Leigh-on-Sea

Leigh-on-Sea is a coastal town in Southend-on-Sea in southeast England, sitting on the north side of the Thames Estuary with wide tidal mudflats and narrow creeks. Two Tree Island nature reserve lies just offshore, while the town itself centers on a small harbor with timber wharves and old cockle sheds.

Archaeologists have found traces of Romano-British settlement along the shore and the Domesday Book of 1086 recorded only nine people living in the area. St. Clement's Church was built in the late 15th century using rough Kentish ragstone and flint as the place slowly grew into a fishing village.

The name comes from an Old English word meaning a clearing or meadow by water, fitting the flat coastal setting here. Fishing boats still tie up at the old wharves and residents walk the waterfront in the morning or sit on benches outside the seafood shacks.

The railway station links the town to London via the Tilbury line and regular buses run to nearby areas and London Southend Airport. Walking along the waterfront promenade is easy and most shops and eateries sit at street level.

Eight electoral wards make up the town council with sixteen elected members who handle local services and community decisions. The setup allows residents to have a say in everyday matters and address neighborhood issues directly.