Mersea Island

Essex island community of oysters, sailing creeks, marshes, and a tide-flooded causeway.

Mersea Island lies in the Blackwater Estuary in Essex, connected to the mainland by a causeway called the Strood that floods at high tide. It is a low-key fishing and sailing community about 8 miles south of Colchester, with beaches, marshes, and a quietly scenic quality that attracts weekenders from London.

The island is famous for its oysters — Mersea natives have been harvested here since Roman times. The Company Shed at West Mersea is the place to eat them: a no-frills seafood shack that serves exceptionally fresh oysters, crab, lobster, and other shellfish at very reasonable prices. You bring your own bread and wine. There is often a queue.

Colchester, just up the road, is Britain's oldest recorded town and worth a few hours with its Roman walls, Norman castle, and good museum.

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Day Trips

Colchester is the obvious base for a visit to Mersea Island — just 8 miles away, it is Britain's oldest recorded town and has enough to fill a day alongside your island visit. The Roman walls, Norman castle, and good museum make it well worth combining with a trip to the island.

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Eating Out

Mersea Island's food scene is almost entirely about seafood, and it is very good indeed. The Company Shed is the headline act but the whole West Mersea waterfront has a handful of fish stalls and cafes. Come hungry, bring cash, and plan your visit around low tide — the Strood causeway floods at high tide and cuts the island off.

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Getting There

Mersea Island is about 8 miles south of Colchester. The only road access is via the Strood, a causeway that floods at high tide — check tide tables before you visit to avoid being cut off. Colchester is served by fast trains from London Liverpool Street (about 50 minutes). From Colchester, take a taxi or the 62/64 bus to West Mersea; the journey takes around 30 minutes by road. There is no train to the island.

By car from London, take the A12 to Colchester and then the B1025 south to the island. Parking is available at the West Mersea waterfront but fills up quickly in summer.

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Things to Do

Mersea Island packs a surprising amount into a small tidal island. The big draw is the oyster scene at West Mersea, but there is also Roman history, easy coastal walking, sailing, and the quieter pleasures of East Mersea's country park and marshes.