‘I visited a beautiful beach in an underrated UK seaside town and I was the only tourist’ | Travel News | Travel

The charming coastal town of Frinton-On-Sea  offers a serene beach where you might be the only tourist. While popular spots like Brighton, and seaside towns and villages in Devon and Cornwall begin to prepare for an influx of visitors in the spring and summer months, one Essex coast town remained relatively quiet.

Tucked between Walton-On-The-Naze and Holland-On-Sea, the quaint town of Frinton-On-Sea on the Essex coast awaits discovery. When I visited last year on a Bank Holiday, I was the only tourist walking along the beach, and the town itself was busy enough – but not overcrowded.

With less than 5,000 residents, this hidden treasure is perfect for city folks seeking a peaceful seaside day out – without battling for sunbathing space or paying steep prices for a pint. The town, featuring just one main street, is slightly over an hour’s journey from east London, while Greater Anglia trains provide regular services to this slice of paradise.

When you get to Frinton-On-Sea, there’s plenty of parking just a short walk from the beach. If you stroll south along the coast next to Frinton Golf Course, you can enjoy stunning views of the North Sea. Depending on the time of year, the beach can be deserted.

If you walk in the other direction, you’ll eventually reach Walton Pier. It’s usually busier than Frinton-On-Sea in the summer. The pier opens in May and has a funfair with a carousel, arcade games and fairground snacks. It’s like stepping back in time.

There are lots of affordable cafes in this little seaside town – great news if you’re used to the prices in other tourist spots in the South East of England. There are loads of independent cafes on the high street, including Caffe Gloria, where you can get paninis, burgers, pizza, beer and wine.

The local pub, the Lock and Barrell, is a good spot for some traditional pub food before you go for a swim. You can get two main meals, two sides and two pints of Fosters for £30. They’ve even got a beer garden for when the weather’s nice. Even on Bank Holiday Monday when I visited, though, half the tables were empty.

A recent TripAdvisor review of the Lock and Barrel reads: “On our first visit to the Lock and Barrel, we received very friendly greetings with advice about the options of eating inside, out front, or back. We opted for the back courtyard and sat in the sun where we enjoyed a nice meal promptly served, then washed down by some nice liquid refreshment. We look forward to returning next time we are in Frinton.”

There’s also a Costa, Greggs, and Tesco Express for all the essentials for a day at the beach. Plus, there’s even an ice-cream van on the main street – but be ready for a bit of a queue!

For a quiet and affordable day out with the family, or a peaceful romantic getaway with your other half, Frinton-On-Sea is just the spot for Londoners to unwind as the warmer weather arrives.

A Visit Essex spokesperson said: “With a reputation as an exclusive resort, Frinton retains an atmosphere of the 1920/30s. Tree-lined avenues sweep down to the elegant Esplanade and cliff-top greensward, with its colourful Victorian-style beach huts. The sandy beach is quiet and secluded.”

“The sea front is still lined by many Victorian style beach huts, which is reminiscent of the days when Frinton-on-Sea was the favourite retreat for the aristocracy and even Royalty.”

“With Frinton only being 15 miles from Colchester and close to Harwich, it’s the perfect place for beachgoers and visitors to relax and be away from the crowds. Come and visit this beautiful seaside town in the Tendring District we can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.”