Leigh-on-Sea is a civil parish in Essex. It is a district of Southend-on-Sea, with its own town council, and is at present the only civil parish within the borough. The town is situated on the northern edge of the Thames estuary, being just a few miles from the open waters of the North Sea and from the Kent coast. Featuring on the town's seaside area is a nature reserve at Two Tree Island and a centrally located beach near Bell Wharf. Leigh's foreshore is primarily seen as being an area with significant mud flats and creeks when the water is at low tide. Between the 1870s and the 1920s, Broadway, formerly a residential street, was changed into a commercial parade of shopfronts. In the 1930s, London Road and Leigh Road equally became acknowledged as commercial streets, holding outlets, workshops, commercial facilities, and entertainment areas. As a result of the prominence of 24 hour grocery stores and online shopping from the 1990s, a number of the town's independent businesses went through redevelopment, with bars, cafés, eateries, galleries and gift stores replacing some of the traditional shops. On-going urban regeneration continues to attract brand-new locals to the town, alongside aiming to accommodate for the growth in Southend's increased population. With a population of over 20000, Leigh was classed by Rightmove's 2016 Happy at Home Index as the happiest place to live in Great Britain, with attention being drawn to the strong community spirit, a sense of belonging, and excellent access to sports and arts activities. A variety of community events are well established, such as the Leigh Regatta, happening over one September weekend, the Leigh Folk Festival and the Leigh Art Trail. For all your house upgrades, make sure to make use of trusted contractors in Leigh-on-Sea to make certain of quality.