Southend: UNLONDON by the beach
Southend, or Southend-on-Sea to give it its full title, is a coastal city that became a popular seaside resort in the 19th century after a visit from the Princess of Wales and the construction of both the pier and railway from London. Yes, you’ve been able to UNLONDON in Southend for more than 150 years.
Where is Southend-on-Sea in England?
Southend is on the north side of the Thames Estuary, just 40 miles east of central London.
What makes Southend-on-Sea special
As well as fabulous beaches, Southend has the longest pleasure pier in the world to go with amusements and a majestic statue of Queen Victoria on Pier Hill. Oh, and you might remember the pier from Jamie and Jimmy's Channel 4 Friday Night Feast which has featured A-list guests including Olympian Usain Bolt, actress Salma Hayek, Hollywood star Danny DeVito, Star Wars legend Mark Hamill and Ant and Dec. So look whose footsteps you’ll be walking in!
Fun fact: Southend is mentioned in Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma.
Getting to Southend-on-Sea by train from London
You can get to Southend-on-Sea by train from London Liverpool Street station, the journey takes around 52 minutes. Our trains are accessible and feature free Wi-fi and plug points in-between seats.
If you’re planning to stay overnight, you should check out our Weekender ticket, which lets you travel out on a Friday or Saturday, and return on a Sunday or Monday.
What to do in Southend-on-Sea
Adventure Island was rated best value amusement park in the UK in 2024, there’s a Sealife Centre for wildlife lovers and the world’s longest pleasure pier jutting 1.33 miles out into the Thames with its iconic pier railway. Plus, great beaches!
Southend has seven miles of seashore to explore from secluded, quiet spots to fun family-friendly beaches perfect for building sandcastles. This is a kitesurfer’s dream too.
Southend’s beaches have received Seaside Awards from Keep Britain Tidy and three fly a Blue Flag.
London to Southend on Sea by train from London Liverpool Street station takes around 52m.
In just under an hour you can UNLONDON yourself with traditional seaside delights including the world’s longest pleasure pier, Adventure Island, Sealife Centre, bowls and arcades. And ice cream… which you get to eat while inhaling lovely fresh sea air.
It would be rude not to! Southend has seven miles of beaches from which to set off into the briny.
You can’t take dogs on the beach from May to September, so rest of the year okay, but don’t worry, they’ll enjoy a walk on a lead on the prom and there’s lots of dog-friendly places to visit, including bars and restaurants.
Southend Victoria (another nod to the 19th century queen) is in the city centre and about a brisk 15 minute walk to the seafront. We say brisk because you can’t wait to get there to complete your UNLONDON experience.
Photography courtesy of Visit Essex