Essex is a county in East England, located in the south-east of the country. It is bordered by Suffolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west, Kent to the south, and London to the south-west. The county town is Chelmsford, and other major towns include Basildon, Harlow, and Southend-on-Sea. Essex has a population of over 1.7 million people, making it the third most populous county in England. It is known for its beautiful coastline, with resorts such as Clacton-on-Sea, Frinton-on-Sea, and Walton-on-the-Naze. It is also home to many historic sites, such as Colchester Castle, Audley End House, and Hadleigh Castle.