Tendring has a great deal to offer today's holidaymaker in search of the traditional pleasures of a seaside holiday but with modern entertainment and facilities. Renowned for its sandy beaches the area also has a variety of inland delights to offer its many visitors. This part of Essex is also one of the sunniest, driest areas of the UK. With the beautiful Stour Valley to the north and the River Colne to the south, the area is full of history, quaint villages, rivers and creeks, unspoiled coast and famous countryside. Why not visit our Seafront and Beaches pages to find out about the beaches and facilities nearby. Addtionally, a visit to our tourism website at www.essex-sunshine-coast.org.uk is well worth a look as it is packed full of useful information when planning a visit to our area including places to stay.

Clacton & Jaywick
Award winning beach, fun packed pier, beautifully maintained seafront gardens, amusements, watersports and newly refurbished leisure centre. As well as all the daytime fun Clacton offers a varied and vibrant nightlife with its two theatres, the Princes and West Cliff, attracting top showbiz names as well as a plethora of pubs, clubs and restaurants to suit all tastes. Nearby Jaywick has some of the finest beaches in the area and offers the ideal spot for a seaside picnic or day out.

Harwich and Dovercourt
Harwich has a rich maritime history and also boasts the UK's second busiest passenger ferry port. Attractions include the Electric Palace Cinema, Redoubt Fort, numerous museums and lighthouses. Just to the south of Harwich lies the older town of Dovercourt. Particular features of the town are the iron lighthouses or 'Leading Lights' which sit along the picturesque Blue Flag Beach.

Frinton and Walton
Frinton's beautiful sweeping greensward, immaculately clean sandy beaches, tree lined avenues, fine coastal walks and the summer repertory theatre make a visit to the town a unique experience. Nearby Walton always has something going on. Ten pin bowling or sea fishing on the country's second longest pier, beautiful; beaches, cliff top walks and gardens, a visit to the Naze Tower or strolling through the town's narrow streets.

Mistley and Manningtree
The entire eight miles of the Stour estuary are a magnet for artists, walkers, birdwatchers, cyclists and sailing enthusiasts. From the waterfront there are fantastic views across the Stour Estuary, a stroll or picnic at Mistley Walls makes the most of this delightful scenery and you can also see the famous Swan Colony.

Brightlingsea, St Osyth and Thorrington
Brightlingsea is a town rich in seafaring history and has many interesting buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants. It is also the only one of the Cinque Ports outside of Kent and Sussex. At the top of Brightlingsea Creek is the village of Thorrington, with outstanding views around the only remaining tide mill in Essex. St Osyth is a village centred on a crossroads and contains an attractive group of shops and restaurants and two museums. The nearby creek has a small boatyard and water skiing lake.

Tendring's Villages
Away from the coast there are a wealth of beautiful and picturesque villages to discover and explore. Some of the lesser-visited villages offer a spectacular range of floral displays and gardens and have an excellent record in Anglia in Bloom competitions. Ardleigh, Beaumont, Great Bentley, Little Bentley, Tendring and Thorpe are well worth a visit.

Our area is not only very scenic but it is also steeped in history - take a look at our Museums and Heritage page which offers more information.

Also worth a look is our Walks in Tendring page as one of the best ways to see our area is on foot.

The area offers a busy events calendar throughout the summer season and beyond with shows, festival and fetes. Visit the "What's On" area of this website.