The stunning Essex seaside town that tourists forget what its famous for

A pretty UK seaside town has been named as the best place to go fossil hunting, but hardly any Brits know the location exists. This quaint and largely unknown seaside town is home to fantastical historical treasures unlike anywhere else in the United Kingdom — and winter is the best time to visit!

Despite not being known by 70 per cent of the population according to the Mirror, Walton-on-the-Naze is a quaint seaside resort with sandy beaches, narrow streets and a family-friendly atmosphere. The town is known for its rich fossil finds, as well as stunning coastal scenery.

There is no denying that Walton-on-the-Naze is a gorgeous seaside town in Essex during the summer. When soaked with sun, the small town is a beautiful, picturesque location that would be packed with crowds during warm weather.

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Walton-on-the-Naze was also awarded a Keep Britain Tidy Seaside Award last year. Its pier was fully refurbished last year and revamped with a range of attractions like amusement rides, an arcade, and bowling.

It is also known by many for being a seaside town, not a seaside resort, the beach is free from commercialism, favouring independent shops, and adding to its local charm. The sandy beach is also home to more than 1,000 huts, which can be hired for getaways and special occasions, which is what put Walton on the map.

Dating back millions of years, Walton-on-the-Naze has a deep geography and history, and is not just a tourist location! It is home to the Red Crag formation, which has produced an abundance of Paleogene fossils, including a megalodon shark tooth, discovered in 2023.

Winter offers the ideal time to scour the beaches, as the winter tides reveal more of the prehistoric creatures in the rocks. The northern edge of the town has a stretch of rapidly eroding cliffs, which is known as The Naze.

Here, fossiliferous clays and sands expose evidence of prehistoric life from around 54 million years ago, and fossils occur commonly throughout the cliff formations. Due to the rapidly eroding cliffs, much of the coastline has a constant supply of loose material on the beach - and this is often where you will find fossils such as shark teeth and pyritised twigs.

Located just above the beach in the car park, is the site of the 86 foot octagonal Naze Tower. Currently used as a gallery spread across six floors, the tower was built in 1720 and is grade II* listed. A spiral staircase containing 111 steps runs up the middle of the tower, and for those who climb it but need a refreshment afterwards, there is a tea room serving various food and drink.

It is well-known that Walton-on-the-Naze is a family seaside resort with sandy beaches, seafront gardens and quaint narrow streets. Why not expand your horizons and take part in fossil hunting and learning about history on your next visit?

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