Leigh-On-Sea 

Leigh on Sea is situated on the north bank of the Thames about 30 miles east of London. There are many reasons to visit this charming old village during the Leigh Art Trail. Leigh boasts London's nearest beach, and many visitors travel down at the weekend to enjoy the sea air, gorgeous sunsets, and appreciate the beauty of Old Leigh with its cobbled streets and pretty clapboard cottages.

Leigh is famous for its pubs, cafes, bars and restaurants. Because of the large number and high quality of practising artists in the town, many people now refer to Leigh on Sea as the St. Ives of the East.

Leigh on Sea is also famous for its shellfish. There is a small but active fleet of cockle boats, which keep alive the reputation of Leigh as the epicentre of the world cockling trade. The picturesque cockle sheds are home to many old Leigh families who have followed this trade for generations. The sheds are open daily, selling a wide variety of seafood including local specialities such as cockles, mussels, whelks, winkles and shrimps as well as crabs, prawns and lobsters.

"Leigh on Sea has been possibly Essex's worst kept secret for decades. That a hard working centre for shell fishing would rise to be one of the South East's favourite weekend tourist destinations, can't have been foreseen by our predecessors. As a child I came here from Barking and took my first hesitant steps into the rich dark Thames mud and a reluctant mouthful of jellied eels. Forty years later I made it my home and found that Leigh has blossomed into a vibrant, busy and prosperous town with a thriving creative population. Presumably drawn by the laid back atmosphere, sprawling seascapes and stunning Canvey sunsets (seriously!), Leigh has a buzzing artistic community. Every year they show their wares at the annual Leigh Art Trail. Here you can take a walk around this amazing town at your own pace to view and even buy some truly stunning original artworks. And relax, you don't have to have jellied eels, but they are quite delicious..."

Phill Jupitus