huts

Escape to an island for the day that offers stretches of golden sand shores, lined with colourful beach huts, seafood restaurants, a charming harbour and a delightful town to explore

The UK is brimming with coastal vistas, but the beaches nestled on an island just a few hours from London are perhaps some of the most beautiful.

Just off the coast of Essex, around nine miles southeast of Colchester and two hours from London, is the idyllic Mersea Island. The tidal island is renowned for its colourful beach huts, world-famous oysters, and its rich maritime heritage, offering a unique day out with a laid-back seaside charm.

It’s the UK’s most easterly inhabited island, with a population of around 7,000 residents spread across two areas: West Mersea and East Mersea. The island is also steeped in history, spanning more than a millennium, with its parish church, St Peter and St Paul, believed to date from the 7th century, while numerous Roman artefacts have been discovered in the vicinity.

OPINION

Amy Jones

On the West of the island is where you’ll find its small fishing town, the most populated area of the island. While the east offers stretches of rural landscapes and is home to the island’s only country park, Cudmore Grove.

But the West is what draws visitors in, offering stretches of golden sand, stone and shell shores, lined with traditional pastel-coloured beach huts, a standout feature of this coast. It’s a haven for those looking to spend time on the beach against the picture-postcard backdrop, or to soak up the views during coastal walks along West Mersea beach.

While the island might not be blessed with the azure waters of Scotland or Cornwall, the shallow, typically calm waters are just as enticing and ideal for those looking to take part in fun water activities, like kayaking or paddleboarding. Yet there’s more to the waters that surround the island.

At least once a month, the island gets completely cut off from the mainland due to high tide. While it’s an island in its own right, there’s a road called ‘The Strood’ that connects Mersea to the mainland, but as the water completely submerges the road, the island is left to its own devices.

Thankfully, residents of the island aren’t cut off for long; it typically lasts only about an hour and a half. So, for residents and visitors, it’s vital to check the tide times to avoid brief periods of isolation.

But planning a trip is well worth it, with the addition of its quaint harbour to explore, which is dotted with fishing and sailing boats. This is the ideal spot where children can enjoy crabbing off the jetty and for adults to savour those acclaimed oysters.

Some of its most notable places to enjoy the island’s selection of seafood are at The Company Shed, The Coast Inn and Victory at Mersea. And of course, a visit to the beach wouldn’t be complete without a classic dish of fish and chips, which is available from a range of eateries on the island.

In the town, there are shops to wander around, along with tearooms, bakeries and coffee houses for a respite from the British weather. While the island is small, there’s a selection of pubs on the West Mersea for that refreshing pint by the coast and picturesque views out to the harbour.

It’s a little slice of paradise for those looking for a laid-back escape, or a day out at the beach on one of England’s islands. It even has its own vineyard and brewery to really savour the flavours of Essex.

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Travel writer Emma Cooke has recommended a perfect day trip, a charming East Sussex seaside town with a cliff Railway, pretty cherry blossoms, and seafront brunch with no queues

With summer just around the corner, you might be thinking about a day out by the sea, or even a longer seaside holiday. One travel influencer has the ideal recommendation for a destination with a lot to offer, from relaxing on the beach, to travelling on a cliff railway.

London travel writer Emma Cooke shared footage of an East Sussex coastal town, highlighting the cliff railway, charming beach huts, spectacular hilltop panoramas, and beautiful cherry blossoms.

She explained: “POV: You got on a £15 train out of London and less than two hours later found a crowd-free seaside town full of cherry blossom. There’s an old town packed with bookshops and bakeries, £1.70 clifftop tea, seafront brunch with no queues, perfect beach sunsets, and almost every sight is free or under £5.”

The destination in question is the south coast resort town of Hastings, in East Sussex. Tourism website 1066 Country says: “To soak up Hastings’ history, wander the preserved Old Town’s winding streets and tiny twittens, crammed with Tudor houses and flower-bedecked cottages, and inhale the hard-working fishing quarter with its towering net huts and ramshackle huts on the beach.”

A ‘twitten’ is a Sussex term for a narrow passageway or alley nestled between two buildings, typically leading to courtyards, streets, or open spaces beyond, reports MyLondon.

The site goes on: “Heading west, the alternative vibe continues as you arrive in St Leonards. Purpose-built in the 1800s by James and Decimus Burton as a genteel seaside resort for the aristocracy, its architecture provides a striking backdrop for art galleries, antique shops, chic boutiques and a thriving café culture.”

It further states: “Hastings Old Town lies in a valley between the East and West Hills, each with their own funicular railway.

“Take the East Hill Lift from the fishing beach up to Hastings Country Park, where on clear days you can see from Beachy Head to Dungeness and as far as Folkestone and the coast of France.

“Take the West Hill Lift from George Street, up through a tunnel of rock to emerge into the tranquil light of another world.

“Explore Smugglers Adventures at a labyrinth of caverns hidden deep within the West Hill, packed with the thrilling history of smugglers, bootleggers and warring bloodthirsty gangs.”

Commenters were brimming with praise for the town. One declared: “I live here and it’s amazing.”

Another posted: “Hastings is wonderful.” And someone else said: Gorgeous place and lovely people. I recommend Hastings.””

A different person responded: “Never expected to see my hometown in one of your travel reels. Where is the £1.70 tea from?!”

Emma replied: “The little tea van up on top of west hill lift! Think it’s just called ‘kiosk’.”