Clacton Area Guide
Clacton-on-Sea, the largest town on the Essex Sunshine Coast, is a bustling but affordable seaside resort. It boasts an array of entertainment facilities including a pleasure pier, arcades, the Princes and the Westcliff Theatres, a golf course, seafront walks, water sports and an airfield offering pleasure flights.
The main shopping area contains many of the more familiar national chains, independent stores as well as a variety of eateries to tantalise your taste buds which is a common theme throughout the area. Just outside of town is Clacton Factory Outlet offering a wide range of individual stores with famous name brands at discounted prices.
An eclectic annual events programme including fetes, fairs, carnivals and the two day annual Clacton Airshow in August will keep you occupied throughout your stay.
The town's economy continues to rely significantly on entertainment and day-trip facilities and it is strong in the service sector, with a large retired population. The north-west part of the town has two business/industrial parks. In the wider district, agriculture and occupations connected to the Port of Harwich provide further employment.
A renaissance of the seafront is underway in the form of a £36 million pound coastal defence project from Clacton Pier to Holland Haven covering 5kms creating 22 new glorious beaches in separate bays which can be enjoyed at all states of the tide.
In terms of primary school education then Great Clacton Junior School or Great Clacton Church of England Junior School are both good options. Clacton County High School and Clacton Coastal Academy are the main local high schools but it is also worth noting that Colchester Grammar School is only 15 miles away.
Travel wise, Clacton has excellent links to major UK roads with Colchester a short way along the A133. Rail links with London are also fantastic, with direct trains every hour into Liverpool Street that takes just 1 hour and 25 minutes.
London Stansted Airport (STN) is approximately 48 miles away.