Old Leigh
4.5
(1,029 reviews)High Street, Leigh-on Sea, Southend-on-Sea SS9 2EP England
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About
Old Leigh is a charming waterfront district that sits perched on the northern edge of the Thames Estuary. The area’s harbor—once a bustling shipping lane to London—still thrives today with a fleet of historic shellfish and whitebait boats, including the much‑told story of the cockle boat *Endeavour*. Scattered along its low‑tide foreshore are restored fisherfolk cottages, the Leigh Heritage Centre housed in the Old Smithy, and the art studios of Leigh Art Studios. Visitors can stroll the original market square, admire the Grade II* St Clement’s Church, and explore the calm stretches of beach at Bell Wharf and the nature reserve at Two Tree Island, making Old Leigh a delightful blend of maritime history and relaxed seaside leisure.