Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Southend-on-Sea, more commonly referred to as Southend, offers sand, sun, fun, and history. With over 314,000 inhabitants, the resort town is considered the seventh most densely populated area in the United Kingdom. Southend-on-Sea has been a popular local holiday destination throughout the years, with its world-famous Pier and mile-long railway, thrilling theme parks, award-winning beaches, historical sites, and fresh seafood.

The information above is provided by JetVac Cleaning who are a local exterior cleaning company providing Roof Cleaning, Driveway Cleaning, Gutter Cleaning along with a wide range of external cleaning services throughout Southend-on-Sea and the whole of Essex.

JetVac Cleaning Provides Information on Southend On Sea, Essex

Restaurants and Bars

The Railway Hotel offers raucous local music and interesting vegan junk food such as jackfruit burgers, tofu ‘jungle’ curry, seitan ceasar salads, mac and ‘cheese’, and a pile of plant-based pizzas. For more information, visit https://railwayhotelsouthend.co.uk/.

The Oak Tree is a hip and healthy vegan restaurant in Leigh that proves that vegan food is no dull affair. The cool cafe-restaurant serves up a host of plant-based takes on gastro-pub classics such as satay curries, mac and ‘cheese’, homemade pies, and faux ice cream sundaes. The mid-range cafe-restraurant offers al fresco dining out in their garden. For more information, visit https://www.oaktreebistro.co.uk/.

Osborne Bros Seafood Merchants can be easy to miss, but it’s worth seeking out. The small shop delivers any seafood lover’s dream: fresh seafood by the sea. Most people here will be picking from a bowl of cockles or ports of prawns, eel, oysters, and other salt-water delights. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/osbornescafe/.

Olivers on the Beach is a chic little kiosk-turned-cafe that overlooks the estuary offers an elevated albeit budget dining experience. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/OliversontheBeach/.

Piccolo is an Italian restuarant that offers a breathtakingly broad menu of antipasti, pasta, pizza, and meaty mains alongside a reasonably price all-Italian wine list. You can also purchase some import-only Italian store-cupboard essentials here. For more information, visit http://www.piccolorestaurant.co.uk/.

Pasta Pia offers traditional Italian street food in Westcliff. It takes its name from the piadina, a folded flatbread sandwich from Italy’s Emilia Romagna region that comes stuffed with all kinds of creamy cheese, salty cured meats, and sharp salads. For more information, visit https://www.pastapia.co.uk/

Shopping

The Broadway at Leigh-on-Sea offers a laidback shopping area made up of galleries and craft shops that feature work from local artists and delicious eateries such as The Oak Tree.

Hamlet Court Road is the heart of Westcliff-on-Sea. The cosmopolitan street features independent retailers that include vintage shops, cafes, florists, bakers, a greengrocers, jewellers, and a woolshop. It also carries High Street names such as Boots, Cooperative, Greggs, Post Office, Sainsbury’s, Savers, Tesco, and Wimpy.

Southend High Street is home to two shopping centres, Royals Shopping Centre and The Victoria Shopping Centre, and a host of independent reatailers and big name stores that offer everything from nearly everything from clothes, toys, beddings, bikes, and toiletries. Many cafes, restaurants, bars, and leisure activities can be found at Southend High Street as well.

The Royals Shopping Centre has over twenty stores and cafes including Costa Coffee, Boots, Card Factory, Subway, Vision Express, Toni & Guy, and Tesco. For more information, visit https://royalsshoppingcentre.co.uk/.

Southend High Street is home to two shopping centres, Royals Shopping Centre and The Victoria Shopping Centre, and a host of independent reatailers and big name stores that offer everything from nearly everything from clothes, toys, beddings, bikes, and toiletries. Many cafes, restaurants, bars, and leisure activities can be found at Southend High Street as well.

Victoria Shopping Centre offers a unique and varied shopping experience. The Victoria Shopping Centre is adjacent to Southend Victoria Railway station and is also the end of the main shopping area in High Street. For more information, visit https://victoriasc.co.uk/.

Totally Locally Southend-on-Sea is an independent high street that supports local businesses and artisans. You can shop online at https://southendonsea.totallylocally.shop/.

Attractions

Southend Pier and Railway

is the town’s historical icon and claims the title of being the longest pleasure pier in the world! As the pier stretches 1.33 miles, visitors have the option to take the train or take a leisurely stroll along the walkway. The Pier often hosts exciting events throughout the season including live local music and family friendly events including The Puppet Festival, Halloween Ghost Train, and Santa on the Pier. Southend Pier and Railway is located at the Western Esplanade, which is a short 8-minute drive from Southend Central via Marine Parade. For more information, visit https://www.southendpier.co.uk/.

Sealife Adventure

is Southend’s premier aquatic attraction. The themed aquarium has over 40 fascinating displays that let you come face to face with sharks, otters, penguins, meerkats, and even monkeys. Sealife Adventure is located at the Eastern Esplanade, which is a short 5 minute drive from Southend Central via Queensway/A1160. For more information, visit https://sealifeadventure.co.uk/.

Prittlewell Priory

is a historical museum built by the monks of the Cluniac Order in the early 12th century. It was destroyed in 1536 and what remained was incorporated into the alterations that was done during the 18th and 20th centuries. The priory offers a unique glimpse of the past that’s sure to strike you with awe. Prittlewell Priory is located at Victoria Avenue, which is 2.5 miles away from Southend Central.

Chalkwell Park

features beautiful ornamental gardens, colourful bedding displays, an environment garden, a courtyard-style sun garden, and a rose garden recongised by the National Rose Society. The park is home to Metal, a local Arts company, and several sports facilities that include football, cricket, tennis, basketball, a skate/BMX park, and two children’s playgrounds. Chalkwell Park is located on London Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, which is a 7-minute drive from Southend Central.

Focal Point Gallery

supports and promotes the contemporary art scene at Southend. The gallery commissions and presents major solo exhibitions, group and thematic shows, events, and off-site projects. Focal Point Gallery is located at The Forum. For more information, please call 01702 534108.

Parks and Recreation

Priory Park

boasts four bowling greens, tennis and basketball courts, a green gym, formal gardens, and the stunning 12th century Prittlewell Priory. The sprawling park is a spectacular place to have a picnic with the family. The park is located at Victoria Avenue, which is only a 7-minute walking distance away from Southend Central. You also have the option of getting on a 2 to 3-minute bus ride from Southend Central to Southend Victoria Station.

Chalkwell Park

is one of the most popular parks in Southend-on-Sea with its beautiful ornamental gardens, colourful bedding displays, an environmental garden, a courtyard-style sun garden and a rose garden recognised by the National Rose Society. The local Arts company Metal is can be found at the park, alongside its numerous outdoor activity facilities including football, cricket, tennis, basketball, skatebord/BMX and childrens playgrounds. Chalkwell Park is located at London Road, Westcliff-on-the-Sea, which is a 7-minute car ride from Southend Central via Station Road.

Beaches

Shoebury East Beach

is a long sandy beach crowned with a magnificent grassy hinterland. The beach is a superb location for picnics as it is the only beach in Southend with a designated BBQ area. East Beach is also very popular for watersports as it is home to Essex Kitesurfing Club! Shoebury is located at George Street, Shoeburyness which is a 15 minute drive away from Southend Central.

Chalkwell Beach

is ideal for long walks by the beach. Cafes and kiosks selling the usual coastal treats and supplies line the beach. The beach is five minutes away from the Chalkwell Station.

How to reach Southend-on-Sea from London

By Train:
It takes an average of 1h 8m to travel from London to Southend by train, over a distance of around 36 miles or 58 km. Both Greater Anglia and c2c run direct lines from that depart from London Fenchurch Street and arrives at Southend Central. There are normally 335 trains per day traveling from London to Southend. Tickets for this trip start from £6 when you book your ticket in advance.

By Car:
Two major roads link Southend to the M25: the A127 and the A13. From the north, Southend is accessible via the A1, M11, M25 (Junction 29 – 20 miles) and A127. From the south, you can reach Southend via the M25 (Junction 30) or from Dartford Tunnel & A13.

By Bus & Coach:
There is an extensive bus network which operates around Southend. National Express coaches run to and from Southend with an approximate journey time of 2 hours. For more accurate bus information and timetables, visit Arriva or First Buses.

By Plane:
London Southend Airport is close to the town centre and it is within an hour’s drive of 3 major London Airports. The London Stansted Airport is approximately 40 miles away by road, the London City Airport is approximately 35 miles by road, London Gatwick Airport is approximately 59 miles away by road, and London Heathrow Airport is approximately 78 miles away from London Southend Airport.

How to explore Southend-on-Sea

Southend Central Station to Southend Pier & Railway:

The A127 (from the North) and the A13 (from the South) link Southend to M25. Once you arrive in Southend, keep a lookout for the brown tourist signs that will lead you to towards the seafront and the pier.

Southend Pier & Railway to Adventure Island:

To go from Southend Pier to Adventure Island, drive east along the SS1 2EH then take a left. Adventure Island is approximately a 2-minute car ride.

Adventure Island to Sealife Adventure

Sealife Adventure is approximately 0.4 miles away from Adventure Island. The journey time to reach Sealife Adventure on foot is estimated to be around 8 minutes. Simply head northwest, go along Marine Parade, and continue onto Eastern Esplanade/B1016. You can also head to Southend Pier and rise the bus following the number 68 route which stops at Southchurch. Get off at Southchurch and walk about 3 minutes then you will reach Sealife Adventure.

Sealife Adventure to The Royal Shopping Centre

The Royal Shopping Centre is a 10-minute walk from Sealife Adventure via Marine Parade and Lucy Road. You can also take bus line 9 from Kursaal and get off at Travel Centre or Stop J then walk for approximately 2 minutes to reach the Royal Shopping Centre.

Victoria Shopping Centre to Focal Point Gallery

Focal Point Gallery is a short 3-minute walk away from Victoria’s Shopping Centre. To go here, simply head east on High St towards Queens Rd, turn right onto Queens Road, turn left toward Farringdon Service Road. You will find Focal Point Gallery on the right-side of Farringdon Service Road.

Focal Point Gallery to Priory Park and Prittlewell Priory

Walk about 4 minutes from Focal Point Gallery to reach the Victoria Station Interchange (Stop VH) and get on bus line 7, 8, 9, 21, or 25. There will be two stops at line 7 then get off at Blue Boar. From there, you will need to walk for about 7 minutes until you reach Priory Park. The 12th century Cluniac monastery is about a minute’s walk within Priory Park.

Priory Park to Chalkwell Park

There are regular buses that can take you from Priory Park to Chalkwell Park. Each bus arrives every 9 minutes. Count 6 stops before getting off at Cavendish Gardens. From there, you will need to walk 11 minutes to reach Chalkwell Park.

Chalkwell Park to Chalkwell Beach

Walking from Chalkwell Park to Chalkwell Beach will take you around 14 minutes via Chalkwell Avenue. You can also ride a bus from Ridgeway and get off at Chalkwell Railway Station. The beach is about a minute’s walk away from the station.

Chalkwell Beach to Shoebury East Beach

From Chalkwell Beach, walk back to Chalkwell Rail Station and take the c2c direct train headed to Shoeburyness. The journey time will take about 15 minutes. Get off at Shoeburyness and walk for 9 minutes until you reach Shoebury East Beach.

Priory Park to Chalkwell Park

There are regular buses that can take you from Priory Park to Chalkwell Park. Each bus arrives every 9 minutes. Count 6 stops before getting off at Cavendish Gardens. From there, you will need to walk 11 minutes to reach Chalkwell Park.

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