General Enquiries: 07590 637 233

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Meeting Locations:

*Leigh Marina: High Street, Old Leigh, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 2ES. Please wait outside the large white gates; a member of our team will meet you there. Do not enter the marina without our team.

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*Cockle Wharf: Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 2ER. You will see my blue “MEETING POINT” sign outside the No 1 Cockleshed Restaurant on the Cockle Beach. Please meet us there. *Do NOT go to Leigh Marina if your itinerary specifies Cockle Wharf.

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We will confirm your specific meeting point on your boat itinerary.

Mulberry Harbour Southend (& Southend Pier)

Leigh On Sea to Southend Pier, Mulberry Harbour, Two Tree Island & Leigh Marina

Duration

2 hours

Boat

Starfish

Passengers

Up to 10

Cost

£450.00

Cost is for 6 passengers. Add additional passengers up to 10 in total for £60.00 per person. Minimum hire charge of £450.00 applies.

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About the trip

Discover a remarkable piece of D-Day history hiding in plain sight with a boat trip to the Mulberry Harbour Southend. This giant concrete structure, visible off the coast near Thorpe Bay, is a powerful and tangible link to the epic events of the Second World War. While many people see it from the shore, our dedicated boat tour offers the closest, most memorable, and informative view possible.

This trip is a must-do for history enthusiasts, curious explorers, and anyone looking to understand the incredible stories hidden within our local landscape.

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What is the Southend Mulberry Harbour?

The Mulberry Harbours were one of the greatest engineering feats of World War Two. They were temporary, portable harbours designed to be built off the coast of Normandy immediately following the D-Day landings in June 1944. Consequently, they allowed the Allies to rapidly unload the enormous quantities of troops, vehicles, and supplies needed to win the war in Europe.

The structure you see today is a ‘Phoenix Caisson’ – a huge concrete breakwater unit that formed the outer wall of the harbour. This particular unit became damaged and was grounded here while being towed down the Thames Estuary towards France, where it has remained ever since.

Read more

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A Key Part of Southend’s WW2 History

This surviving caisson is a vital part of Southend’s WW2 history. The Thames Estuary was a hive of activity during the war, acting as a crucial artery for logistics and defence. This relic serves as a permanent, silent monument to the immense ingenuity and industrial effort that originated from our very own coastline. It stands as a tribute to the generation that contributed to the success of the Normandy invasion.

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The Best Way to See the Harbour

While the Mulberry Harbour Southend can be seen from the shore, its true scale and fascinating details are only revealed from the water. Our boat trips allow us to get safely up close to the structure, offering a complete 360-degree perspective that you simply cannot get from land. Therefore, it’s a fantastic opportunity for photographers and anyone interested in history to appreciate this monument properly.

Ready to get a closer look at history? Book your place on our next tour today! 

Book now

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Food & Drink

Top up with water, on the water!
Keeping hydrated at sea is important.

We are offering an afternoon Tea at £18.00 per person from Sara’s Tea Garden in Old Leigh.

You can also bring your own food & drink but ALL food & drink must be consumed outside on deck & not in the wheelhouse.

There are no cooking facilities onboard.

Alcohol is allowed in moderation.

If you would like more information or want to arrange the afternoon tea, please contact us.

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FAQs

The tides in Leigh on Sea do not wait for anybody. The time on your booking is very carefully calculated and is the time we must meet to depart for your trip. If you do find yourself running late or stuck in traffic, please notify us immediately. We will then make the judgement if we will still be able to depart, however any time missed cannot be added to the end of your trip and you will lose that time.

The 50% deposit paid to secure your trip is non-refundable. If we cannot find a suitable alternative date to accommodate your trip, we will offer you the 50% balance you paid as a refund. You will not get the non-refundable deposit back, this can only be used towards another trip.

Our passengers safety is our main priority and if for any reason the weather is too dangerous to go out in, your trip will be cancelled. We will give you as much notice as possible and the weather is checked in the days leading up to each trip. The non-refundable deposit and any balance paid will then be used towards re-booking your trip. Once at sea, if we have to turn back due to bad weather we cannot offer a refund for this as this is out of our hands and your safety is key.

There is no minimum age as long as all children are accompanied by a responsible adult and are on their best behaviour!

Our trips are tide dependant but we are able to go out on most days, its just up to you to get in touch with a date and we will try our very best to accommodate you!

Yes! All of our trips are tailor made and the routes we take depend on what you would like to see on your trip (time and tide dependant). If you have any ideas in mind, please let us know when requesting your booking so we can tell you if they are achievable.

Yes of course, as long as all rubbish is taken with you when you depart, feel free to bring your own food and drink on board. We have no cooking facilities. Plenty of water is also recommended.

We are happy for you to bring your furry friends onboard, however dogs must remain on the deck, they are not allowed inside in the wheelhouse. Please also ensure any mess is cleaned up.

Layering is key for our trips! It can be significantly colder at sea so always ensure you have a coat with you. The majority of your trip will be spent outside on deck so waterproofs are a good choice as it is possible the spray will get you wet when onboard. In the summer months, always wear a hat and ensure you have suntan lotion with you. There is no shelter for shade on deck so please ensure you have taken this into consideration when deciding what to wear.

Sensible footwear is a must onboard our boats! Trainers/deck shoes are a good idea – we suggest you leave your high heels at home!

No, unfortunately not. Although we do offer seal spotting trips, this cannot be guaranteed (although we do see them a lot!) and we accept no responsibility if you are not successful in sighting any. 

Alcohol is allowed, but only in moderation. The boat will turn back to shore if there are any overly intoxicated passengers onboard who are causing disruption to the trip, but please do feel free to bring a glass or two to enjoy yourselves! 

Make an enquiry

Mulberry Harbour Southend (& Southend Pier)

Fill in the form below and
we will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Preferred Dates
Factors like tides, other confirmed bookings and the weather may mean that your preferred date and time may not be available. We will, however, endeavour to do our very best to accommodate your preferences.

Meeting Point

Leigh Marina: High Street, Old Leigh, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 2ES. Please wait outside the large white gates; a member of our team will meet you there. Do not enter the marina without our team.

Cockle Wharf: Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 2ER. You will see my blue “MEETING POINT” sign outside the No 1 Cockleshed Restaurant on the Cockle Beach. Please meet us there. *Do NOT go to Leigh Marina if your itinerary specifies Cockle Wharf.

We will confirm your specific meeting point on your boat itinerary.