St. Osyth lies about five miles to the west of Clacton-on-Sea and is approached from either Clacton or Colchester along the B1027. To the west of the village centre is Point Clear and Point Clear Bay where Stone Point in the Bay is only about half a mile across Brightlingsea Creek from the historic Cinque Ports town of Brightlingsea.

The centre of the village was designated as a conservation area in 1969 and this designation extended in 1982 and 1988  The centre of the village is dominated by the medieval remains of the Priory on its 383 acres of land, building of which began in the year 1118. It was established for the Augustine Canons and became one of the great Augustine Abbeys of Europe.

The Priory continues to be used as a home by its owners and we hope, though closed at the present time, it will soon be open once again to members of the public, following a recent change of ownership. The name St. Osyth is attributed to the daughter of a King of East Anglia, who in 663 AD, was beheaded by Danish invaders, because she would not worship their idols, and the Priory was built in her honour.

St. Osyth is an area which has become a favourite place for holidaymakers, the majority of whom use static caravan and chalet facilities, either as owners or visitors in such numbers as to raise the population in the Summer Season to over 20,000. To the west of the village centre is Mill Street which leads to our small harbour, used by seafarers for mooring and boat repairs.To the western end of St. Osyth Beach is an area set aside for naturists.

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