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.

Southend to Whitstable by Boat

Leigh On Sea to Whitstable Kent (Including: Southend Pier, Mulberry Harbour, Shoebury Boom, Red Sands Maunsell Forts & Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farms).

Duration

2 hours each way (Total of 4/5 hours)

Boat

Starfish

Passengers

Up to 10

Cost

£650.00

Cost is for 6 passengers. Add additional passengers up to 10 in total for £100.00 per person. Minimum hire charge of £650.00 applies.

About the trip

Discover Southend to Whitstable by boat and turn your travel across the estuary into a genuine adventure. Forget the busy roads and railways; our service takes you directly from Leigh-on-Sea to the charming Kentish coast, with a host of incredible sights to see all along the way. This is the perfect transport for a fantastic day out or a long weekend away.

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A Journey Packed with Landmarks

This is far more than just a water taxi; it’s a sightseeing tour of the Thames Estuary. During your crossing, you’ll see a fantastic array of iconic and historic landmarks, including:

The world-famous Southend Pier

A historic WW2 Mulberry Harbour unit

The eerie Red Sands Maunsell Sea Forts

The impressive Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm

This incredible itinerary makes the journey just as memorable as the destination itself. 

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Welcome to Whitstable: The Pearl of Kent

Upon your arrival, you’ll quickly discover why Whitstable is one of Kent’s most beloved seaside towns. Famous for its native oysters, which have been harvested here for centuries, the town is a foodie’s delight. You can explore the bustling Whitstable Harbour, browse the vibrant independent shops and cafes on Harbour Street, or take a stroll along the pebble beach with its iconic colourful huts. For history lovers, Whitstable Museum and the stunning Whitstable Castle & Gardens are must-sees.

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Southend to Whitstable by Boat Explained

Our Essex to Kent boat trip is the ideal way to travel for a special day out or a weekend getaway. Please be aware of the following important information regarding your arrival:

Drop-Off Service: This trip is a one-way or return passage to Whitstable.

Harbour Fee: There is a mandatory, extra charge of £35.00 for the pre-booked 15-minute drop-off slot at one of the town’s pontoons. This is in addition to your main ticket price.

Time Slot: We are allocated a strict 15-30 minute window for drop-off and cannot wait beyond this time.

Ready to explore the Kent coast in style? Book your journey today to guarantee your place.

Book now

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.

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

Southend to Whitstable by Boat

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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.