Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, once a thriving seaside destination and home to a famous Butlin's holiday camp, now ranks as the UK's third-worst seaside resort according to Which? magazine. The Butlin's camp closed in 1983 and was demolished by 1987, leaving little trace of its former glory. However, the town is now pinning its hopes on a £20 million regeneration package from the government.
The rise and fall of Butlin's Clacton
In 1936, Billy Butlin acquired the West Clacton Estate, which already featured a miniature golf course and boating lake, and transformed it into the iconic Red Coat resort. The camp became a cherished British institution, attracting holidaymakers from across the country. During World War II, the resort closed and was briefly used by the Army, but it reopened as a holiday camp in 1946 and expanded by purchasing adjoining land.
According to Clacton History, 'By the late 1950s, Butlin's had become a national institution and to some extent, Clacton was able to bask in its reflected glory. The combination of Butlin's and Clacton had become firmly established and for both their futures as family holiday venues seemed unshakeable.'
The camp offered chalets, a large outdoor swimming pool, fairground rides, a ballroom, a bowling green, shops, a miniature railway, and top-tier entertainment. Early performances by the Beverley Sisters, Michael Holliday, and Jack Douglas were among the acts that graced its stages.
Decline and closure
However, the rise of cheap package holidays to Spain and unruly behaviour by some young visitors led to Butlin's decline. Unable to compete with the allure of sun-soaked Benidorm, the Clacton camp closed in 1983, the same year as the Filey resort. The site was sold to Amusement Enterprises Ltd for about £2 million, with plans to create a Disneyland-style theme park called Atlas Park. It reopened in 1984 but lasted only four months before financial troubles forced its closure. By 1987, the entire site had been demolished and replaced by a residential estate.
Current challenges
Today, Clacton-on-Sea scores just 42 per cent in Which?'s annual seaside resort survey, far behind top-ranked Bamburgh at 84 per cent. Despite being only 60 miles from London, the town and nearby Jaywick suffer from low incomes and negative perceptions. Dark tourists and American influencers have even visited to document the area's hardships.
Regeneration efforts
Nevertheless, there is hope. Tendring District Council has secured £20 million from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government under the Community Regeneration Partnership (formerly the Levelling Up Partnership), which began in late 2024. Plans include transforming the 200-year-old Martello Tower on Clacton seafront into a cultural venue, converting a disused public convenience near Clacton Pier into a vibrant space, and adding a BMX pump track, learn-to-cycle facility, and climbing wall at Clacton Leisure Centre.
An additional £20 million from the Local Regeneration Fund (formerly Levelling Up Fund) will establish a new 'Clacton Civic Quarter' in the town centre. Clacton Library is also undergoing a major redevelopment, with a new multi-storey building housing Adult Community Learning and local registration services.
