A ‘charming’ seaside town sits just a 45-minute train journey from London and offers visitors the ‘perfect daytrip’ with it’s range of pubs, cafes, beach and independent shops
If you’re looking to make the most of the hot weather by visiting the beach, one seasoned traveller claims she has found the cutest seaside town in the UK – and it’s less than an hour from London. Helen, who founded travel guide Travel and Squeak with her partner Andy, took to TikTok to showcase what she described as the “perfect summer daytrip” for Londoners.
Helen said she and Andy caught a c2c train, which took them to Leigh-on-Sea. “It’s a charming seaside town full of cafes, pubs, cobbled streets, cute boutiques and cockle sheds,” she said in a video. The pair began by their day by stopping off at The Grove bistro for a coffee, just a short walk from the railway station.
After their dog, Plum became bored, Helen and Andy continued into Old Leigh, a village known for its 1,000-year fishing industry history and riverside pubs. “We chilled by the beach for a little while and, while Plum couldn’t go on the sand, we were able to dangle our legs over the sea and watch the boats bobbing in the water while enjoying breathing in the fresh, salty air,” Helen said. “It’s moments like this that I would love to live by the sea.”
Helen also praised The Peterboat, a Leigh seafood restaurant with a “huge sun-soaked patio full of benches overlooking the sea”. Of course, no trip to the seaside could be complete without fish and chips, which is indeed what the duo opted for.
“It was good,” Helen said as she tucked in to a generous portion. “Sometimes fish and scampi can leave you feeling quite greasy, but not here. The calamari was also delicious.”
Their day wasn’t done there, however, as next on the itinerary was an ice cream, before a venture down to the Boatyard pub for a drink. “This is a proper holiday vibe with music and a fun atmosphere over the water,” Helen said.
Before heading back to the station, meanwhile, the couple grabbed some fresh cockles and prawns from Osborne’s. “This cafe is in an 18th century stable that was originally used to house horses and carriages delivering ale to the local public house, The Crooked Billet,” Helen explained.
She closed with an honest assessment: “The prawns were delicious and tasted so fresh, but the cockles were unfortunately very gritty so they hadn’t been cleaned properly.”
Writing in response, one TikTok user shared a Leigh-on-Sea recommendation: “We always go to Ye Old Smack pub in Leigh-on-Sea. Lovely food, service, and atmosphere.”
A second person added: “Old Leigh is top tier, if you have dogs it’s the place to go to meet lots of well-behaved dogs.” A third shared: “On Sundays they have a car boot sale in the car park of the station.”
While a fourth TikTok user said: “Been going there for years. Child memories of going after Sunday dinner for a cockle tea. Now I live nearby and still visit and my kids and grandkids go there.”
c2c has shared three top tips online when visiting Leigh-on-Sea. These are:
- There’s a huge tide in Leigh-on-Sea, make sure to check for high or mid tide if you’re planning a swim
- You can walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend on the beach or on the coastal path, it takes about 40 minutes
- Lots of fresh fish is caught in the morning and sold at fishmongers on the beach front, why not take some home for dinner!
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