Five of the Many Good Reasons for Visiting Southend-on-Sea in Essex,
The Beaches. The coastline has several beaches at nearby Shoeburyness, Thorpe Bay, Westcliff-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea and Chalkwell as well as the main one in Southend-on-Sea. Here you will find the longest amusement pier in the world where you can walk or catch a train one and a quarter miles to the end. This is also the beginning of the Golden Mile with many restaurant, bars and amusements. Next to the Pier is the Sea Life Centre and the world famous Adventure Island, a must for all the children with its many rides and facilities.
Old Leigh,
A short distance away (2/3 miles) is Old Leigh (the old town of Leigh-on-Sea) where you can sample the offerings of 5 different pubs in one street, the Crooked Billet, the Peterboat, The Smack, The Ship and the Mayflower as well as the internationally renowned Boatyard Restaurant and the recently opened Simply Seafood Restaurant. There's also, a tea shop, fish & chips, fresh fish stalls as well as the world famous Leigh Cockle Sheds.
Hadleigh
A little further along the coast, you will find the historic Hadleigh Castle, built by King Henry 111 in 1232. A painting by John Constable of Hadleigh Castle is now exhibited in the Yale Centre of British Art at Newhaven in the United States. One of his earlier sketches is currently displayed at the Tate Gallery. This ancient structure is considered to be the most important late-medieval castle in Essex and is preserved by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. The ruins of the castle are the most prominent historical landmark in the local surrounding area and provided part of the name for the borough of Castle Point in 1974.
4) London
If you wish to visit London, Southend-on-Sea makes an ideal base. A lot of visitors take the opportunity to visit London by train. It takes just 45 - 55 minutes to leave Southend Central Station and arrive at Fenchurch Street Station, just a few yards from the Tower of London, where you are a short bus or tube train ride to everything London has to offer. There are always special family deals on the railway, making it a viable alternative to actually staying in London.
The Beautiful Essex Countryside
Drive for just 10 - 15 minutes and you are in the beautiful Essex countryside with its many award winning villages. A little further and you are in the ancient town of Colchester and then Constable country and East Anglia and some of the most picturesque landscapes in the country.
The poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman was a frequent visitor to Southend-on-Sea and spoke of the wonderful sea air he breathed following the short train journey from his home in London. He wrote
'The vagrant visitor erstwhile,' ;My colour-plate book says to me ;Could wend by hedgerow-side and stile, From Benfleet down to Leigh-on-Sea.
A bronze bust of Sir John is on permanent exhibition at the Beecroft Art Gallery in Westcliff and one of the famous Southend Pier trains is named after him.If you are visiting Southend-on-Sea in Essex, the nearest seaside town to London, self-catering is an excellent idea whether for, families, couples or friends. Compared to staying in a hotel, self-catering accommodation gives you so much flexibility when you are away from home. You can come and go as you want, you can cook your own meals or have a snack whenever you want, PLUS you have your own living space with 2 bedrooms, lounge as well as a fitted kitchen and bathroom.