Pictures of West Mersea
in the county of Essex
About West Mersea
This is a small coastal town in the Colchester region of Essex, it lies in an area renowned for its lively caravan and leisure parks, catering mainly for families.
The beach is crammed full of colourful beach huts and has fine views across the mouth of the River Blackwater to Bradwell-on-Sea. The beach is safe for bathing, windsurfing is popular and there is a small jetty for boats. For those wishing to escape the crowds there are plenty of places to enjoy a quiet stroll, including the hard from which you can admire colourful sea-craft. Away from the beach there are lots of shops and ice cream parlours.
Historically, the village dates back to Roman times when it was just a small settlement. A burial mound was discovered just a short distance from the church, this was found to contain the remains of a cremated body in a tiled burial chamber believed to have existed since the Ist century.
Despite the explosion of caravan parks bringing in a large summer population, West Mersea has managed to retain its character and old world charm, this can be seen in the number of handsome Georgian properties and weather-boarded cottages remaining from when West Mersea was just a small fishing village, visited by folk in search of oysters or a bit of quiet sailing.
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 West Mersea
| Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall | (3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction S) | Pictures |
| St. Osyth Priory | (6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction E) | Pictures |
| Bourne Mill | (6.9 miles, 11.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Beth Chatto Gardens | (7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| St. Botolph's Priory | (7.3 miles, 11.8 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Colchester Zoo | (7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Colchester Castle | (8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| High Woods Country Park | (9.0 miles, 14.4 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Paycocke's | (12.4 miles, 20.0 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| East Anglian Railway Museum | (12.6 miles, 20.2 km, direction NW) | Pictures |
| Dedham Art and Craft Centre | (13.1 miles, 21.0 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Flatford Mill | (13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| Bridge Cottage | (13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction N) | Pictures |
| New Walton Pier | (15.6 miles, 25.1 km, direction E) | Pictures |
| Danbury Park Country Park | (16.1 miles, 26.0 km, direction W) | Pictures |
All attractions in West MerseaAll attractions in EssexComplete A to Z of attractions in EnglandRecommended towns near West Mersea
Tollesbury, in the county of Essex (4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction SW)
This large sea-faring village sits attractively off a tidal creek where the waters of the Blackwater River enter the sea.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Fingringhoe, in the county of Essex (4.6 miles, 7.4 km, direction N)
Delightful Fingringhoe is home to one of the most outstanding Nature Reserves in the country. It was formed out of a disused gravel pit near the estuary of the beautiful River Colne and today it is the premier flagship of the Essex Wildlife Trust.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Brightlingsea, in the county of Essex (4.8 miles, 7.7 km, direction NE)
A medieval port on the Colne estuary, Brightlingsea was once an associate member of the Cinque Ports. The history of the town goes back to Roman times and it's industry has always been linked to the sea.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
St Osyth, in the county of Essex (6.5 miles, 10.4 km, direction E)
The village is noted for its medieval Priory, a Grade I listed building which started life as a foundation for Augustinian Canons around 1127, it later became an abbey which was eventually dissolved in 1539.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Greenstead, in the county of Essex (7.6 miles, 12.3 km, direction N)
Greenstead Church is said to be the oldest wooden building in the world. Well worth a visit..
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Colchester, a Historic Market Town in the county of Essex (8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction N)
Interestingly, this is England's oldest-recorded town. It has stood on the banks of the River Colne amid fine Essex countryside throughout some of history's most tempestuous times.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Jaywick, in the county of Essex (8.1 miles, 13.0 km, direction E)
Much of Jaywick was built during the early part of the 20th century when Mr. Frank Stedman, a business man, bought the existing marshland to turn into a holiday resort.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Marks Tey, in the county of Essex (9.1 miles, 14.6 km, direction NW)
Its location is ideally suited to anyone wishing to explore fine Essex countryside, coast and the beautiful town of Colchester, Britain's oldest recorded town.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Clacton-on-Sea, in the county of Essex (9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction E)
Clacton-on-Sea is a fine Victorian resort that offers visitors and enjoyable and jolly time.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Burnham-on-Crouch, in the county of Essex (11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction SW)
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
Maldon, in the county of Essex (11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction W)
A fine old town, beautifully set on a ridge above the Blackwater, with views across Northey Island and Osea Island.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Coggeshall, in the county of Essex (12.1 miles, 19.4 km, direction NW)
Standing in a town full of elaborate historic properties, the simple charm of Coggeshall water mill, reflected in the waters of the Blackwell River, captivates perfectly the image of an Essex of long ago, immortalised forever in paintings by Constable and Gainsborough.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Manningtree, a Historic Market Town in the county of Essex (12.8 miles, 20.7 km, direction NE)
The town shows fine examples of weavers cottages and walks through the town reveal fine Georgian facades behind which are Tudor and Elizabethan houses.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Flatford, in the county of Suffolk (12.9 miles, 20.7 km, direction N)
On arrival in Flatford there is little to prepare you for its overwhelming beauty, but you should not be surprised, for this after all is Constable Country, an area made famous by the great landscape painter and which features in so many of his pictures.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
Dedham, in the county of Essex (12.9 miles, 20.7 km, direction N)
There are two things that immediately strike you about this enchanting village, the first is the opulence of the beautiful 15th-century church, and the second is the fascinating view of the River Stour, which, like the church, has featured in Constable paintings.
Info | Pictures | Hotels
All towns in EssexComplete A to Z of towns in EnglandNearby travel help
| Wivenhoe Station | (5.6 miles, 9.1 km, direction N) |
| Alresford (Essex) Station | (6.0 miles, 9.6 km, direction NE) |
| London Stansted Airport | (30.3 miles, 48.8 km, direction W) |
| M25 Junction 28 | (30.9 miles, 49.7 km, direction SW) |
| M25 Junction 29 | (31.1 miles, 50.0 km, direction SW) |
| London City Airport | (41.9 miles, 67.5 km, direction SW) |
| West Mersea to London | (49.1 miles, 78.9 km, direction SW) |
Hotels & Accommodation in West Mersea
| Hotel Name | Approximate distance from West Mersea center |
| Five Lakes Hotel, Golf, Country Club & Spa | (5.4 miles, 8.6 km, direction W) |
| Wivenhoe House Hotel | (6.8 miles, 11.0 km, direction N) |
| The Red Lion Hotel | (7.8 miles, 12.5 km, direction N) |
| Best Western The Rose & Crown Hotel | (7.8 miles, 12.6 km, direction N) |
| George Hotel | (7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction N) |
| Riverside Hotel | (8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction N) |
| The Marks Tey Hotel | (9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction NW) |
| The Chudleigh | (9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction E) |
| Barton Hotel | (9.8 miles, 15.7 km, direction E) |
| Esplanade Hotel | (9.9 miles, 15.9 km, direction E) |
| All hotels in West Mersea |
