Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, England, United Kingdom

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Leigh-on-Sea, commonly referred to simply as Leigh, is a town and civil parish in Essex, England. A district of Southend-on-Sea, with its own town council, it is currently the only civil parish within the borough.

Leigh-on-Sea is on the northern side of the Thames Estuary, a few miles from the open waters of the North Sea to the east, and a similar distance from the Kent coast to the south. The coastal environs of the town feature a nature reserve at Two Tree Island and a centrally located beach adjacent to Bell Wharf. At low tide Leigh's foreshore has a wide expanse of mud flats and creeks, extending offshore towards the deep water channel of the Thames (Yantlet Channel). Leigh is 40 miles (65 kilometres) from central London via road and rail networks and is part of the London commuter belt.

Leigh-on-Sea has frequently been cited as one of the best places to live in the UK, owing to factors such as its proximity to London, nearby outstanding Westcliff and Southend grammar schools, good access to sports and arts activities, multiple opportunities to develop skills, and a strong sense of belonging and community spirit. A 2018 survey by Rightmove found that Leigh-on-Sea was the place in the UK where people were happiest living.

Reports in the local newspaper; the Southend Echo, have suggested (with such opinion supported by many local business owners) that Southend-on-Sea City Centre (to avoid the demise of many ‘High Streets’) needs to ‘follow’ the example of Leigh Broadway and Leigh Road…with independent businesses, rather than national chains,  being the prime tenants.

Transport Leigh-on-Sea is served by Leigh-on-Sea railway station on the London, Tilbury and Southend line. Regular, daily bus services run between Southend-on-Sea, Benfleet, Canvey Island, Basildon, Rayleigh and Chelmsford. Scheduled flights to national and European destinations operate out of nearby London Southend Airport.

The current railway station is situated near the western end of Old Leigh marina. Built in 1934, it replaced the original station, which was opposite Bell Wharf. A plan to site the railway station in the north of the town centre – the present-day Station Road, adjoining Elm Road – was not completed.