway station is at the | | | | the Town Centre and Navyard. It is served by mainline |
| western end of the beach. | | | | rail from London and Ipswich, to Harwich. There are |
| Winner of the prestigious ENCAMS Quality Coast | | | | also bus services from Colchester, Clacton and |
| Award 2008. | | | | Ipswich. |
| East Beach (Shoeburyness) | | | | Martello Bay Beach (Clacton on Sea) |
| This small sandy beach, with a grassy headland, has | | | | Clacton on Sea is the largest and busiest of the Essex |
| excellent car parking, café, recreation area, beach | | | | Sunshine Coast's resorts. It boasts beautiful golden |
| shower and toilets. There are also zoned areas for | | | | beaches, a fun-packed pier, exceptionally maintained |
| water sports. Access is via Eastern Esplanade and | | | | seafront gardens, sea front kiosks, two theatres and |
| Thorpe Bay, and Shoeburyness railway station is only | | | | pleasure flights. |
| 5 minutes away. | | | | This beach can also boast Blue Flag status which was |
| Winner of the prestigious EU Blue Flag and ENCAMS | | | | regained this year. The beach is gently shelving and |
| Quality Coast Award 2008. | | | | benefits from a child safety wristband scheme to |
| Jubilee Beach (Southend) | | | | provide reassurance for parents. |
| Southend's fantastic new beach opened in July 2002. | | | | The thriving town centre combines national chain |
| Jubilee Beach was created from the construction of | | | | stores with independent shops; the nearby factory |
| the improved flood defences, and stretches from | | | | shopping village offers designer labels at bargain prices. |
| Southend Pier to Thorpe Bay. The Marine Parade | | | | A calendar of events (including a free two day Air |
| section of the beach is very popular with families and | | | | Show) keep visitors entertained throughout the year. |
| has cafés, restaurants, beach goods shops; | | | | Martello Bay is located approximately one mile from |
| amusements and car parking close by. Access is from | | | | town centre and is adjacent to West Beach. The |
| Marine Parade and Eastern Esplanade. Southend | | | | town is served by mainline railway connections to |
| Central railway station is ten minutes walk away. | | | | London and Ipswich and road connections from the |
| Winner of the prestigious ENCAMS Quality Coast | | | | north (Ipswich and Colchester) via A12, A120 and A133. |
| Award 2008. | | | | The Naze Beach (Walton on the Naze) |
| Shoebury Common Beach (Shoeburyness) | | | | The Naze has a Quality Coast Award and is located |
| Shoebury Common Beach (also known as West | | | | just north of Walton on the Naze, in north east Essex. |
| Beach) is a long pebble/sand beach with controlled | | | | The beautiful Naze cliffs and national nature reserve |
| slipway access for Personal Watercraft and Dinghies. | | | | provide the perfect opportunity for walking and bird |
| This popular beach has a café, car parking and | | | | watching. Gaze across Hamford Water and watch |
| good amenities. Access is via Eastern Esplanade and | | | | yachts enter and leave Titchmarsh Marina, while in the |
| Thorpe Bay. Thorpe Bay railway station is about 15 | | | | background large vessels sail to and from the Port of |
| minutes away. | | | | Harwich. |
| Winner of the prestigious EU Blue Flag and ENCAMS | | | | Access is by mainline railway connection from London |
| Quality Coast Award 2008. | | | | and Ipswich. There are bus services from Frinton on |
| Three Shells Beach (Southend) | | | | Sea and Clacton on Sea. Access is via road from the |
| Three Shells is a unique, small, family beach with all | | | | south from London and Colchester via the A12, A120, |
| facilities close by and near to the Town Centre. It is | | | | A133 and B1034. |
| well managed with support from the Local Trade | | | | West Beach (Clacton on Sea) |
| Association who valets the beach daily and has | | | | This is a busy and popular seaside resort on the |
| installed a beach shower and children's climbing frame. | | | | Essex Sunshine Coast. Its many attractions include, |
| Access is from Western Esplanade, to the west of | | | | Clacton Pier, bars, restaurants and town centre |
| the Pier. Southend Central railway is ten minutes walk | | | | shopping. The town boasts theatres that provide |
| away. | | | | traditional seaside entertainment and a cinema. Clacton |
| Winner of the ENCAMS Quality Coast Award 2008. | | | | hosts a large Air Show as part of its action packed |
| Tendring Coastline | | | | August Bank Holiday programme. It is also justly proud |
| With over 36 miles of clean, sandy beaches, you are | | | | of its beautifully maintained themed seafront gardens |
| bound to find just what you're looking for on the | | | | that line the upper promenade. Adjacent to Martello |
| Tendring coastline. We can also boast three blue flags | | | | Bay, the Quality Coast Award West Beach has gently |
| and six quality coast awards. Our seafront and nature | | | | shelving sand and with the added bonus of the |
| wardens are kept busy looking after all of our | | | | operation of Clacton's pioneering child safety wristband |
| beaches. | | | | scheme, gives parents that extra peace of mind. |
| Albion Beach (Walton on the Naze) | | | | Clacton on Sea is served by mainline railway |
| With one of the area's best beaches and home of the | | | | connections from London and Ipswich. Road |
| UK's second longest pier, Walton charms visitors of all | | | | connections south from London and Colchester are |
| ages. From beach activities to countryside walks, | | | | via the A12, A120 and A133 and north from Ipswich via |
| Walton has it all. Gently shelving beaches provide an | | | | the A14, A12, A120 and A133. |
| ideal location for a day by the sea. Nearby shopping | | | | We would like to thank the following local Councils for |
| and entertainment facilities ensure there is always | | | | kindly providing the information contained within this |
| something going on. | | | | article on Essex Beaches: |
| The beautiful Naze cliffs and National Nature Reserve | | | | Castle Point Borough Council |
| provide the perfect opportunity for walking and bird | | | | Southend on Sea Borough Council |
| watching. Gaze across Hamford Water and watch | | | | Tendring District Council |
| yachts enter and leave the marina whilst in the | | | | All the information contained within this article on Essex |
| background the large vessels sail towards the Port of | | | | Beaches was accurate at the time of being published, |
| Harwich. | | | | however we do suggest checking with the relevant |
| The Quality Coast Award beach is located adjacent | | | | council’s website before making any travel |
| to the town of Walton on the Naze, on the Essex | | | | arrangements if you have any particular requirements. |
| Sunshine Coast. Access is by a mainline railway | | | | |