Southend to Old Leigh Coastal Walk.
Sea air, an easy coastal walk, new people and a cosy finish by the water. Saturday 17 October 2026.
Ready to join us?
Just send us a message on WhatsApp and let us know which suits you.
Sometimes it is nice to get out of London for the day, walk beside the water and spend a few hours somewhere that feels a little slower.
Join us for a relaxed coastal day from Southend-on-Sea to Old Leigh, walking alongside the Thames Estuary through Westcliff and Chalkwell before finishing in the beautiful old fishing village of Old Leigh.
This is not a race and it is not a strenuous hike. We will walk, stop, take photos, talk, explore and enjoy the coast together.
And as always, most people come alone, so please do not worry if you do not know anyone..
A little about the estuary.
A few things worth knowing before the day.
- Southend Pier is the longest in the world. At 1.33 miles, Southend Pier stretches further into the sea than any other pleasure pier on earth. There is even a small railway running along it. It has been there in some form since 1830.
- Old Leigh is a working fishing village. The boats you will see moored at Old Leigh are not decorative. Leigh-on-Sea has one of the last working cockle fleets in the country. The cockle sheds along the waterfront have been there for generations and still sell seafood straight off the boats.
- The light here is something painters have chased for centuries. The Thames Estuary has a particular quality of light that is hard to describe until you are standing in it. Turner painted it. Constable wrote about it. On a clear October day, walking along the shore, you will understand why.
- You can see container ships pass close to shore. The Thames Estuary is one of the busiest shipping lanes in Europe. From the coastal path you will watch enormous vessels moving slowly past. It is unexpectedly dramatic for a flat, quiet walk.
- Old Leigh has barely changed in four hundred years. The narrow lanes, old pubs and weatherboard buildings of Old Leigh look much as they did in the 1600s. The Bell Inn, which sits right on the waterfront, is one of the oldest pubs in Essex.
- The walk is almost entirely flat. The coastal path from Southend to Old Leigh runs along the estuary shore and is mostly paved promenade. There are no significant hills. If you can walk to a tube station, you can do this walk.
Meeting and travel
We will meet at 10:00am inside London Fenchurch Street Station.
Once everyone has arrived, we will tap in and take a direct c2c train to Southend Central together.
You do not need to buy a train ticket in advance if you are using contactless. You can tap in with a contactless bank card, Apple Pay or another accepted contactless device and tap out at Southend Central. Contactless pay-as-you-go is available throughout the c2c network.
Important: everyone needs their own card or device, and you must use the same card or device when tapping in and out.
Saturday is off-peak all day for contactless travel.
If you have a Railcard or want to look for a cheaper advance fare, you may prefer buying a ticket separately. c2c also currently offers a 1/3 Off Saver on eligible Friday-to-Sunday Off-Peak Day Returns bought through c2c at least three days ahead, so buying in advance can sometimes be cheaper than simply tapping.
When we arrive
We will arrive at Southend Central around late morning and head down towards the seafront.
We will have a little time to look around before beginning our walk west along the estuary.
We will pass through:
The main walking route is approximately 6.5 km / 4 miles and is predominantly flat and paved.
We will be taking it slowly. This is a social walk, so there will be time for photographs, conversations and little stops along the way.
Optional: Southend Pier
Before starting the main coastal walk, we will have the option of spending some time around Southend Pier, the world's longest pleasure pier.
We will not necessarily walk the entire pier because that would add considerably to our walking distance. We will see how everyone feels, what the weather is doing and how much time we have.
Old Leigh
Our destination is Old Leigh, and this is where we will slow things down properly.
Old Leigh is the historic fishing part of Leigh-on-Sea, with boats along the waterfront, old buildings, seafood stalls and pubs.
We will find somewhere to stop for food, a drink and a good chat.
Staying for food or the pub is completely optional. If you have had enough walking and socialising for one day, you are absolutely free to head home..
Getting home
There is no need to walk back to Southend.
We will continue to Leigh-on-Sea station and take a c2c train back towards London.
If you are travelling using contactless, simply tap in again at Leigh-on-Sea and tap out when you reach your destination.
The whole day works nicely as a one-way coastal walk rather than walking somewhere and then retracing your steps.
Walk details
| Date | Saturday 17 October 2026 |
| Meeting time | 10:00am |
| Meeting point | London Fenchurch Street Station |
| Train | Direct c2c service to Southend Central |
| Distance | Approximately 6.5km / 4 miles |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Terrain | Mostly flat and paved |
| Pace | Relaxed and social |
| Finish | Old Leigh |
| Afterwards | Optional food and pub |
| Return | Leigh-on-Sea to London |
| Cost | Your train fare and anything you choose to buy |
What to bring
October by the estuary can be beautiful, but this is England, so we will not trust the weather too much.
Bring comfortable walking shoes or trainers, water, and a waterproof layer. Dress warmly enough for spending several hours outside, particularly if it is windy by the water.
Coming alone?
Please do.
NuCircle walks are specifically meant to be somewhere you can turn up without already having your own little group.
We will make introductions at the beginning, and we will encourage people to walk with different people throughout the day.
You can talk a lot. You can be quiet. You can stop and look at the water.
There is no pressure to perform or impress anyone.
Just come along. Meet us at Fenchurch Street at 10:00am and we will take it from there.
Want to come?
Message us on WhatsApp with your name and we will add you to the hiking group. You will get all the updates for this walk and future ones.
Message us on WhatsApp