Walton-on-the-Naze Beach

• Take a trip to the lovely, sandy coastline of Walton on the Naze Beach in Essex, a great place to spend the day.
• Relax on the brilliant beach, which is perfect for sandcastles and for paddling in the water.
• Enjoy the fun arcade games on Walton Pier, one of the longest in the country.
• Explore the Naze and the Naze Tower, with 360-degree views of the surrounding coast.

Walton on the Naze Beach is one of the best beaches in England to spend a relaxing summer’s day. This sandy beach has perfect sandcastle-building material, and clean water to paddle in. With the second-longest pier in the UK, there’s plenty to explore at this beach in Essex.

The beach itself is one of those rare delights that aren’t always easy to find on British coastlines; a lovely golden stretch of sand where you can put down the deckchairs and relax. Kids will love the sea, which is safe for paddling and swimming.

There are lifeguards at the beach during the summer months, and the beach has plenty of shallow areas where it's easy to stay safe.

While today it is a great beach for family day trips, millions of years ago, this area would have looked very different. Fossils from prehistoric creatures can often be found on the beach amongst the shells and pebbles because erosion causes them to dislodge from the cliff face. 

If you look carefully in the pebbles and stones during your visit to Walton on the Naze, you may be lucky enough to discover a remnant of prehistoric times. On the beach, people have been able to find fossilised items including a shark’s tooth, bones from fish and mammal species, and shells from prehistoric gastropods.

Walton on the Naze Beach harks back to golden memories with its pier and amusement park. The Walton on the Naze pier has something for everyone, with loads of fun arcade games. Whether you’re looking for a classic merry-go-round or a brand-new adventure video game, you’ll be sure to find something exciting at the Walton Pier amusement park.

The pier also stretches out for three-quarters of a mile, making it perfect for a spot of fishing in nice weather. Down the far end of the pier, it's nice and quiet, making for a relaxing afternoon.

If you’re looking for great walks in the area, then looking no further than the place the town of Walton is named after. The Naze is just a few minutes’ walk from the main beach. This is an area of rugged coastland and is a fantastic place to explore for a few hours. 

On a walk in the Naze, you’re bound to notice the Naze Tower.

This 26-metre high lighthouse tower was built in 1721, although there has been a tower in this location for over five hundred years. The Naze Tower has a museum inside, where you can learn more about the important role the tower played in helping sailors navigate the Essex coast.

You can also climb up the tower’s 111 steps to the viewing point at the top, where you’ll find incredible views of the beaches and countryside of Essex.

What to know before you go

• The beach is open 24 hours a day throughout the year.
• There are plenty of places where you can find something to eat or drink during your visit to Walton on the Naze Beach. The biggest collection of cafes and restaurants can be found on the mainland on the north side of Walton Pier. Some highly-rated cafes by the beach include the Colonnade Kiosk, the Beside the Seaside restaurant, and the Good Taste Cafe.
• There are toilet facilities in the Walton Pier arcades, as well as a few minutes’ walk down the coast in the Leas public toilet. Unfortunately, there are no baby changing facilities.
• Dogs are not allowed in the popular areas of the beach from 1 May to 30 September each year.

Getting there

• Walton on the Naze Beach is a two-hour drive from London and a 40-minute drive from Colchester.
• There are a couple of car parks just a few minutes’ walk from the beach. The closest one is the High Street car park, and there’s also the Church Road car park and the Millennium Square car park. All are in the town of Walton, where there’s also plenty of free on-street parking available.
• The beach is also accessible by public transport. Walton on the Naze Train Station is just a couple of minutes’ walk from the beach and serves Greater Anglia Trains. It can take as little as an hour and a half to reach the town from Central London by taking the train from Liverpool Street.
• The main bus routes that serve the town from Colchester and other areas of Essex are the 97 and the 105.