A thriving coastal resort with award-winning golden beaches and stellar attractions was once part of the London Underground, meaning Brits could hop on a tube and whizz over to the coast
With golden sands, the world’s longest pleasure pier, and the UK’s ‘best’ free theme park – it’s hard to believe this stunning seaside city was once part of the London Underground. For 29 glorious years, Brits could hop onto the tube and whizz over to the coast – leaving behind soaring skyscrapers for Blue Flag beaches, a string of arcades, and (most importantly) some decent fish and chips.
Located just 42 miles from London, Southend-On-Sea was once part of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway, which we now know as the c2c rail route in south Essex. As previously reported, District Railway struck a deal with the owners of the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway so they could run trains all the way from the west of the city to the east, and then on to Southend.
The decision was believed to capitalise on swathes of city folk desperate to spend the day at Southend’s Kursaal amusement park, which closed in 1973. However, due to the impact of World War 2, demand for the service plummeted – and has never recovered.
Despite having to grapple with ‘cliched stereotypes’ of Essex, and no longer being part of the London Underground, Southend-on-Sea remains a thriving coastal resort. In fact, it is thought the city attracts more than seven million tourists every single year, and ‘record levels’ of funding have helped the city bolster its appeal.
“Southend has seven miles of coastline to explore so you’re sure to find the perfect beach spot for those glorious sunny days!” the city’s tourist board hailed. “From secluded, quiet spots where you can nestle amongst the beach huts, fun family-friendly beaches perfect for building sandcastles, and wide open spaces that are a kitesurfer’s paradise, plus they are the perfect place to catch the beautiful Southend sunsets!”
Four of Southend’s beaches have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag award, while all of the city’s shores have been presented with a Seaside Award by Keep Britain Tidy. However, if the dreary UK weather isn’t on your side when you visit – you can always rely on the arcades.
Adventure Island – often touted as one of the country’s best theme parks – is a must-visit for adrenaline seekers. With more than 40 rides and attractions, including a mega ‘RAGE’ roller coaster – entry to the theme park is free. Here, customers have to pay per ride they want to go on, or can splash out on a day pass for unlimited fun.
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While you can no longer hop on the tube to visit the seaside resort, Southend-on-Sea is only a one-hour and eight-minute drive from the Big Smoke. Direct trains to the coastal city also run daily, reducing the journey time down to just 55 minutes. If you’re flexible with dates, you can grab a single adult fare for as little as £6.
There’s a vast range of accommodation types in the city, meaning it’s a great staycation destination no matter what your budget. For example, a weekend’s stay (Friday, May 9-11) at the four-star Hamiltons Boutique Hotel – which is just 100 yards from the beach – would set you back £288, based on two adults sharing.
However, for those not wanting to spend a small fortune, Southend-On-Sea is filled with budget hotels, self-catering apartments, and Airbnbs. Staying at the three-star Park Inn hotel costs just £183 on the exact same nights.
*Prices based on Trainline and Booking.com listings at the time of writing.
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