Frinton Beach

Enjoy a tranquil day on the beach with a visit to Frinton Beach in Essex.
With none of the typical beach businesses allowed at Frinton, it’s a perfect chance for a traditional day at the seaside.
Relax on the beach or play a fun seaside game during your visit to Frinton Beach.
Explore the local town of Frinton-on-Sea, which is full of interesting Art Deco buildings.

If you’re looking for a peaceful day out to the seaside, there’s almost nowhere better in Essex than Frinton Beach, in the small town of Frinton-on-Sea. This beautiful sandy beach stands out amongst Essex beaches because it prides itself on the lack of commercialism, meaning no arcades or litter-producing food stalls are lining the beach. Instead, it's the perfect place to relax with your family and enjoy a great day out.

While many beaches have become a little bit overrun with touristy shops and places to spend money, Frinton has been able to avoid commercialisation thanks to the local council. In many ways, a trip to this beach feels like going back in time to when beach holidays were all about the sand, sea, and sun. This ethos has helped Frinton gain its reputation as one of the best beaches in England.

This sense of going back in time is emphasised by the Victorian style beach huts that line the beach, along the promenade. The beach itself is made up of golden sand, the type that is absolutely perfect for sandcastle building. With no commercial shops or restaurants on the beach, there’s almost no litter, and the beach is very clean.

Even without the typical seaside attractions, there’s plenty to do at this beach in Essex. Swimming in the sea is a popular pastime for beachgoers, and many people bring footballs, beach volleyball nets, and other sports activities to enjoy on the beach.

Between the beach and the road is the greensward, a grassy area with benches and picnic tables. This area is great for playing games that aren’t as suited to the beach, or for eating a picnic on a windy day.

A short walk up the beach takes you to the seaside resort of Walton on the Naze. This beach has more attractions, but its biggest draw is the incredible fossils that can be found on the beach here. The fossils include giant shark teeth and skeletons of sea creatures that would have been around millions of years ago.

While you’re at Frinton Beach, be sure to venture into the town of Frinton-on-Sea. This town built up a reputation in the first half of the 20th century as a lovely place for the rich and famous of London to escape to. Famous visitors included the Prince of Wales and Winston Churchill.

The buildings here are made in the Art Deco style, giving them plenty of character. Shops along Connaught Avenue include places that sell vintage clothes and antiques, which are a great opportunity to discover something interesting and are well worth a look.

There are plenty of great things to do in this part of the country. For another outdoorsy fix, check out some of the best National Trust days out in Essex. While Frinton may be one of the best Essex beaches, there’s even more amazing stuff to do in this coastal county, too.

What to know before you go

Frinton Beach is open 24 hours a day, throughout the year.
While there are no cafes or restaurants on the beach itself, a short walk into town will give you the full range of amenities Frinton-on-Sea has to offer. A stroll along Connaught Avenue will give you several great options for finding somewhere to get a bite to eat. There are cafes, Indian restaurants, Italian eateries, and high street favourites to be found on this street.
While there are no other buildings to be found on the Frinton seafront, you will be able to use the public toilets near the beach. These toilets have disabled access and baby changing facilities. There is a 20p charge to use the toilets.
Dogs are not allowed on the most popular parts of the beach from 1 May to 30 September. They are allowed on the whole of the beach during other times of the year.

Getting there

Frinton Beach is a little over a two-hour drive from London and a 45-minute drive from Colchester.
Parking is free on the road that runs alongside the beach.
The beach is also accessible by public transport. Greater Anglia Trains run from London’s Liverpool Street to Colchester, where you can get another train to Frinton-on-Sea. From the Station, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the beach. In all, the journey from Central London takes around two hours and 20 minutes by train.
There are also bus services that have stops near the beach. These buses include the 9, 97, and 105.