Clacton-on-Sea

Clacton-on-Sea
Clacton-on-Sea from the air in 2004
Clacton-on-Sea
Location within Essex
Population53,200 (Built-up area, 2021)
OS grid referenceTM170150
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townCLACTON-ON-SEA
Postcode districtCO15, CO16
Dialling code01255
PoliceEssex
FireEssex
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament

Clacton-on-Sea, often simply called Clacton, is a seaside town and resort in the county of Essex, on the east coast of England. It is located on the Tendring Peninsula and is the largest settlement in the Tendring District, with a population of 53,200 (2021). The town is situated around 77 miles (124 kilometres) northeast of London, 16 mi (26 km) southeast of Colchester and 16 mi (26 km) south of Harwich.

The area was historically in the parish of Great Clacton. The development of the seaside resort began in the 1870s and was called Clacton-on-Sea to distinguish it from the older village about 1 mile (1.6 km) inland. Great Clacton and Clacton-on-Sea were always administered together, forming a single urban district called Clacton between 1895 and 1974. The two settlements gradually merged into a single urban area during the twentieth century.

It lies within the United Kingdom Parliament constituency of Clacton.