Leigh-on-Sea

Leigh-on-Sea (), commonly referred to simply as Leigh, is a town and civil parish within the city of Southend-on-Sea, located in the ceremonial county of Essex, England. At the 2021 census the parish had a population of 22,568.

==Geography== thumb|left|A calm Old Leigh morning thumb|left|The Old Leigh waterfront at high tide. The green boat, Endeavour was one of six cockle boats that was acquired to be one of the "Little Ships of Dunkirk|little ships" in the [[Dunkirk evacuation.]] thumb|left|View across the Thames Estuary at low tide near sunset Leigh-on-Sea is on the northern side of the Thames Estuary, a few miles from the open waters of the North Sea to the east, and a similar distance from the Kent coast to the south. The coastal environs of the town feature a nature reserve at Two Tree Island and a centrally located beach adjacent to Bell Wharf. At low tide Leigh's foreshore has a wide expanse of mud flats and creeks, extending offshore towards the deep water channel of the Thames (Yantlet Channel). Leigh is from central London via road and rail networks and is part of the London commuter belt.