Creeks, Cockles & Cockneys; Thursday 15th May

Creeks, Cockles & Cockneys; Thursday 15^th May 2025. This trip includes a coach tour of an unexplored area of Essex, a two-course lunch with coffee in a jolly seaside hotel, free time in Southend and a visit to picturesque Old Town at Leigh-on-Sea. We meet the Blue Badge guide at 10.30am for coffee & cake (included) at Hadleigh Park just outside Southend. Hadleigh Parks crests a hill with views of the romantic ruins of Hadleigh Castle set against the dramatic backdrop of the Thames Estuary A morning coach tour explores a landscape of lonely creeks, wide horizons, wildfowl, marsh farmers and oystermen. At ancient Canewdon we hear of legendary witches before we meet the sea and sweep along the Thames Estuary back into Southend. This is the seaside to generations of Londoners. A two course lunch with coffee is served at the Palace Hotel looking out to sea – it’s a lovely spot, see the photograph below. After lunch there’s free time to enjoy Southend. Have a paddle, fight a deck chair, stare out to sea – endless options. Old Leigh-on-Sea was once a thriving fishing and smuggling village. Leigh fishermen became Dunkirk heroes and today keep alive Leigh’s reputation as the centre of the world cockling trade. There’s an old-world charm here with cockle boats and cockle sheds, sailors’ inns and clapboard cottages. Sample the traditional cockney tea time treat or buy a simple cup of tea before heading home at 4.45pm Price £69.00 per person per trip (incudes two course lunch).  Coach will depart Stevenage at 08.30