UK’s ‘worst seaside city’ as soon as house to Butlin’s was once nation’s ‘greatest ever’
Clacton-on-Sea was once a thriving seaside resort and UK holiday camp hotspot that attracted holidaymakers in their thousands, but it has since plummeted down the rankings
Clacton-on-Sea is not totally terrible, but it’s not a patch on its heyday(Image: Cristian Mircea Balate via Getty Images)
A formerly bustling seaside destination that has tumbled down the league tables was once home to a massive Billy Butlin’s holiday camp – though you’d struggle to recognise that today.
Famous for its prize-winning pier, sweeping sandy beaches and classic funfair rides, Clacton-On-Sea was previously a spectacular coastal gem that drew holidaymakers by the thousand from across Britain. However, last year Clacton, in Essex, found itself third from the bottom in Which?’s annual ranking of the UK’s finest seaside destinations.
The town scraped together a paltry 42% – a world away from Bamburgh, which secured the number one position with an impressive 84 per cent destination score.
But during its golden era, before the Benidorm explosion tempted Brits away from British shores in favour of budget package holidays to Spain, Clacton offered something completely different. In 1936, Billy Butlin purchased the West Clacton Estate – which already boasted a miniature golf course and boating lake – and transformed it into the legendary Red Coat resort that became a beloved British tradition, reports the Mirror.
The resort shut down when war broke out, with the Army temporarily commandeering the site. However, in 1946, it reopened as a holiday camp – and subsequently purchased neighbouring land for additional expansion.
“By the late 1950s, Butlin’s had become a national institution and to some extent, Clacton was able to bask in its reflected glory,” explained Clacton History. “The combination of Butlin’s and Clacton had become firmly established and for both their futures as family holiday venues seemed unshakeable.”
Much like other Butlin’s locations across the nation, holiday-goers flocked in large numbers to enjoy the extensive facilities on offer, which included snug chalets, a massive outdoor swimming pool, fairground attractions, a ballroom, a bowling green, shops, a miniature railway and top-notch entertainment. Renowned acts such as the Beverley Sisters, Michael Holliday and Jack Douglas are thought to have graced the camp’s stages during the early phases of their careers.
However, unable to rival the appeal of budget flights to sun-drenched Spain, and plagued by rowdy youths treating the venue as nothing more than a drinking den, Butlin’s sadly shut its doors permanently in 1983 – coincidentally, the same year the Filey resort also ceased operations.
As per Butlin’s Memories, the site was snapped up for approximately £2 million by Amusement Enterprises Ltd, who revealed grand plans to transform the complex into a ‘Disneyland’-style theme park. Rebranded as Atlas Park, the site reopened in 1984 but remained largely unchanged from its Butlin’s days.
The enterprise lasted merely four months before encountering financial troubles, and the land was sold on once more. By 1987, the complete site had been flattened.
The location now functions as a housing development for residents, perfectly positioned close to the coastline. It appears vastly different from Butlin’s heyday – which continues to be fondly recalled by many locals.
Despite sitting just 60 miles from London – one of Europe’s most affluent cities – Clacton and Jaywick are burdened by modest earnings and damaging public image, with disaster tourists and American social media personalities journeying there to record their struggles.
Thankfully, there is substantial optimism ahead for the area. The District Council is advancing with a range of renewal projects across Clacton, Jaywick Sands and Dovercourt after successfully obtaining millions of pounds in Government backing.
The Council became part of a Community Regeneration Partnership (previously the Levelling Up Partnership) in late 2024 and secured £20million in funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to revitalise Clacton and Jaywick Sands.
In Clacton, these encompass proposals to renovate the 200 year old Martello Tower on Clacton seafront and bring it into regular use, in a scheme TDC says will transform “a disused public convenience close to Clacton Pier into a vibrant cultural venue and providing a free-to-use BMX pump track, learn-to-cycle and climbing facility at Clacton Leisure Centre.”
An extra £20million was also secured from the Local Regeneration Fund (previously known as the Levelling Up Fund) for Clacton Town Centre. This funding was granted to create the new ‘Clacton Civic Quarter’.
Clacton Library is also set for a significant revamp, with plans for a brand new multi-storey building on the current site. This will accommodate a centre for Adult Community Learning and local registration services.
