Clacton-on-Sea

Traditional seaside charm meets proper old-school entertainment on Essex's Sunshine Coast. This is Britain's original fun-by-the-sea town, where the pier stretches confidently into the North Sea and families have been making memories for over a century.

The sandy beach runs for miles - none of that pebble nonsense here. Kids can build proper sandcastles while parents eye up the Big Wheel spinning lazily above the promenade. Clacton Pier remains the star attraction, complete with its vintage Pirate Ship ride and the Pavilion Games arcade that sounds exactly as it should on a rainy afternoon.

When the weather turns, West Cliff Theatre and Princes Theatre keep the entertainment flowing. These aren't London's glitzy venues, but they serve up solid variety shows and touring productions that hit the spot after a day on the beach.

The town's got that slightly faded grandeur common to British seaside resorts. Some might call it tired, but there's something honest about Clacton's refusal to reinvent itself as a trendy coastal hotspot. It knows what it is.

Getting here couldn't be easier - the train from London Liverpool Street takes just over an hour, and Clacton-on-Sea station drops you right in the thick of things. The surrounding Essex countryside offers a gentler pace, with Little Clacton's village atmosphere and the peaceful Pickers Ditch Meadows nature reserve providing respite from the seaside bustle.

Staying at one of the nearby holiday parks makes perfect sense. You're close enough to walk to the pier for morning coffee, yet far enough from the evening crowds to enjoy some peace. It's the best of both worlds - seaside fun when you want it, countryside quiet when you don't.