Essex


<p>We know we have some gorgeous Essex beaches, but if you fancy going further afield, our neighbours in Suffolk &amp; Norfolk have beaches by the bucket and spade load, and are definitely worth the short road trip. Here are our top 10 beaches that we think are worth the drive, both here in Essex and further afield.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frinton-on-sea-essex">Frinton-on-Sea, Essex </h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Frinton-Beach-720x287-copy.jpg" alt="Frinton on sea beach" class="wp-image-28706" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Frinton-Beach-720x287-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Frinton-Beach-720x287-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Frinton-Beach-720x287-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Picture by Nigel Pepper Photography</figcaption></figure>



<p>First on our Essex beaches list is Frinton-on-Sea. This is vintage seaside glamour straight from a 1920s postcard: tree-lined avenues, a flower-filled esplanade, rows of candy-coloured beach huts, and a soft sandy beach made for slow, barefoot, deeply satisfying strolls.</p>



<p>The vibe is deliciously genteel, and Frinton is entirely unapologetic about it. Fair warning: if you’re secretly hoping to sneak off for a 2p slot machine marathon, you’re out of luck — there are no amusement arcades here, and the locals would like to keep it that way, thank you very much. Thrills are served old-school: a perfect horizon, good company, and an ice cream that doesn’t need a flashing light-up cone to justify itself.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-west-mersea-essex">West Mersea, Essex</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/West-mersea-copy.jpg" alt="West Mersea" class="wp-image-28716" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/West-mersea-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/West-mersea-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/West-mersea-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Wedged between the weathered houseboats of Mersea’s mudflats and the marshland causeway, ‘Monkey’ is a cracker of a beach to meander along as you unearth oyster shells from the sands. Why Monkey? Some say a monkey used to live at a now long-gone lookout post; trained to make a sound when ships approached!&nbsp;Primates aside, little ones will love the crabbing spots, so bring a net, then head for the nearby&nbsp;<a href="https://www.the-company-shed.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Company Shed</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://www.westmerseaoysterbar.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oyster Bar</a>&nbsp;for West Mersea’s signature dish: fresh oysters served with lemon and lashings of dry white wine.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-naze-essex">The Naze, Essex</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Naze.jpeg" alt="The Naze" class="wp-image-28714" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Naze.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Naze-800x534.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Naze-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>A peaceful stretch of powdery sand, The Naze beach backs onto a crumbling set of cliffs that jut dramatically out into the sea and offer unrivalled views of the Essex coast. Often overlooked for neighbouring Walton-on-the-Naze, it’s a uniquely positioned spot for beach-goers keen to swap crowds and kids that&#8217;ll delight in finding fossils. It also boasts an 18th-century&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nazetower.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tower</a>&nbsp;complete with art gallery, museum and café. Just be sure to bring a head for heights, as you reach the top via a 111 step spiral staircase (but the view is well worth the climb, we promise).</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-southwold-suffolk">Southwold, Suffolk </h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/1286-southwold-14122021111451-xlarge-1000x667-copy.jpg" alt="Southwold" class="wp-image-28700" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/1286-southwold-14122021111451-xlarge-1000x667-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/1286-southwold-14122021111451-xlarge-1000x667-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/1286-southwold-14122021111451-xlarge-1000x667-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Those candy-coloured beach huts? Iconic. The price tag? Eye-watering, but then so is the view and nobody’s complaining. Southwold is the kind of place that makes you want to move here immediately, Google house prices, and quietly weep — but you’ll come back every summer anyway because&nbsp;<em>it’s just that good.</em></p>



<p>The beach is a stretch of soft sand, wide enough that you can actually spread out without your towel ending up under a stranger’s bottom. The town is a total love affair of independent boutiques, brilliant little cafés, and a food scene that firmly closes the door on soggy seafront sandwiches. This is&nbsp;<em>posh</em>&nbsp;seaside, done right.</p>



<p>And here’s the bit that makes us unreasonably happy: Adnams Brewery has lived here forever, which means the sea air carries just the faintest hint of hops. Honestly, it’s basically aromatherapy. Consider your weekend plans sorted.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-aldeburgh-suffolk">Aldeburgh, Suffolk </h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/The-Scallop-aldeburgh-1000x666-copy.jpg" alt="The Scallop, Aldeburgh" class="wp-image-28708" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/The-Scallop-aldeburgh-1000x666-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/The-Scallop-aldeburgh-1000x666-copy-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/The-Scallop-aldeburgh-1000x666-copy-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Yes, it’s mostly shingle — leave the bucket and spade at home, this isn’t that kind of beach. But what Aldeburgh trades in sandcastle potential it more than makes up for in knockout views, seriously chic boutiques, and what we’re convinced is the best fish and chips in Suffolk. Don’t take our word for it: just look at the queue snaking down the high street.</p>



<p>Once you’ve eaten your body weight in batter, walk it off on the coastal path to Thorpeness — a storybook little village so charming it barely feels real, complete with the famous whimsical House in the Clouds.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-lowestoft-suffolk">Lowestoft, Suffolk</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/22_Lowestoft_Beach__Prom_Jon_Gibbs-1000x470-1.jpg" alt="Lowesstoft beach" class="wp-image-28701" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/22_Lowestoft_Beach__Prom_Jon_Gibbs-1000x470-1.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/22_Lowestoft_Beach__Prom_Jon_Gibbs-1000x470-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/22_Lowestoft_Beach__Prom_Jon_Gibbs-1000x470-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The sand here is so soft and golden you’ll do a double-take on your passport — yes, you’re still in East Anglia. Kick off your shoes, tip your face to the sun, and if you can block out the gulls for thirty seconds, it’s practically the Maldives. Cheaper flights, though and much cheaper cocktails.</p>



<p>It’s brilliantly set up for families — there’s a long, buggy-friendly promenade for when&nbsp;<a href="https://suffolkcambs.muddystilettos.co.uk/spotlight/summer-holidays-activites-suffolk-cambs/">little legs</a>&nbsp;stage their inevitable sandcastle revolt, plus all the classic seaside fodder your inner child has been quietly craving: fish ‘n’ chips, candy floss, the full calorific line-up. Zero guilt. This is holiday eating.</p>



<p>Sunny days here are full-on kiddy paradise, but our insider tip? Head to the Pakefield end. Horse riding along the shoreline, dunes rolling out behind you, and a proper hit of wild, windswept Suffolk drama. It feels a world away, and it’s basically down the road.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-old-hunstanton-norfolk">Old Hunstanton, Norfolk </h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Old-Hunstanton-Beach-667x500-copy.jpg" alt="Old Hunstanton beach" class="wp-image-28702" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Old-Hunstanton-Beach-667x500-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Old-Hunstanton-Beach-667x500-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Old-Hunstanton-Beach-667x500-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>If your idea of beach hell is being sardined next to a stranger’s windbreak, come here immediately. Old Hunstanton is gloriously, expansively&nbsp;<em>uncrowded</em>&nbsp;— even on a scorcher, there’s enough sand to swing a kite (and plenty of people doing exactly that). Big skies, oodles of parking, and a view so ridiculously pretty it should honestly cost more.</p>



<p>When the kids decide that stunning natural beauty isn’t quite enough entertainment, and they will, Hunstanton Beach is just along the coast and ready to deliver: arcades, ice cream, and all the gloriously trashy seaside razzmatazz your afternoon needs. The best of both worlds, basically. You get the zen, they get the chaos. Everyone wins.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-holkham-beach-norfolk">Holkham Beach, Norfolk </h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="999" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Holkham-Beach-1-720x382-copy.jpg" alt="Holkham beach" class="wp-image-28705" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Holkham-Beach-1-720x382-copy.jpg 999w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Holkham-Beach-1-720x382-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/Holkham-Beach-1-720x382-copy-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 999px) 100vw, 999px" /></figure>



<p>Bring your walking shoes, your sense of wonder, and maybe a podcast — because Holkham is&nbsp;<em>epic</em>&nbsp;in the most gloriously extra way. One of the biggest beaches in the UK, where getting to the sea is half the adventure. You’ll arrive along a grand, tree-lined avenue (there’s a dinky coffee cart en route — tempting, we know, but hold off: no loos until you’re back), wind through cool woodland, cross raised boardwalks, and then the dunes part like a curtain and&nbsp;<em>there it is</em>. That view. The one you’ve double-tapped a hundred times. In real life, it’s even better.</p>



<p>Roam for miles on sand that feels genuinely untouched, lose the kids in the dunes for a blissful ten minutes, and breathe in great lungfuls of Norfolk air. Then, when you’ve had your fill of wild and windswept, simply cross the road to the Holkham Estate, because this is the kind of beach that comes with a stately home on the side, naturally. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-brancaster-norfolk">Brancaster, Norfolk</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/brancaster-1-720x480-copy.jpg" alt="Brancaster beach" class="wp-image-28707" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/brancaster-1-720x480-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/brancaster-1-720x480-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/brancaster-1-720x480-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Another of Norfolk’s gloriously never-ending golden stretches — where you can wander for miles and the view keeps reinventing itself. No two steps look the same. Little explorers will be absolutely obsessed with hunting for the eerie remains of an old shipwreck at low tide (spooky, brilliant, free entertainment — tick, tick, tick), and dog owners can breathe easy: there’s always a paw-friendly section open year-round.</p>



<p>One non-negotiable before you set off though:&nbsp;<em>check the tide times</em>. The access route can flood, and while “stranded on a deserted beach” sounds wildly romantic in theory, the reality involves seagulls, no snacks, and an increasingly anxious scroll through your phone looking for signal.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wells-next-the-sea-norfolk"><strong>Wells-Next-The-Sea, Norfolk</strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/wells-720x291-copy.jpg" alt="Wells-Next-The-Sea" class="wp-image-28709" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/wells-720x291-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/wells-720x291-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/wells-720x291-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image credit: © Holkham Estate.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Often hailed as the best beach in Norfolk, and honestly? We’re not here to argue. Wells-next-the-Sea is the whole glorious package — miles of soft golden sand, paddling-perfect shallows, and a parade of brightly painted beach huts that flip an instant switch to full holiday mode.</p>



<p>It’s a total family (and dog) paradise: little ones can run themselves beautifully ragged, birdwatchers get their fix without having to hike to the ends of the earth, and four-legged members of the gang are welcome year-round. The café and ice cream van have you covered on the catering front, and, brace yourself, the car park is so close you won’t even break a sweat hauling the cool box. Revolutionary, frankly.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blakeney-beach-norfolk"><strong>Blakeney Beach, Norfolk </strong></h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/blakeney-1-720x480-copy.jpg" alt="Blakeney beach" class="wp-image-28710" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/blakeney-1-720x480-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/blakeney-1-720x480-copy-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/05/blakeney-1-720x480-copy-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Calling it a beach feels like a bit of an understatement — this is a swoon-worthy slice of Norfolk’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and it knows it. Marshland, sand hills, shimmering mud banks: it’s wild and elemental and frankly quite rude in how beautiful it is.</p>



<p>Come for a bracing walk (ideally ending in equally charming Cley-next-the-Sea), and bring your binoculars if wildlife is your thing — seals and rare birds are the undisputed local celebrities, and dogs will absolutely lose their minds.</p>



<p>The village itself is pure coastal fantasy. Flint cottages, pastel-hued “wish I lived there” houses, and gift shops stacked with seaside treasures that whisper&nbsp;<em>take me home</em>. Will that driftwood candle holder look quite as chic on your kitchen windowsill as it does here? Probably not. Will you buy it anyway? Absolutely you will.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">In the mood for more?</h2>



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Vitamin Sea! 10 Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk beaches worth the road trip

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