{"id":44246,"date":"2025-07-01T08:00:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T07:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/?p=44246"},"modified":"2025-07-01T11:35:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T10:35:43","slug":"photo-gallery-a-walk-from-leigh-on-sea-to-southend-and-along-the-worlds-longest-pleasure-pier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/photo-gallery-a-walk-from-leigh-on-sea-to-southend-and-along-the-worlds-longest-pleasure-pier\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo Gallery:  a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world&#8217;s longest pleasure pier"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-01.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>On one of the hottest days of the year so far, we embarked on a walk from Leigh in Sea to Southend on Sea in Essex.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;d arrived in Leigh to see the music festival but were disappointed to discover that it now takes place in the town rather than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/category\/photos\/\">by the harbour<\/a>, so we elected to go for a coastal walk instead.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-02.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Outside the station you can see the hefty flight of stairs leading up to the town.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-03.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Looking south across the Thames estuary, with the oil terminals in the distance.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-04.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The riverside streets were quiet compared to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/photos-from-the-leigh-on-sea-folk-festival-bands-beer-banjos-morris-dancers-and-crowd-scenes\/\">previous festival days.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-05.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With temperatures soaring way above 30 degrees C, the beaches were packed all along the walk to Southend.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-06.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-07.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Diving into the Thames.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-08.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Essex Yacht Club drinkers.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-09.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Oldest Caf\u00e9 in Old Leigh &#8211; and indeed Essex &#8211; the Strand Tea Rooms has a long and colourful history.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-10.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-11.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We only spotted one performer by the riverside.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-12.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We stopped off at the lovely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/theoldfoundry.thehatch\/?locale=en_GB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hatch cafe\/bar<\/a> which &#8211; for some reason &#8211; hosts this wonderful old green tram.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-14.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Acker Bilk wrote the international hit Stranger on the Shore in 1961, but nowadays it&#8217;s all about looking for Strange Activity By The Shore.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-15.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-16.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Situated on Old Leigh&#8217;s cobbled High Street, <span data-huuid=\"13777128884922454917\">Ye Olde Smack dates back to at least 1691, with the current building being constructed in 1852.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-17.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-18.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Bat and ball by the waterfront.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-19.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>50th birthday party on the move.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-20.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-21.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-22.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-23.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-24.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Heavy Metal poster.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-25.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-26.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Jumping into the sea.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-27.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-28.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-29.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitessex.com\/things-to-do\/southend-cliff-lift-p1270241\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Southend&#8217;s Cliff Lift<\/a> is one of only a few surviving funicular railways and is now Britain&#8217;s shortest railway. and the only single track funicular railway in Britain.<\/p>\n<p>Constructed in 1912, the 40m (130ft) lift is currently open 10 &#8211; 3pm each day if a volunteer operator is available.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-34.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Flag and ice cream.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-36.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Cargo ship heads east.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-35.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-30.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can&#8217;t move in Southend for Rossi ice cream outlets.<\/p>\n<p>The original Rossi ice cream company was brought to the area in 1931 by Massimiliano Agostino Rossi and his wife Anna.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-31.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The uninspiring Victoria Shopping Centre, complete with broken information screen.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-44.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-32.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-33.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-37.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Fish &amp; Chips, Tea &amp; Cakes.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-38.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Southend&#8217;s fun fair was full of thrill seekers.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-39.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can see the pier stretching out to sea.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-41.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-40.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Watching the riders.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-42.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-43.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-45.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We wrapped up a very enjoyable afternoon walking the 1.3 miles to the end of Southend Pier and back.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-46.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The coastline around Southend consists of vast mudflats, which means the water is never very deep, even at high tide, and it recedes over a mile at low tide.<\/p>\n<p>This meant that larger passenger boats were unable to dock near the shore at high tide, and no boats at all were able to dock at low tide.<\/p>\n<p>This left the town in danger of missing out on the Victorian fad for spending time by the sea, so it was decided to build a pier.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-49.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.southendpier.co.uk\/history\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pier website<\/a> recalls the early days of the structure:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>In June 1830 a 600 foot (180 m) wooden pier was opened, using around 90 oak trees in its construction. But it was still too short to be usable at low tide, so by 1833 it had been extended to three times its length, 1,800 feet (540 m).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A further extension in 1846 meant the pier now stretched just over a mile, but it still wasn&#8217;t long enough, so a later rebuild extended it to a length of around 1.3 miles (2.1 km).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In 1848, the pier was the longest pier in Europe at 7,000 feet (2,100 m).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-51.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In 1899, a replacement iron pier was completed, followed by the construction of a\u00a0 single track electric railway starting running in 1890 &#8211;\u00a0 the first pier railway in the country.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-47.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-48.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The railway was originally double track, but there&#8217;s now just a passing loop to facilitate two trains at peak periods.<\/p>\n<p>Read more about the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.southendpier.co.uk\/history\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> pier&#8217;s history here<\/a>, which includes the near-inevitable outbreaks of unexplained fires.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-50.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-52.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-55.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Station at the end of the pier.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-53.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s that all-important &#8216;Insta&#8217; scene.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-54.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-56.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>A former amusement park and Grade II listed building, the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kursaal_(amusement_park)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kursaal Palace<\/a> opened in 1901 and was one of the world&#8217;s first purpose-built amusement parks.<\/p>\n<p>The majority of the park was closed in 1973, with the rest of the site closing in 1986. The building remained derelict until it was redeveloped in the late 1990s, opening again in 1998.<\/p>\n<p>Local 1970s pub rockers The Kursaal Flyers took their name from the park, scoring their one hit, &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6Zf1loc6S7U&amp;list=RD6Zf1loc6S7U&amp;start_radio=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Little Does She Know<\/a>&#8221; in 1976.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-57.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Beach views as the tide rapidly recedes.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-58.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-59.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-60.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-61.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-62.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-63.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-64.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-65.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-66.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-67.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Amusement arcades along the seafront. Compared to many British seaside towns, Southend still seems to be thriving.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-68.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is an imposter Electric Avenue! The real one<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brixtonbuzz.com\/?s=electric+avenue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> is in Brixton.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-69.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-70.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Street art seen on the way to the station.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.urban75.org\/pics\/leigh-on-sea-southend-71.jpg\" alt=\"Photo Gallery: a walk from Leigh-on-Sea to Southend and along the world's longest pleasure pier\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>Join the forum chat<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.net\/forums\/threads\/the-river-thames-photos-and-stories.323878\/page-30\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The River\u00a0Thames \u2013 photos and stories<\/a> (over 900 posts)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.net\/forums\/threads\/southend-on-sea.175320\/page-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Southend on Sea discussion<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.urban75.net\/forums\/threads\/leigh-on-sea-free-folk-festival-is-a-cracker-26-29-june-2025.353020\/\">Leigh\u00a0On Sea free folk festival<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On one of the hottest days of the year so far, we embarked on a walk from Leigh in Sea to Southend on Sea in Essex. We&#8217;d arrived in Leigh &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":44268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1765,456,17,193],"tags":[34,463,372,1694,18,1195,533,32,2814,809,21],"class_list":["post-44246","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-news","category-photos","category-places","tag-art","tag-beach","tag-essex","tag-leigh-on-sea","tag-photography","tag-photos","tag-river-thames","tag-seaside","tag-southend","tag-street-photography","tag-walks"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/leigh-on-sea-southend-01.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pQI7P-bvE","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44246","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44246"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44246\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44346,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44246\/revisions\/44346"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44246"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44246"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.urban75.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44246"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}