Clacton - EXPOSED (Clacton-on-Sea in General)

Member Name: Say It As It Is

Product:	Clacton-on-Sea in General
Date:	20/07/07 (375 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Its by the sea, I live here

Disadvantages: Lack of facilities, just not enough to do

As a seaside town, it has a great beach ideal for sitting on on sunny days, good for most watersports except for possibly surfing It has a pier and amusements but its inferior to Great Yarmouth or Southend on those scores. Walton on the Naze is better for a "kiss-me-quick" experience!
Shopping in the town is great if your a fan of second hand shops or looking at properties available in estate agents, you will have to go some to beat the choice. Other than that its pretty much run of the mill as you will find in any other town. The Common is ok if you go to buy with something in mind. I don't think I would waste my time walking round it just window shopping. Probably best to go there on a day when they have a themed market. Frinton offers a much better choice of antique and gift shops and has some of that "town time forgot" feel but its beginning to be eroded so go before its lost forever!
Where to stay in Clacton:- unless I was on a holiday camp with additional activties or just had a caravan as a weekend retreat there are few reasons why I would pick to stay in Clacton. If you do then there is a good choice to suit all budgets though stay somewhere on recommendation to avoid the glorified hostels! The Tourist Information Office will happily give you guidance.
Eating out:- again a wide selection from sandwich shops, greasy spoons, Chinese restaurants and the usual mainstream fast food suspects. Town centre greasy spoons offer better value and quality than those right on the seafront promenade. Restaurant choice is more limited though Georgios is worth a visit and everyone I know who has been to Prezzos loves it. The choice in the evening is very limited.
Nightlife:- poor is the only word to describe it. Three or four major pubs on the seafront which tend to lack atmosphere on most nights even Saturdays on occassion. There are only two clubs,both leave alot to be desired.
Other Activities:- the Naze at Walton is worth a visit, the walk from the Martello to Holland on Sea on a nice hot day is worth taking in. We have a cinema and leisure centre, both of which just seem to lack that little something extra you can't quite put your finger on. There are two theatres which put on good shows. The golf courses aren't too bad or maybe a pleasure flight from the local airfield mighttake your fancy.
Events in the year are limited mainly to the Airshow and the Carnival Week. The Airshow is worth doing
as is the Carnival firework display if you happen to be in town on the right night. We used to have the Radio One roadshow visit but we still have a Jazz festival but in rather scaled down format since one of the schools took on arranging it after the Council gave it up.
Finally the people. Most people in Clacton are fine, certainly ones you come in contact on a visit. If you scratch the surface you will come across some unpleasant ones though, certainly more so in the evenings. Daytime crime tends to be mostly shop lifting with occassional bouts of pickpocketing. Night times can be a bit rougher but then what town doesn't have it alcohol induced problems?
On the whole, Clacton is a good place to come for a daytrip, possibly an overnight stay and maybe if I was staying with kids on a park I could stretch it to a week but I think anything more would dissappoint.

Summary: Dissappointing