Citorah says

Mersea sits in the Blackwater estuary nine miles south of Colchester, postcode CO5, and it's the closest thing London has to a proper island day-trip — the causeway floods at high tide, which is either inconvenient or the entire point depending on your mood.

From Best beaches near London 2026 — 8 worth the train, under “Mersea Island — the day-trip that floods”.

Good to know

Where
CO5
Getting there
Liverpool Street to Colchester runs roughly every 15 minutes on Greater Anglia, about 50 minutes direct, off-peak return around £28-£35 in 2026 (verify on booking); then it's a 25-minute taxi or the 67 bus down to West Mersea

As the guide had it on 25 Jun 2026. Check prices and hours with the place itself before you go.

The guide it’s in

  • London · Beaches

    Best beaches near London 2026 — 8 worth the train

    London's closest beach isn't the best. Eight beaches I'd go back to — Camber, Wittering, Broadstairs, Whitstable — four to skip, with 2026 train times.

    Checked · 18 minResearch-ledSays what to skip

Plan the trip

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