The stunning island just one hour by train from London with beautiful beaches – and celebrities love it

IF you are looking for a new place to go on holiday in the UK this summer, then you should head to a tiny island off the coast of Essex.

Mersea Island, just one hour from London, is being called “Essex‘s best kept secret” and is even popular with celebs.

Only 7,000 people live on the island, although the summer sees thousands more visit.

There is just one way to Mersea Island which is via The Strood causeway but you can’t access it during high tide.

However, most people visit for the day to the sand-shingle beach – and the 125 beach huts.

Lots of them are up for rent, with two of the fanciest huts owned by Kate Frankl.

can fit up to eight people each, and you can choose between a baby blue or lilac one.

Each hut is fully equipped with a kitchenette, as well as sun loungers and beach furniture from Harrods.

They also come with beach toys, board games, dog bowls and treats, as well as original artwork from Margate’s Margo and Dave Buonaguidi from Hackney.

Each hut also comes with its own reserved parking, as well as access to the toilet and shower block at West Mersea Holiday Park.

Don’t worry about food either –  there is tea, coffee and hot chocolate inside, or you can head to the nearby seaside cafe which serves tea and cake.

Kate, who owns the huts, said: “I wanted to create something less about chintz and more modern in style, to encourage a new generation of beach hut lovers.

“Our huts are super Instagrammable – I think that’s why we’ve been inundated with reservations this year.”

You can even book extra activities such as seafood deliveries, paddleboarding lessons and an afternoon tea delivery, at an extra cost.

You’ll have to be quick – they are already 80 per cent booked for summer 2023, with prices starting from £65 a day.

Celebs are fans of Mersea Island too – famous faces spotted there include Denise Van Outen and Stacey Solomon, while Gorden Ramsey was also spotted filming there.

If planning a trip to the island, make sure to pop into the country pubs such as The Fox Inn or the Dog and Pheasant, as well as the Msear Island Vineyard and Brewery.

If you fancy a longer stay, you can take your pick from one of the many holiday parks on the island.

This includes Away Resorts’ Mersea Island Holiday Park, or Waldegraves Holiday Park.

To get to Mersea Island, you can drive or catch a train from London Liverpool Street to Colchester, followed by a bus or taxi.

It isn’t the only island in Essex you may have never known existed.

Osea Island is a 380-acre island in the Blackwater Estuary and has welcomed A-listers including Rihanna, Stormzy and Jude Law over the years.

Often referred to as “English Necker Island,” you can stay there if you book a stay on the island with rooms from £300 a night.

And elsewhere in the UK, a tiny island off the coast of Plymouth could soon become a holiday resort.