{"id":188543,"date":"2023-11-05T10:31:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-05T10:31:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsneednews.com\/?p=188543"},"modified":"2023-11-05T10:31:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-05T10:31:40","slug":"tiny-english-island-with-fairground-rides-sandy-beaches-that-was-huge-for-staycations-in-the-1970s-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsneednews.com\/travel\/tiny-english-island-with-fairground-rides-sandy-beaches-that-was-huge-for-staycations-in-the-1970s-the-sun\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiny English island with fairground rides & sandy beaches – that was huge for staycations in the 1970s | The Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

A SMALL island in England was once a popular seaside resort – and it now a huge wildlife haven.<\/p>\n

Canvey Island, off the coast of Essex, is entirely below sea level and separated from the mainland by a number of creeks.<\/p>\n


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It was home to just 300 people at the beginning of the 20th century and became a popular seaside resort with fairground rides and food stalls.<\/p>\n

It was created by entrepreneur Frederick Hester and included a huge promenade and pier, as well as winter gardens and monorails, although many of these were destroyed over the years.<\/p>\n

However, the popularity of cheap package holidays in the 1970s to Europe killed this off, and the island has since become used for oil<\/span> and gas<\/span> storage.<\/p>\n

Now home to around 40,000 people, the island's main attraction is Canvey Wick.<\/p>\n

Read more on UK islands<\/h2>\n

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Stunning UK island like Cornwall in 1970s heyday – with cheap pubs & no traffic<\/h3>\n

Found behind a Morrisons supermarket, the 93-hectare site is an abandoned oil refinery.<\/p>\n

But it is now is one of the\u00a0"most significant areas in the UK for invertebrates" according to the BBC, with 30 of the 1,500 species on the endangered list.<\/p>\n

Other rare species include orchids, while it's also hotspot for nightingales, lizards and adders<\/p>\n

And in 2005, it was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and has become popular with tourists after it joined an 85-mile stretch of the Englan Coast Path last summer.<\/p>\n

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9<\/span>
The island attracts Brits during the summer months with holiday parks and hotels<\/span>Credit: Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption>
9<\/span>
The wildlife on the island includes a number of rare and endangered species<\/span>Credit: Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption>
9<\/span>
Many of the attractions have since been demolished although the beach remains popular<\/span>Credit: Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption>
9<\/span>
The 1930s cafe remains on the beachfront<\/span>Credit: Alamy<\/span><\/figcaption>

Wildlife fans can also head to the salt marshes, which are great for birdwatchers who want to spot a range of ducks and waders, as well as the Brent Geese who travel from Siberia.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, tourists can visit Concord Beach to go crabbing, or swim in the tidal swimming pool.<\/p>\n

The Canvey Seafront is home to museums, cinemas, bingo halls, and casinos, as well as a miniature railway and bandstand with live music.<\/p>\n

And kids will love the Leisure Island Fun Park and Fantasy Island attractions, with rides and rollercoasters.<\/p>\n

And the Labworth Cafe, dating<\/span> back to the 1930s, has been renovated and remains a beachfront dining area.<\/p>\n

People have raved about the seafront, with some saying it has "good fish and chips" while another said it was "far cheaper & peaceful than Southend-on-Sea".<\/p>\n

Or for a lunchtime pint, head to the 17th-century pub Lobster Smack Inn.<\/p>\n

Not only was it popular with bare-knuckle fights in the 1850s, but it was even mentioned in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations.<\/p>\n

To get to the island, visitors can get the train to Benfleet train station which takes 40 minutes from London Fenchurch Street, and then a bus from there, taking around 45 minutes,<\/p>\n

Most people who visit stay at The Oysterfleet Hotel, which starts from \u00a355 a night, although there are a number of B&Bs and holiday cottages to choose from too.<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, it's not the only island near Essex.<\/p>\n

Osea Island is a tiny private island where all of the celebs go, with A-listers including\u00a0Rihanna, Stormzy<\/span> and Jude Law staying over the years.<\/p>\n

Often dubbed the \u201cEnglish Necker Island,\u201d most visit for the recording studio although tourists can book overnight stays on part of the island.<\/p>\n

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Or there is Mersea Island, named the "best kept secret in Essex".<\/p>\n

The island has just 7,000 locals, and you can only visit during low ride.<\/p>\n


\nSource: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A SMALL island in England was once a popular seaside resort – and it now a huge wildlife haven. 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