Pictures of Leigh-on-Sea
in the county of Essex
About Leigh-on-Sea
Leigh-on-Sea is a small welcoming seaside resort lying on the Essex coast. It is less crowded than neighbouring Southend-on-Sea which is mostly dedicated to a lively time and amusements.
At Leigh, visitors will find a small sandy beach and a narrow High Street containing lovely old fishermen's cottages. The resort is situated close to Leigh Marsh Nature Reserve and Two Tree Island, a lonely expanse of windswept grass and saltings. Here there is an abundance of habitats, with both sites offering ideal conditions for migrating birds. Thus, this is an excellent place for watching wildfowl during the winter.
This part of the coast is dominated by near-by Hadleigh Castle built by Edward III in the 1360's to guard against invasion by the French.
Leigh offers scope for fishing, sailing, windsurfing or just enjoying time on the beach. It also has plenty of excellent accommodation, good pubs, restaurants and cafe's, there are even stalls selling jellied eel's and cockles collected from Maplin Sands and brought in daily by cockle boat!
Planning a visit? Please see below for other recommended towns, attractions and recommended hotels nearby.
Distances and directions below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner
Recommended attractions near Leigh-on-Sea
| Hadleigh Castle | (1.9 miles, 3.1 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Adventure Island | (2.8 miles, 4.6 km, direction E) | Pictures |
| Mr. B's Amusements, Southend-on-Sea | (3.7 miles, 5.9 km, direction E) | Pictures |
| Kid's Kingdom, Southend-on-Sea | (3.8 miles, 6.1 km, direction E) | Pictures |
| Marsh Farm Country Park | (6.8 miles, 10.9 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Zoo, Basildon | (7.8 miles, 12.5 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Hyde Hall RHS Garden | (8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| One Tree Hill Country Park | (9.3 miles, 14.9 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Westley Heights Country Park | (10.0 miles, 16.1 km, direction W) | Pictures |
| Upnor Castle | (10.6 miles, 17.0 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Norsey Wood Country Park | (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Historic Dockyard, Chatham | (11.6 miles, 18.7 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Guildhall Museum | (12.1 miles, 19.4 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
| Isle of Sheppey | (12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction SE) | Pictures |
| Rochester Castle | (12.5 miles, 20.1 km, direction SW) | Pictures |
All attractions in Leigh-on-SeaAll attractions in EssexComplete A to Z of attractions in EnglandRecommended towns near Leigh-on-Sea
Westcliff-on-Sea, in the county of Essex (1.9 miles, 3.1 km, direction E)
The coast along this stretch of Essex beaches may be somewhat urbanised, but it remains full of surprises with reminders of the times when smugglers would stealthily enter the creeks between the mudflats to distribute their illicit cargoes at local inns.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Southend-on-Sea, in the county of Essex (2.5 miles, 4.0 km, direction E)
Southend-on-Sea is mostly known for its long pier and large amusement park - Adventure Island, which has rides to suit all tastes and all ages.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Canvey Island, in the county of Essex (3.7 miles, 5.9 km, direction SW)
With a pleasant coast, intriguing creeks to explore and views across the Thames estuary to Allhallows and beyond, it is not surprising that Canvey Island is a popular tourist destination.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Shoeburyness, in the county of Essex (6.3 miles, 10.1 km, direction E)
Shoeburyness lies to the eastern end of Southend beyond Thorpe Bay.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Sheerness, in the county of Kent (8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction SE)
This is the port to which Nelson's body was brought home following his untimely death after his glorious victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Burnham-on-Crouch, in the county of Essex (9.1 miles, 14.7 km, direction NE)
Burnham-on-Crouch, a small town on the north bank of the River Crouch as it winds its way towards Foulness Point and the North Sea.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Upchurch, in the county of Kent (11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction S)
This is an historic, interesting village which was once home to Edmund Drake, father of Sir Francis, who became vicar of the local church in 1560.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Higham, in the county of Kent (12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction SW)
An interesting village situated between Gravesend and Rochester in Kent, with links to the author Charles Dickens, the notorious...
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Danbury, in the county of Essex (12.4 miles, 19.9 km, direction N)
Picturesque English village of great charm. Surrounded almost entirely by open countryside Danbury has immense appeal for the tourist.
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Maldon, in the county of Essex (13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction N)
A fine old town, beautifully set on a ridge above the Blackwater, with views across Northey Island and Osea Island.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Gravesend, in the county of Kent (14.0 miles, 22.6 km, direction SW)
Attractive old town overlooking the Thames estuary with walkways and picnic sites ideal for watching the busy water traffic, for this stretch of the river is said to be one of the busiest in the world.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Leysdown-on-Sea, in the county of Kent (15.2 miles, 24.5 km, direction SE)
This is a busy Kentish coastal holiday resort which has sandy beaches and safe shallow waters, thus the beach is ideal for sunbathing and to swim from.
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Brentwood, in the county of Essex (15.9 miles, 25.5 km, direction W)
In the romantic days of coach travel Brentwood was a staging post on an old road to London.
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Writtle, in the county of Essex (16.2 miles, 26.0 km, direction NW)
This is an ancient area, ringed with beautiful parklands and historic forests which were once the hunting ground of Kings.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Lynsted, in the county of Kent (16.7 miles, 26.9 km, direction S)
A charming, restful place in what is known as cherry-orchard country, and although the cherries are still here, arable farming has taken over much of the land.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
All towns in EssexComplete A to Z of towns in EnglandNearby travel help
| Leigh-on-Sea Station | (0.8 miles, 1.2 km) |
| Chalkwell Station | (1.0 miles, 1.7 km) |
| M2 Junction 1 | (13.5 miles, 21.7 km, direction SW) |
| M2 Junction 2 | (13.7 miles, 22.1 km, direction SW) |
| London City Airport | (25.8 miles, 41.5 km, direction W) |
| London Stansted Airport | (29.5 miles, 47.4 km, direction NW) |
| Leigh-on-Sea to London | (33.7 miles, 54.3 km, direction W) |
Hotels & Accommodation in Leigh-on-Sea
| Hotel Name | Approximate distance from Leigh-on-Sea center |
| The Balmoral Hotel | (1.6 miles, 2.6 km, direction E) |
| The Westcliff Hotel | (2.1 miles, 3.4 km, direction E) |
| Tower Hotel | (2.2 miles, 3.5 km, direction E) |
| Ilfracombe House Hotel | (2.3 miles, 3.7 km, direction E) |
| The Gleneagles Hotel | (2.5 miles, 4.0 km, direction E) |
| Essex County Hotel | (2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction NE) |
| Camelia Hotel | (4.0 miles, 6.4 km, direction E) |
| The Oakland Hotel | (7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction N) |
| Basildon (Festival Park) Premier Travel Inn | (8.7 miles, 14.1 km, direction W) |
| Holiday Inn Basildon | (8.8 miles, 14.1 km, direction W) |
| All hotels in Leigh-on-Sea |
